First brew questions

[youngbrewer]

hiya all,

Done me first 2 kit brews yesterday morning and just checked them now and the cider has a nice head forming on it but the lager has only a small head not as big as the cider

any info please

[Horden Hillbilly]

hiya all,

Done me first 2 kit brews yesterday morning and just checked them now and the cider has a nice head forming on it but the lager has only a small head not as big as the cider

any info please

As long as they are both fermenting, which they obviously are, there is nothing to be concerned about.

You will find that you will rarely have two different brews ferment the same, this is normal.

[youngbrewer]

hiya all,

Done me first 2 kit brews yesterday morning and just checked them now and the cider has a nice head forming on it but the lager has only a small head not as big as the cider

any info please

As long as they are both fermenting, which they obviously are, there is nothing to be concerned about.

You will find that you will rarely have two different brews ferment the same, this is normal.

oh thats good the cider smells really nice

[youngbrewer]

looked at it today and the head has gone down on the cider and is about the same on the lager

do you think im worrying to much?

[maxashton]

Yes, you are most certainly worrying too much.

What yeast did you use? Kit yeast or S-04?

[youngbrewer]

i used kit yeast

whats s-04?

[maxashton]

Safale S-04. Kit yeast is often poor quality and only in 7g sachets. I think the only single can kits that ship with decent yeast are the Coopers ones.

Safale S-04 is a proper ale yeast, sold in 11g sachets. Most of the homebrew shops on the web sell it, and it's very good quality.

[youngbrewer]

in future i will get that s-04 my next lager kits is going to be a coopers so hopefully that will be better

Also thinking about using spray malt in my next brew with half sugar is spray malt better??

thanks for your help

[maxashton]

If you want to brew a Lager, you don't really want to use spraymalt IMO. Brewing a lager without refrigeration is already hard to get quite what you want, and if you use spraymalt you'll have an even harder time. I'd suggest you buy a kilo of brewing sugar (glucose) and use that.

For a lager kit, try Nottingham yeast or US-05 yeast.

[youngbrewer]

I'd suggest you buy a kilo of brewing sugar (glucose) and use that.

Yep will get some of that

For a lager kit, try Nottingham yeast or US-05 yeast.

same with this will get this and use it instead of the yeast that comes with the kit, right??

[maxashton]

Yes mate. Use it in the same way. You can toss the kit yeast sachet in the freezer if you like for emergencies.

[youngbrewer]

Yes mate. Use it in the same way. You can toss the kit yeast sachet in the freezer if you like for emergencies.

thanks for the help mate the rate im going im gunna want a big shed in the garden for my mini brewery!!!

stupid questino but what does putting it in the freezer do??

[maxashton]

It keeps longer. Yeast is only viable as packaged for a year after packaging.

Well, that's the rule of thumb.

[youngbrewer]

cheers for the answer to some silly questions mate your a star

[maxashton]

No worries, chief. Don't get too pissed.