Help/advice on first brew.

[Grantbeeston]

Thanks for the help guys, for my first brew I think Ill bottle straight from the FV and add a carbonation drop in each bottle.

For my next brew I'll invest in a secondary bucket and a 'little bottler'.

Thanks again.

[Grantbeeston]

Hi guys, got another couple of questions for you guys!

I've managed to get about 40 used beer bottles so far, they are currently in the bath with a few drops of bleach, I'm going to give them a good rinse out and get rid of all of the labels soon. After I'm planning on storing them away untill in ready to bottle and give them another bath with some sink sanitiser I have acquired from work. Then rinse and fill with beer. Is this a good enough method to make sure none of my beer gets spoiled? Don't want to run the risk of loosing any.

Also when I am bottling I'm going to do it straight from my fermentation bucket through the tap at the bottom, will it be ok going in the bottles like that or do I need some sort of tube?

May seem a little paranoid just don't want it be a waste of time & money.

[Meatymc]

Hello again

Bottled my first brew last night - now the painful wait until it's ready! 2nd brew (Cerveza + an extra 500g DME) already underway.

I bought a 2nd FV before bottling - came with a fitted tap. Syphoned off (syphon from Wilko - £1.88!) from 1st FV and left overnight then filled bottles direct from 2nd FV through tap - no tube. This worked fine as no sediment in 2nd FV but the flow through the tap wasn't that smooth and of course it's opening and shutting all the time.

My point is I'd be worried about disturbing the sediment from your FV if drawing off straight from the tap and would really recomend investing £7.13 (Wilko) in a 2nd FV. More money I know but worth it to avoid spoiling your brew.

On sanitising, Can't comment on what you intend doing but for info - like you I've been collecting bottles (since Spring). Go straight into the dishwasher on a normal cycle, then in the oven at 150 degrees for 20 minutes and when cool cling filmed the top and stored. Prior to bottling sterilised using wilko's stuff (should I be on commission?) then washed out with cold water 3 times. Probably over the top but thought the extra effort might prove beneficial in the end.

Hope this helps

[Grantbeeston]

Thanks Meaty, not sure wether my local Wilko's sells brewing stuff, I'll have to look tomorrow, didn't really want to spend to much before my second brew but may aswell do it properly first time!

All this sanitising and putting bottles in the oven seems really over the top, surely a quick bleach and sanitise is enough?

[Grantbeeston]

Just ordered these

http://www.home-brew-online.com/equipme ... pack-p1310

http://www.home-brew-online.com/equipme ... n-lid-p800

Seems like a much easier idea than my original plan, so thanks for all the help!

I could now batch prime but I already have 80 carbonation drops on their way to me, so may as well use them up this brew then batch prime next brew.

[Manngold]

Sounds good to me. The only thing with batch priming that I didn't spot is that it allows you to control the level of carbonation. You may find that you want it more or less fizzy (time will tell), and batch priming gives you greater control.

I started like you, and was concerned about escalating costs, but a second fv and syphon is so helpful! Trust me, you made a solid investment.

In terms of bottling, I clean during the week, soak in an fv the day before to remove dust, then transfer to a bucket with no rinse steraliser. Your first bottling experience will probably take a while. Just set aside a few hours to guarantee you can do it all. Then get your next kit on right away!!!!

[Grantbeeston]

Yes batch priming seems like a better idea, but now I have these drops I may aswell use them.

I expected the equipment to cost a lot more than it does tbh, so I'm quite pleased at what I have already got and I've spent less that £100. I already have my next product inline, a bottle tree!

When you say soak in a fv, what's a fv?

I can imagine bottling will take a while and be a bit of a pain to start with but it will all be worth it in the end I'm sure! Oh yes, IPA next I think, or European larger but no sure because of the low temperature needed.

Thanks for your advice!

[Wekslap]

FV is short for fermenting vessel or brewing bin.

John

[Manngold]

Hi. I am not sure what yeast comes with the European Lager, so I would suggest to go for the IPA. If it is a true lager yeast then perhaps wait until it is a bit cooler. As for FV, it is as Wekslap has said. The good thing is that you can leave between 15 - 20 bottles in one, which will then help. If you have a look on the sanitising forum you will find lots of great info about the process.

I personally haven't used a bottling tree. I can't recommend highly enough no rinse sanitiser. It will last ages longer than regular, and will save you so much time. No need to rinse out every bottle 3 - 5 times, and took of at least an hour from my bottling time!

[Grantbeeston]

Hi mangold, thanks for the advice on the IPA, that's what I'll do, go with euro larger in a month or two.

I have a slot of sanitiser from work so I don't really wanna be buying any just yet, but it is something I will think about in the future!

Thanks again, Grant.

[Grantbeeston]

So, just took my first hydrometer reading to see if I get 3 steady ones ready for bottling Wednesday/Thursday, must say it smells great!

The reading was 1010, this seems a bit low from what I have seen on here, am I right?

[Grantbeeston]

Also it was a bit cloudy, did seem like it had any sediment in it, just didn't seem very clear is this normal?

Sorry if they are real stupid questions but this is my first one and want to know where I've gone wrong if I have!

Thanks

[racinsnake]

Not sure why it would be cloudy, unless your talking about the krausen (frothy head) 1010 sounds like your on schedule for wed/thurs but don't rush it.
Rob.

[Grantbeeston]

Hi snake, no not the froth, the actual beer wasn't very clear, oh well time will tell! So 1010 is fine? If I get another reading tonight and then tomorrow night and they are all 1010 looks like I'll be bottling Wednesday!

[Meatymc]

1010 sounds pretty good to me and on track if your original gravity was around the expected 1040 mark. Mine didn't get below 1014 but bottled anyway a week yesterday. I've primed per bottle as my earlier post and was ultra careful given the higher than expected 1014 but shouldn't have as the brewing sugar didn't fully dissolve and when I opened a trial bottle very little fizz - just a tingle on the tongue. Smell and taste good though which is more important to me.

Like yours, wasn't (and still isn't) entirely clear but I think it's improving - now out in the garage conditioning so we'll see in another week or so (or possibly even tonight!!!!).

I'm certianly going to batch prime next time - 2nd brew should be ready to bottle at the weekend.