Advice needed please before first brew!

[Wekslap]

I am about to make my first brew after 20-odd years (and they have been odd!). I grabbed a coopers international series English bitter, a wherry, and a wilko two can golden ale kit. I am excited but nervous and don't want to balls it up! And am very out of practice, though I was quite good at it back in the day, I think.

Any tips on making my first brew as smooth and fault free and painless as possible. I think lots may have changed in best practice's in the intervening time. Any advice on the above and optimising and getting the absolute best out of my first brew(s)?

And which should I brew first? I feel like a kid about to dive in the deep end for the first time without his water wings! Both excited and afraid!

Thank you

John

[Monkeybrew]

Sanitise anything that comes into contact with your brew!

I'd recommend starting with the Wilko Golden Ale, as it will probably condition the quickest.

As it's summer, and the ground water is relatively warm, try and avoid using the amount of boiling water (3.5 litres for the 2 can kits) that the instructions suggest, as you may struggle to achieve the correct yeast pitching temperature.

I empty the tins of extract into my FV and scrape as much out as I can with a spoon. I then boil the kettle and fill both empty cans up with boiling water, cover with clingfilm, and allow to sit for 5mins. I then uncover them and give them both a quick stir, and then pour this hot water into the FV. Now spend plenty of time mixing this all up until the extract is fully dissolved, only adding more boiling water if absolutely necessary.

I then top up with cold water to 20L, check the temperature, and then finish topping up to a total of 23L with either boiling or cold water to achieve a 20C yeast pitching temperature.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Cheers

MB

[Ditch]

John; Relax, to start with ..... Get all strung out and That's when ye make some ridiculous mistake.

Sanitising ye gear is THE most important aspect of it all. That f**ks up? The rest is already f**ked up. So, That's never changed then. Just the now wide array of sh!t ye might choose to use for the process. What ever. Get everything clean and the rest is a cake walk.

Beyond that? Best advice I can give is throw away Any instructions that come with a kit. Brew four gallons, not five. Use dried malt, if it's a one can kit, like that Coopers.

You'd remember wet towels then? Good. Anyone who suggests an air lock should be dragged out and shot

[wanus]

Be patient,listen to those who spoke b4 me I`ve had good advice from the veterans on ere.Most of all don`t despair if shit happens I`ve just tipped 20l of coopers dark and dunno if it was the yeast I used or the intense orange chocolate bar I threw in for a laugh Oh and use an airl**k aaaaaarghhhh man down........MEDIC

[DeadFall]

Use an airlock.