John Bull kit with missing yeast?

[Idstone]

Hi, all

First-time poster here, and beginner home-brewer.

I'm just starting my second kit after a relatively successful first try, and I picked another John Bull Old English Ale kit to try. Unfortunately, when I came to open the kit there doesn't appear to be any yeast (or instructions, but I have the last set of those anyway).

What would be the best way to go to get this kit going? What dried yeast could I substitute into the mix?

Many thanks!

[sbond10]

Just a general ale yeast should be ok

[Idstone]

[quote="sbond10"]Just a general ale yeast should be ok[/quote]

I think our local farm & household store has 5g sachets of the Young's ale yeast - would one of them be a reasonable substitute, or is Young's not particularly well thought-of?

[tim1400]

Ha , the phantom yeast nicker strikes again.I bought a John Bull IPA from Tesco during the half price sale .That had also got no yeast or instructions.I had some Muntons Gold knocking about so used that .

[Idstone]

I'm guessing that since the plastic lid on the can isn't taped down or sealed in any way, the lids pop off in transit and the sachets/instructions fall out. It's that or some desperate brewer is slyly helping themselves from their local Tesco

[sbond10]

Yes the youngs yeast should be fine. A general recipe I follow is boil 3.5 litres of water then add 2.5 litres of water to your Fv tip your beer kit in plus the fermentables then fill up your used can with the remaining litre then throw that in. Then blend the feck out of it with a spoon hand drill whisk what ever .Then top up with cold water to 20 litres keeping an eye on the temp you want it 22-24 degrees . Then pitch your yeast in loosely place the lid on it. Leave alone for a couple of weeks

[Idstone]

Thanks for the advice. I'll be picking up a pack of the Young's tomorrow and I'll try the recipe you suggest. Cheers!

[Idstone]

Just over a week later and the brew is going well. The Young's worked perfectly and I'm just getting organised for the next stage. Many thanks!

[Kelbrew]

TBH I always chuck provided yeast away & use new.

[Normski]

TBH I always chuck provided yeast away & use new.

I would recomend making a yeast starter. Then you know that your yeast is viable.
Also keep a spare yeast in the fridge.

[Idstone]

Following the kit instructions - and after checking SG - that's 40 bottles filled for what the kit refers to as secondary fermentation. This seems to have gone a lot better than the first kit, and the ale is tasting quite dry and potent, though I expect that will change a little in the next couple of weeks.

Assuming all goes well, I'd like to try something a bit more adventurous next time, rather than just making another standard kit in the bucket and doing it this way. Any suggestions for a beginner? Cheers!

[Normski]

If its adventure your after, Then it has to be a Coopers Stout/Ditchs Stout with the Coopers yeast.
Norm

[Idstone]

If its adventure your after, Then it has to be a Coopers Stout/Ditchs Stout with the Coopers yeast.
Norm

Sounds interesting - quite fancy trying a stout...