Wherry Brew Kit - First timer

[pudforever]

Hi,

I was given a Wherry brew kit for Christmas which I'm intending to start at the weekend.
I've been wanting to start home brewing for some time now but space has always put a stop to this.

I just have some general questions if I may ask?

The brew I've got is just two tins and a sachet of yeast. I'm going to use bottled spring water from Tesco's rather then tap water so there's less to no chlorine content. I'm buying a sachet of S-04 yeast rather than the one the pack came with. I read on this forum that this would improve the taste, is that right?

I'm buying the starter kit from The Range, and buying the Hydrometer from amazon. I'm also buying glass bottles, caps and a bottle capper.

On the Hydrometer, this measures the gravity right? Does it have to be at a certain point before I place in bottles?

The other thing I'm confused with is the sugar, I've read a number of posts stating they added sugar towards the end...is this just brewing sugar I can buy online and add before bottling? Is it any particular amount? I'm wanting to add 22L of water rather then the 23L that the instructions say to add. is adding sugar called 'priming the beer?'

Lastly, when I bottle the beer, is the next step called conditioning? Which is where I would cap the bottle and leave in the fridge for 3 to 4 weeks?

Thanks for any responses in advance!

 

[mattyhall22]

Yup the hydrometer measures the gravity, it is ready to bottle when the readings stay the same fro two to three days in a row.

Priming is when you add sugar (normal sugar will do), to the FV dissolved in a little boiled water to "batch prime" or add the sugar direct to each individual bottle or barrel. (for 500ml bottle a teaspoon of sugar should be about right)

As the yeast work on this sugar in an enclosed space it creates CO2 which will carbonate the beer for you. It requires about two weeks in the warm and then a week or so in the cold. It will then be ready to drink, but will taste much better in a few weeks.

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[mattyhall22]

just to make is clear, once you have pit the sugar and beer in the bottle, you do need to cap it :thumb:

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[pudforever]

just to make is clear, once you have pit the sugar and beer in the bottle, you do need to cap it :thumb:

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Thank you so much for your help.
So you'd recommend placing a teaspoon of normal sugar in the bottles, without dissolving, then capping. Leaving in a room for 2 weeks then refrigerate for the remaining time?

Does yeast flavor the beer somewhat then? The yeast I mentioned, S-04 would you say it's a good idea to add this to the brew rather than the one you get in the box?

Lastly, does the gravity dictate the percentage/ABV of the beer?

I'm sorry for all the questions! I really want to get this right :P

 

[Maysie]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

If you have a good read through this 'How-To Guide' it explains a lot of the stuff that you may be struggling with:
viewtopic.php?f=30&t=24822

I am now 3 brews in to my new hobby and learning more with each one, but the above guide and the other advice on this forum has been REALLY useful!
Good luck with the Wherry :thumb:

 

[mattyhall22]

I just use the yeast that comes with the kit, so can't really help with that, but yes yeast has an effect on the taste of the beer.

Yup you can just add the sugar straight to the bottle without dissolving it if you want to.

After two weeks in the warm i put all my bottles out in the garage in the cold and leave them out there, I bring a couple in when I want to drink them. I find my fridge is too cold for ales (just right for lagers) and kills the taste a bit.

The abv is worked out with a formula from the OG (original gravity reading you took before pitching the yeast) and the FG (final gravity when it reads the same for 2 - 3 days in a row).

I use an iphone app (called alcohol calculator) to work my ABV out :

 

[pudforever]

Thanks for all the help fellas. I've read the link above and understand everything so much better now! The only thing I'm concerned about now is the bucket I've bought is just a flat lid. The others I've seen on YouTube all have a something in the top to allow the bubbles to escape...

Is this going to pose a problem?

 

[mattyhall22]

Thanks for all the help fellas. I've read the link above and understand everything so much better now! The only thing I'm concerned about now is the bucket I've bought is just a flat lid. The others I've seen on YouTube all have a something in the top to allow the bubbles to escape...

Is this going to pose a problem?

Nope it will be fine, you just want the lid on loose so the CO2 can escape, it will still create a protective CO2 blanket over the liquid in the fermenter.

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[tim_n]

I brew with london water, wrong PH, chlorinates etc and I don't do any water management.

I haven't died and the wherry tastes fine.

Once you've done your first brew, play with the water if you like, but don't let the complicated stuff worry you until you've got a few brews under your belt. Relax and have a homebrew.

My last two all grains neither have had any water management and they're fermenting away.

I will start to play with water at some point once I've got the all grain down.