Home brew advice please?

[shaffick]

Hello, I'm quite new to the world of home brewing and would like some advice please. I'm currently brewing Youngs Lager which I got from my brewing kit( Wilkinsons). It has now been in my keg for exactly 2 weeks now, I intend to leave it for 4 to 6 weeks. A couple of days ago I took a sample from my keg and noticed that it was very cloudy and had a bitter after taste. My friend told me that this is from the chlorine from the tap water I used. If true can I use mineral water instead in my future brews. Also I wish to use co2 gas with my keg, and would like some advice on this as this could be potentially dangerous to a novice. Do I inject gas prior to drinking?, Can I use co2 after my keg has been chilled in the fridge? etc. Much help is appeciated. Thanks.

[trucker5774]

Hi Shaffick. If the Youngs kit you have is the "definitive" range it may not be the best start. Tyr a Coopers. The taste will usually get better with time, as will the clearing. Keeping the brew cold will aid clearing. You can check with the water suppliers as to whats in the water. You can, or course, buy the cheapest 5 litre containers of water from the supermarket and use that. Boiling your tap water could also be the way to go. Check if your keg has a safety blow off so it can't be over pressurised. The priming sugar should take care of your initial pressure required to keep the brew carbonated and get it out of the keg. Top up with CO2 as the pressure drops

[WishboneBrewery]

The bitter taste is probably just the Kit.

You could treat your water with 'Half a crushed Campden Tablet' before using it for your Brewing, that will neutralise any Chlorine almost instantly.

[shaffick]

thanks guys. ill keep you posted . cheers.

[shaffick]

my keg has just one valve on the cap. is this an all in one valve which acts as a pressure release valve?

[trucker5774]

Its a long time since I have use kegs. I imagine it will be a combined filler/safety valve. (I'm sure if you google it you will find the answer) You could try a new post on here about kegs and valves.........I reckon someone will have the answer very quickly. If you are unsure, just top up the pressure as you need it. The less beer you have the greater the space and the more CO2 you will need. It's very unlikely that you will blow the house up!!

[pauljmuk]

not convinced, personally, that the bitter taste (if that's what it is) is from the tap water, probably just the kit.

That said, if you do have a chlorine taste, then half a campden (crushed) to your FV, or a pinch of sodium meta will help. Add way before adding yeast. My LHBS guy swears by adding his cold water under pressure (via hose) and from a height. Chlorine is a gas, and aerating the water at pressure (or boiling it) releases it.