Making a kit up tomorrow [Newbie advice please...]

[Roy]

It seems that I keep asking questions on here, however i've always gone by the rule of thumb that you don't get anywhere if you don't ask questions!

I have an EDME IPA kit and 1kg of light spraymalt that I will be making tomorrow. Do I follow the instructions on the can of adding boiling water to the mixture in the FV or are there better ways of doing things such as heating it in a pan and adding some of the malt at the same time and the rest when it's all in the FV?

Do I need to use these camden tablets that people speak of? I'll probably use bottled water as it'll be easier than using a jug or other vessle to add to the wort if that matters.

Is there any point in using an airlock as there is a hole on the lid of the FV, i've read on here that it's best to just tape it over and release any pressure as and when.

[Brotherton Lad]

There's more than one way to skin a cat.
Depending on what kit you have, the more water you can boil the better. LME dissolves better in hot rather than cold water, so it's easier to do it on the stove. Rinse the tin out a couple of times too. Add the DME gadually to prevent it lumping together.
Half a Campden tablet will neutralise the chlorine present in 5 gallons of tap water. Put 5 gall in your FV, add half a crushed tablet and stir. Then boil as much of this as your pots will hold, leaving space for the malt extract. Be careful when it comes to the boil as it will rise up quickly. Then add it to the treated water in your FV.
I've never used an airlock on a FV in 35 years of brewing. I just put the lid on and cover any airhole in the lid to stop anything falling in the brew.
Good luck,
Another Roy

[micromaniac]

It seems that I keep asking questions on here, however i've always gone by the rule of thumb that you don't get anywhere if you don't ask questions!

I have an EDME IPA kit and 1kg of light spraymalt that I will be making tomorrow. Do I follow the instructions on the can of adding boiling water to the mixture in the FV or are there better ways of doing things such as heating it in a pan and adding some of the malt at the same time and the rest when it's all in the FV?

Do I need to use these camden tablets that people speak of? I'll probably use bottled water as it'll be easier than using a jug or other vessle to add to the wort if that matters.

Is there any point in using an airlock as there is a hole on the lid of the FV, i've read on here that it's best to just tape it over and release any pressure as and when.

when ever i use spray malt in a kit i make up as the kit instuctions and tip 4/5 litres of boilingf water on to the mixture .never had any probs yet .and yes just cover hole with a cloth and just use tap water with 1/2 cam tab in it ,its a lot cheaper than buying bottled .thats unless your tap water is realy foul

[Roy]

Made this up last night, went pretty well! I used the guide on the homepage of the site. It's currently in a room at 18 degrees which, from what I gather is the wrong side of optimum temp. I've just ordered a 75w fishtank heater for the FV but in the meantime i'll move the FV to the bathroom later and, until the heater arrives i'll leave the heating on in the bathroom and monitor the temp.

[Cheshire-cheese]

I'd say 18 degrees is fine, don't sweat.

[Roy]

I'm looking forward to getting home from work and [hopefully] seeing a bulge in the lid!

[Cheshire-cheese]

Don't panic if you don't, sometimes it takes a day or two for it to get going

[Roy]

Cheers buddy

[injac]

Roy,

I've just done one of these kits and has been bottled for 3 weeks. Was a very slow starter this one and it isn't the most active kit in the world. Had a taste this week and it seems good but could do with a few more weeks yet.

Cheers

[Roy]

Cheers for the heads up. How long was it in the FV until it was ready to be bottled mate?

[injac]

It spent 9 days in the FV before being bottled. I pitched some fresh yeast after the few initial days of no activity and then it livened up a tiny bit before dropping to 1010 after about 8 days.

[Roy]

I got home yesterday afternoon after work, opened the little cupboard where it's resting and I was met with a lovely smell of beer and a bulging lid!

The temperature of the cupboard was 18 degrees which has now gone up to 20 degrees overnight. Don't know why as the heating was off overnight and there's no radiatior in the cupboard.

Thinking of removing the lid and placing it on top loosely so I don't have to keep letting the air out. Is this advisable or shall i just let the gas out whenever I can?

[Brotherton Lad]

Fermentation generates its own heat, a bit like your compost heap.

[Cheshire-cheese]

I got home yesterday afternoon after work, opened the little cupboard where it's resting and I was met with a lovely smell of beer and a bulging lid!

The temperature of the cupboard was 18 degrees which has now gone up to 20 degrees overnight. Don't know why as the heating was off overnight and there's no radiatior in the cupboard.

Thinking of removing the lid and placing it on top loosely so I don't have to keep letting the air out. Is this advisable or shall i just let the gas out whenever I can?

Yeah, place it on loosely