Festival Golden Stag HELP PLEASE

[Simo72]

HI all
I have just returned from my LHBS (20 mls) with the intention of picking up a lager kit, however my eye was drawn to the festival Golden Stag premium kit so i bought in on impulse having read good reviews on here. The problem is that there are no instructions in the box ,now ive done a few kits so no basically what to do except with the sachet of hop pellets supplied and also a voille type drawstring bag,not sure when to add these or method used to do so. I could go back to the shop but its another 20mls trip and time this week is limited.
If anyone as done this kit and could offer advice or post the instructions on this thread I would be most grateful.
Thanks in advance
Mark

[tricky_dicky]

I have just put on the Festival Pilgrims Hope kit - so am guessing the general instructions are the same

The kit is made up as per any other kit, pop the 2 sachets of malt extract in the FV, add some boiling water to dissolve it (2 or 3l). Add the extra brewing sugar (not all the kits have this, so skip it if there is no dextrose in your kit). Top up to 23l at approx 20 degrees C

They advise adding the hops after 5 days, the bag supplied in the kit is intended as a strainer to go over your syphon, when you bottling or kegging the beer, so i have popped them in an existing hop bag I had.

After 10-14 days batch prime using the supplied priming sugar and then bottle / keg as required - leave for minimum 2 (preferably 4) weeks before drinking

[Simo72]

cheers mate its just that i didnt know when or how to add these hops i have no other bag so can the hops go straight in the fv and presumably be strained out when bottling?

[tricky_dicky]

Yeah, in the instructons they say to put the hops directly into the beer, without stirring them in - they will dissipate through the beer over the next few days. And then simply using the strainer bag over the syphon when transfering the beer to be bottled. I just prefer to use a hop bag as it wont clog up my little bottler.

Hope all goes well - these kits are proving very popular

[Simo72]

thanks again dicky, I have the little bottler too so i might do the same as you and put the hops in that bag or steal some net curtain from somewhere and use that lol

[Simo72]

Phoned LHBS who are posting me a set of destructions so made a start on it this morning and looks a lovely colour and nice aroma but just typical of me i dropped the fecking thermometer and surprise surprise it broke, on about my 4th or 5th already Anyhow despite not knowing the temp, I pitched the yeast anyway as temp felt about right so heres hoping all goes well

[crafty john]

Instead of arsing around with a glass thermometer just buy one of those stick on fish tank thermometers and stick it on the outside of your FV, they work a treat for keeping a check on temperature whilst fermenting too.

[Simo72]

brilliant idea John I'm straight down the pet shop

[crafty john]

If you have a wilkos nearby they are only about £2.00.

[Simo72]

Added the supplied hop pellets this morning and took a reading,down to 1022 so dropped 20 points after 5 days so things obviously working. Its fermenting at 21 deg C in a kitchen cupboard I know this because i got a strip thermometer from wilko only £1.49 so thanks John. Anyway I obviously had a sip of the sample and its tasting fantastic and already hoppy with a dry citrus finish so if it tastes this good now then boy can I not wait to try this when its properly ready .

[Brewmaster Matt]

Hi all. These Festival Kits are the best i've done and got another 40 pints of Golden Stag Ale fermenting now. Good shout on adding those hop pellets. I strained the whole batch into a keg after adding the loose pellets as per instructions (5 days in). Took a while to syphon but trust me. This beer is simply amazing. Keg/bottle it then leave for 3 weeks. Beats a lot of pub commercial ales. Easily