Hi everybody
I was bought an I brew lager system for my birthday as I'd been going on for ages about starting, such a simple system for a newbie like me though I have a few questions,
I've brewed my first batch and it tastes like rats wee wee, with a very strong aftertaste, and it looks like bitter! Quite dark not lager looking at all....
I looked back though this forum and someone mentioned about the bottles need to settle etc, any clues to help me?
Bit disappointed but not going to give up yet!
Mike
Ibrew system- a newbie brewer
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Greatcthulhu
Re: Ibrew system- a newbie brewer
Welcome to the forums. Definitely don't give up yet. I expect most people here have had disasters- I know I have. It's really just a matter of getting as much info as you can and getting a bit of experience. In no time you'll be brewing great beer.
You need to provide a bit more info for posters to be able to answer you question.
What lager kit did you use?, did you use untreated tap water (treating the water with campden tablets will usually improve the taste) or use bottled water?, how long have you left the beer in the bottle for before trying? Beer needs to condition in the bottle somewhere warm for a couple of weeks and then needs to be left for at least another couple of weeks somewhere cool, although it will improve if left longer. Also did you use ordinary sugar? Dry Malt Extract (DME) or Beer Kit enhancer will give much better results than ordinary sugar
You need to provide a bit more info for posters to be able to answer you question.
What lager kit did you use?, did you use untreated tap water (treating the water with campden tablets will usually improve the taste) or use bottled water?, how long have you left the beer in the bottle for before trying? Beer needs to condition in the bottle somewhere warm for a couple of weeks and then needs to be left for at least another couple of weeks somewhere cool, although it will improve if left longer. Also did you use ordinary sugar? Dry Malt Extract (DME) or Beer Kit enhancer will give much better results than ordinary sugar
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Trackworker
Re: Ibrew system- a newbie brewer
Thanks for the reply, I used untreated tap water, the Ibrew 20pint lager can didn't need any sugar as it was already in the can, followed the instructions to the letter, 7 days fermenting, 14 days in the 2 ten litre kegs and use the tap a draught after 14 days and place in fridge, it's looking like now that it didn't ferment very well?
Does the 7 days needed in room temperature in the fermenting bucket?
Should I leave the 10 litre keg in the fridge for a few days and try again?
The video on the Ibrew website is what exactly I did.
Am tempted now to get a 40 pint fermenting bucket and try again with a different brew kit from wilkinsons
Does the 7 days needed in room temperature in the fermenting bucket?
Should I leave the 10 litre keg in the fridge for a few days and try again?
The video on the Ibrew website is what exactly I did.
Am tempted now to get a 40 pint fermenting bucket and try again with a different brew kit from wilkinsons
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Trackworker
Re: Ibrew system- a newbie brewer
I used the muntons Ibrew lager starter kit, got it as a birthday pressie!
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Greatcthulhu
Re: Ibrew system- a newbie brewer
OK, so a couple of points.
Tap water contains varying amounts of Chlorine, depending on where you live and is notorious for giving off tastes. There are two ways of dealing with this. First, use bottled water- I buy Sainsburys water at £1 for 5ltrs, which has always given good results. You can also use campden tablets to treat tap water- I've not done this myself, but plenty of people do and if you search this forum you'll find plenty of info.
7 days for fermentation is probably not long enough, despite what it says on the instructions. Most people here will leave it in the FV for a couple of weeks to make sure fermentation is complete and allow the beer to clear a bit. Fermentation is usually carried out at around 21c, but different yeasts work best at different temps. Proper lager yeast needs lower temperatures, but having said that, most lager kits use an ale yeast which works best around the 21c mark. I use a fish tank heater immersed in the beer to keep the temp stable- esp this time of year when we are both out all day and there's no heating on.
I'm not really familiar with lager kits as I usually make ale, but the Coopers kits always seem to get good reviews. Before buying another kit, I would suggest looking through the forums, as there are plenty of threads about various kits. If you go for a Coopers kit, which require the addition of sugar, don't be tempted to use ordinary sugar, which can produce a thin tasteless beer. Use either Dry Malt Extract (DME) or Beer Kit Enhancer as a direct replacement for the amount of sugar that the kit tells you to use. Both these products contain non fermentables, which increase body and 'mouthfeel'. If your into ale, then I would definitely recommend Woodfords or Festival kits.
One last point. I would say that lager is probably better off bottled than kegged. Bottles keep the beer at a higher pressure than kegs and, so the lager will be more fizzy as more CO2 will be dissolved in the beer. Kegs are better for ale.
It's well worth having a good look through the forums as there is loads of info on all aspects of brewing, from people who know a great deal more than me. Oh, and I'd definitely leave the beer for another week or two and give it another taste before you chuck it away- you never know, it might improve
Tap water contains varying amounts of Chlorine, depending on where you live and is notorious for giving off tastes. There are two ways of dealing with this. First, use bottled water- I buy Sainsburys water at £1 for 5ltrs, which has always given good results. You can also use campden tablets to treat tap water- I've not done this myself, but plenty of people do and if you search this forum you'll find plenty of info.
7 days for fermentation is probably not long enough, despite what it says on the instructions. Most people here will leave it in the FV for a couple of weeks to make sure fermentation is complete and allow the beer to clear a bit. Fermentation is usually carried out at around 21c, but different yeasts work best at different temps. Proper lager yeast needs lower temperatures, but having said that, most lager kits use an ale yeast which works best around the 21c mark. I use a fish tank heater immersed in the beer to keep the temp stable- esp this time of year when we are both out all day and there's no heating on.
I'm not really familiar with lager kits as I usually make ale, but the Coopers kits always seem to get good reviews. Before buying another kit, I would suggest looking through the forums, as there are plenty of threads about various kits. If you go for a Coopers kit, which require the addition of sugar, don't be tempted to use ordinary sugar, which can produce a thin tasteless beer. Use either Dry Malt Extract (DME) or Beer Kit Enhancer as a direct replacement for the amount of sugar that the kit tells you to use. Both these products contain non fermentables, which increase body and 'mouthfeel'. If your into ale, then I would definitely recommend Woodfords or Festival kits.
One last point. I would say that lager is probably better off bottled than kegged. Bottles keep the beer at a higher pressure than kegs and, so the lager will be more fizzy as more CO2 will be dissolved in the beer. Kegs are better for ale.
It's well worth having a good look through the forums as there is loads of info on all aspects of brewing, from people who know a great deal more than me. Oh, and I'd definitely leave the beer for another week or two and give it another taste before you chuck it away- you never know, it might improve
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Trackworker
Re: Ibrew system- a newbie brewer
Update on my muntons ibrew adventure!
Got one pet keg in fridge and one still In the kitchen, after my last update I decided to try another sample from the keg in fridge and its now starting to taste of lager! Bit cloudy and dark and in my opinion a bit weak still but better than it was 2 days ago, should I leave the one that hasn't been chilled in the fridge for another few days to see what happens, 14 days secondary fermenting may not be enough
The kit I've been using www.ibrew.co.uk
Got one pet keg in fridge and one still In the kitchen, after my last update I decided to try another sample from the keg in fridge and its now starting to taste of lager! Bit cloudy and dark and in my opinion a bit weak still but better than it was 2 days ago, should I leave the one that hasn't been chilled in the fridge for another few days to see what happens, 14 days secondary fermenting may not be enough
The kit I've been using www.ibrew.co.uk
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sbond10
- Even further under the Table
- Posts: 2999
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 6:42 pm
- Location: Warrington England usually drunk or being mithered by my 2yr old or wife
Re: Ibrew system- a newbie brewer
Waiting is a skill many homebrewers need to learn most lagers take 12 weeks to come good I bottle an Xmas ale at end of August and it's only slightly coming good now. Then again I brewed a ditches stout and 12 days brew time and a week in bottle it was perfect. Most starter kits seem to aim at either lager, bitter or stout but all with the same kit. Now bitter and stout will sit happily at 20 degrees and bottled, when brewing a true lager ( with a proper lager not an ale yeasty) will require a temp more closer to 10 degrees before a crash chill at 0 degrees. Now tell me will a Fv a keg and paddle suffice to make lager not a chance. You need a lot of knowledge and space and time consuming equipment. My first beer after a break was a Mexican cevenza and I got conned into thinking all I'd need is a bucket and some sugar and needless to say it never turned out good. I turned my back and went to the ales route minimum of time and effort to produce a good drinkable beer. 1 kg of DME with a good ale/stout kit maybe abit of raw brown cane sugar and bobs yours uncle summat you won't be disappointed in.
Don't let my rant put you off tho there's plenty of threads on lagers but at bare minimum you will need a brew fridge ( different to a normal fridge ) before you brew a lager again
Don't let my rant put you off tho there's plenty of threads on lagers but at bare minimum you will need a brew fridge ( different to a normal fridge ) before you brew a lager again
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wxmexile
Re: Ibrew system- a newbie brewer
HI mate, i started with the ibrew kit - that is just what there lager is like - its dark in colour and basically nothing like, well, lager! Don't buy more, there is much much better kits and equipment out there, if you wanna carry on then get a coopers starter kit - that will really set you up well to get brewing decents beer, and you won't look back. . good luck!