Hello there, i'm about to embark on my first home brew. Just wanted a few tips really. First off i am buying this beer kit http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0240210 maybe not the best in the world but it will get me started. Also is this DME? http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0207613 if i want my beer to be about 6%Vol how much sugar should i use? Is brown sugar ok to use? Also any other tips that may be helpful for a total novice brewer. Thanks in advance guy's.
Colin.
First home brew
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stevezx7r
Re: First home brew
Hi cmason561, I don't have any personal info on using the brewbuddy kits (someone may be along to give advice on these), however, it looks like you get at least a fermenter and the can of concentrated wort which should get you off to a good start.
If you can stretch to it, get yourself either a load of used bottles (local pubs are handy for this), Magners cider bottles are a pint in size, black and re-usuable. You then need bottle caps and a capper. Or, you could invest in a plastic 5 gallon keg and put the fermented beer in that to mature. It's up to you.
That second link is a mix od DME (Dry Malt Extract) and Glucose. It will do 'till you get to know the ropes although you may need two bags of this to get the abv to the correct amount (6%). Grab yourself a hydrometer and a thermometer if the brewbuddy doesn't supply either as they're invaluable.
As your making a lager I would suggest not using brown sugar, use that for making a darker beer such as a stout or maybe a bitter.
A mate of mine does the lager kits and he makes it by mixing one can of lager with two bags of sugar then tops up with water to make 40 pints. This ends up somewhere around the 8%+ abv once he's primed it !
If your after a more reasonable end result try using dry malt extract from your local home brew shop. It comes in light, medium and dark variations and makes a world of difference compared to using just sugar or BKE (Beer Kit Enhancer).
As a final note, if the fermenter doesn't come with a tap, get one as syphoning is a good way to infect beer
If you can stretch to it, get yourself either a load of used bottles (local pubs are handy for this), Magners cider bottles are a pint in size, black and re-usuable. You then need bottle caps and a capper. Or, you could invest in a plastic 5 gallon keg and put the fermented beer in that to mature. It's up to you.
That second link is a mix od DME (Dry Malt Extract) and Glucose. It will do 'till you get to know the ropes although you may need two bags of this to get the abv to the correct amount (6%). Grab yourself a hydrometer and a thermometer if the brewbuddy doesn't supply either as they're invaluable.
As your making a lager I would suggest not using brown sugar, use that for making a darker beer such as a stout or maybe a bitter.
A mate of mine does the lager kits and he makes it by mixing one can of lager with two bags of sugar then tops up with water to make 40 pints. This ends up somewhere around the 8%+ abv once he's primed it !
If your after a more reasonable end result try using dry malt extract from your local home brew shop. It comes in light, medium and dark variations and makes a world of difference compared to using just sugar or BKE (Beer Kit Enhancer).
As a final note, if the fermenter doesn't come with a tap, get one as syphoning is a good way to infect beer
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cmason561
Re: First home brew
Sorry i made a mistake i will be buying a bew buddy but it will be a bitter version. they don't have it on the website tho.
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randomdave
Re: First home brew
PISH.
There is nothing wrong with syphoning your beer, and no doubt some of the regulars who have been brewing for 20+ years will tell you the same. Although using a tap will make life easier when/if you bottle up your beer.
If you want to up the alcohol content make the kit to a bit less, so instead of 23ltr(40 pints) make it to 30 pints. Dont add extra sugar to it to increase the content it will just make your first attempt taste like shite.
There is nothing wrong with syphoning your beer, and no doubt some of the regulars who have been brewing for 20+ years will tell you the same. Although using a tap will make life easier when/if you bottle up your beer.
If you want to up the alcohol content make the kit to a bit less, so instead of 23ltr(40 pints) make it to 30 pints. Dont add extra sugar to it to increase the content it will just make your first attempt taste like shite.
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stevezx7r
Re: First home brew
Your right, nothing wrong with syphoning your beer, it's just that your increasing the risk of infection. Something I'm sure a first time homebrewer could do without.
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cmason561
Re: First home brew
Thanks for your help. Put it into the fermenter yesterday now just got to wait a few days. I also purchased a 5 gallon barrel. Been chatting to someone at work and he said something about presurising the barrel after you take some beer out of it? Does he mean with something like this http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0022563 and do i really need one? Will it work with the barrel i bought? http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0022554 he also said i need to put plenty of vaseline around the little rubber valve thingy.
Thanks
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Thanks
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mercilessrich
Re: First home brew
Hey I'm new to the forum and relatively new to homebrewing (have made 3 ales, last one John Bull masterclass was the best drinking atm, John Caxton good but too much hop enhancer and Geordie was awfull as put twice as much sugar in!). Now thinking of trying a lager.... any tips?
Anyway I opted for a brewing vat without a tap and have been siphoning- bad? When you talk about contamination do you mean sucking up dead yeast and crap or bacterial contamination from the tubing that is hard to clean effectively? I have one of the end-pieces to stop sucking up shit. Also I have kegs so was thinking of transfering from the vat to the keg with primer and leaving for a few hours to start secondary fermentation before bottling. Am I doing the right thing?
Many thank,
Rich
Anyway I opted for a brewing vat without a tap and have been siphoning- bad? When you talk about contamination do you mean sucking up dead yeast and crap or bacterial contamination from the tubing that is hard to clean effectively? I have one of the end-pieces to stop sucking up shit. Also I have kegs so was thinking of transfering from the vat to the keg with primer and leaving for a few hours to start secondary fermentation before bottling. Am I doing the right thing?
Many thank,
Rich