First Attempt - more newbie questions

[timbo41]

And that looks perfectly fine. The scum you can see is the residue from the krausen...yeast is definitely working!

[SquireKnott]

Pre hopping visit, if hopping is even a word

[SquireKnott]

3 days in, the beer is on the left (the other is wine) and both look a but murky - is this how they should look?

Quoted to make pics appear - you need about 10 posts I think before you can do it.

EDIT: there was also a syntax error in the img tag.

Thanks Jim

[SquireKnott]

The thermometer was showing 16 degrees this morning after a weekend in an empty house so has probably been lower in the night - should I try and get this temperature up?

[Jim]

The thermometer was showing 16 degrees this morning after a weekend in an empty house so has probably been lower in the night - should I try and get this temperature up?

Probably an idea to try to raise in gently to more like 19 or 20C. Don't overdo it though, as the beer will be warmer than ambient due to the warming effect of fermentation.

It can't be far off completing by now.

[SquireKnott]

Hops are due to go in today (Day 5) but I'm thinking wait until tomorrow as it's been below 20 deg most of the time - good idea or just chuck them in?

Instructions then say leave another 5 days, so 10 in total - do I get the hydrometer out at day 8? Do I stick the hydrometer straight into the FV or take a sample out?

[tazzymutt]

If you think that fermentation is running a little behind schedule, I'd suggest holding on a day or two before adding the hops, then allow three of four days before sanitising your hydrometer and adding it to the FV. I tend to leave the hydrometer in the FV once I've put it in, as I don't want to keep putting things in and out of my brew. However, there is no point in putting the hydro in the FV if you still have too much krausen or residual bubbles (or even floating hops) to allow you to read the hydro properly. In that case, use a trial jar.

I tend to dry hop a little later in the brew than a week anyway, typically waiting until the brew has almost finished. That way I know that I can bottle as soon as the hops have had their time and the primary fermentation will be over. I don't want to leave the hops in the FV more than a week for fear of a grassy flavour developing (though this may be another of the brewers superstitions that Ditch is asking about).

Happy brewing,


Ian.

[SquireKnott]

Thanks tazzymutt.

I'll hold off until tomorrow.

[Oli1979]

2 weeks for complete fermentation.
2 weeks in sugar primed bottles in warm room (around 21'c - 24'c) for carbonation.
4 weeks conditioning minimum for 4% ABV beers (5% 5 weeks) and so on.... . Bottles can be conditioned in a shed or garage.
Use glass bottles for beer. Plastic will expand (not good). Glass will not expand, so therefore the CO2 will be absorbed into the beer.
Using the hydrometer:- you can use a tall plastic tube with a sample of beer in. Or you can pop it straight into the Fermenting vessel (FV) as long as its sterile.
Good luck and happy brewing.

[SquireKnott]

I've just put the hop pellets in - if it taste's like they smelt (albeit not quite so strong) I'll be happy.

How does this look?

[WalesAles]

Looks Yummy to me!
WA

[tazzymutt]

How does this look?

Like someone honked in your FV... But don't worry, it'll be fine

Happy brewing,


Ian.

[SquireKnott]

OK, hydrometer said 1009 this time yesterday and still does today.

I'm on day 11 for what should've been a 10 day fermentation period as the temperature has been between 16 and 18 degrees mainly (probably lower in the night).

Do I bottle it now or give it another day?

The airlock doesn't bubble on it's own and never did but it does if I put any pressure on the lid.

Oh, it did bubble a bit on it's own yesterday after I'd dropped the hydrometer in.

???

[Ben711200]

Don't get too hooked on your 10 day schedule. I'd pick an easy evening later in the week (day 14 or so maybe) and bottle then. It can be beneficial to give a bit of time for yeast to 'clean up' after itself and at least partly drop out of suspension.

[timbo41]

Don't get too hooked on your 10 day schedule. I'd pick an easy evening later in the week (day 14 or so maybe) and bottle then. It can be beneficial to give a bit of time for yeast to 'clean up' after itself and at least partly drop out of suspension.

With Ben on this....its a common mistake to rigidly timetable a brew....but it don't work like that!!