1st time Ale Brewer

[toiletduck]

Hi,

Its my first time brewing, just got a starter kit and I have a couple of questions I hope someone can help me out with.

1. I bought a Muntons Special Ale kit, the kit does not really tell me how to use it. Can you tell me if i need to use sugar/spraymalt/carbonating drops in the frementer/bottles?

2. I'm not 100% about setting up the fermenter, after all has been sanitised, i grease the o ring and lid with vaseline, then the bung that fits into the hole in the center of the lid. Do i then add the airlock (at least i think thats what it is, looks like a straw with two compartments) and fill with water?

These questions probably sound very basic but any advise you can give me is much appreciated.

THanks,
TDuck

[Stomach]

Hey dont worry!

I am very new and ask many questions!

Is the Muntons a 3KG kit? Does it have 2 cans? I havent done this one yet, but if so, all you need is the two cans and the required water, usually 2 litres ish of boiling water and the rest to 23litres of cold water then the yeast.

You dont need to grease the lid, unless others know otherwise as the pressure/Co2 is released through the airlock which you put in the little hole in the lid a put water in.

Once fermented, either bottle or keg with the required sugar (i use brewers sugar at the moment) and leave for its secondary fermentation in a war, place (around a week) then a cool place to clear and condition which can take several weeks.

I drank my first brew, Wherry when it was still cloudy and tasted great! Impatients of the first time brewer!!

If you use a keg, you do need to grease the cap. And use cap with a S03 valave so you can inject it with C02 if necessary.

Anything else keep asking!

Cheers

Matt

[toiletduck]

Hi,

Thanks a million.

Yep its the 2 can packet, so what your saying is all the ingredients are already within.
I just need to add suger to each bottle before dispensing so the secondary fermantation will take place. I'd better look at getting some brewers sugar.

Do you bottle in green or brown bottles only? I read somewhere that clear coloured or transparent bottles will destroy the taste.

Thanks again.

[Yeasty Rob]

The colour of the bottles is just to cut down on potential damage from light. So yes, if clear and stored in direct light then it will affect the taste.

If you keep the bottles in the dark (mine are in a dark corner of the garage) then it doesn't really matter on the colour.

That said, even in coloured bottles you shouldn't really have them in direct sunlight as some will get through and impact the brew.

[Simon7]

You stick half a teaspoon of sugar per bottle when bottling. Normal granulated sugar is fine, you don't use enough of it for it to affect the taste but I know some people who will only use brewing sugar.

You don't need the airlock, just put the lid on the FV and pull it of slightly at one side to leave a gap..

[toiletduck]

Thanks folks,

your replies were very helpful. fingers crossed for the 1st batch.

Tduck

[Brotherton Lad]

Look at the 'Kit' link top right. A picture paints a thousand words.

[kay-jay]

Hey dont worry!

Once fermented, leave for its secondary fermentation in a war, place (around a week)

Matt

+1 for a war place. i ship mine out to helmand province

[EoinMag]

Don't bother with greasing the o-ring, it is not necessary to have an air tight fit on a fermenter, all you need to do is keep dust and germs out. Once you have a physical barrier then the dust will be kept out.
If you are kegging beer then the o-ring needs to be greased so the keg can hold pressure and has a good seal, not at fermenter stage.

[Stomach]

Hey dont worry!

Once fermented, leave for its secondary fermentation in a war, place (around a week)

Matt

+1 for a war place. i ship mine out to helmand province

Hahaha! Slip of the finger!!

[toiletduck]

Thanks,

One more question. After sanitising all equipment with sanitising agent, do you use tap water to rinse away chemicals?
Seems like defeating the purpose of sanitising in the first place?

Thanks,
Tduck

[EoinMag]

Thanks,

One more question. After sanitising all equipment with sanitising agent, do you use tap water to rinse away chemicals?
Seems like defeating the purpose of sanitising in the first place?

Thanks,
Tduck

If you are using chlorine based cleaners then you must rinse them. The best sanitiser is arguably Star san which is a no rinse acid based product. It is not particularly a cleaner but it is used to soak bottles and equipment for about 30 seconds before usage and you don't rinse it off.
For the purposes of homebrewing, tap water is considered to be sanitary enough to rinse stuff with, once you've killed the nasties with a cleaning agent, normally something chlorine based. I clean with VWP and then sanitise before use with Star san.

[Brotherton Lad]

Tap water is fine for rinsing, if you're fussy, do a final rinse with hot water from a boiled kettle.

[toiletduck]

thanks,

I started yesterday and the airtrap was bubbling away nicely this morning as I was leaving for work.

Can you tell me how/where you keep your bottles warm and at what temperature during the secondary fermentation?

Obviously you cant use the brew belt.

Thanks,
Tduck

[Stomach]

thanks,

I started yesterday and the airtrap was bubbling away nicely this morning as I was leaving for work.

Can you tell me how/where you keep your bottles warm and at what temperature during the secondary fermentation?

Obviously you cant use the brew belt.

Thanks,
Tduck

My bottles are in the nursery as its loveky and warm in there! Baby is still in our bedroom with us as he is only 4 weeks old! It makes a good place for primery FV as well!