Hi all

[Stufat]

After a weekend at my buddies who makes all sorts of concoctions, I've decided to start making my own.
I've got the basic 6 bottle starter kit from wilcos, but that should give me most of the equipment for future recipes shouldn't it?
My buddy had a scotch bonnet/ginger cider.... My word, evil wasn't even close

Anyways, I'll be looking to make wines/ciders mainly, any tips and advice would certainly help.

[Stufat]

Excuse my noobness, but the bit that sticks out the bung, that I have to half fill with water... Cap on or off?

[aarsims]

on:)

[Stufat]

Ok, so I've been reading round the forum for a few hours and I have some questions.
What is racking and priming?
Regarding the yeast, for someone that wants to try a few different drinks, is there a generic yeast to buy?
How is the yeast sold? Does it come in sachets or in a tub that has to be measured kind of thing.

I'm thinking of ginger ciders, toffee apple ciders and the mrs is on about Sumer fruit type wine

And thanks for your answer above

[Geezah]

Racking is siphoning the brew off the seadiment (dead yeast cells) in to a fresh fermenter to allow the brew to clear beter.

Priming is adding more fermentable sugars to the brew then sealing it in a bottle or keg so it ferments again, this time trapping the co2 to make the brew fizzy.

For general purpose wines / ciders you can buy tubs of Youngs all purpose wine / cider yeast, just add a tsp per brew.
You will find with time and trials that although this works fine, other specific yeasts give a different / better taste to the finished brew.

Start off nice and simple and then progress as you gain experience and confidence..... but keep asking the questions, its all part of your new brewing education

For the record my first ever cider was apple juice, sugar and strong black tea whacked in a demijohn with some bread yeast and it was so good i've not stopped brewing since.

[Stufat]

Thanks for the reply and advice, been reading some recipes on here and other sites I will be trying.
Loving the simplicity of apple juice, sugar, yeast, maybe a dash of this or that for other flavourings.
Can see this being addictive.

Can't remember what it's called, but my kit didn't come with the thing for measuring the alcohol content, going to a shop tommorow to buy a few more its n bobs that I will need. Now to watch eBay for some gallon demijohns

Sorry, another question, you mentioned adding tea, someone in another post mentioned it as well. Why is this, and is it a case of a couple of tea bags or how?

[Geezah]

Tea adds tannin, 4 t bags in a mug for 20 minutes.

or you could buy some wine tannin (about £1.30 a tub) and use 1/2 a tsp.

As for demijohns, I use empty 5l water bottles. Just drill a hole in the cap, fit a rubber grommet and your good to go.

And the thing you want for measuring is called a hydrometer.
You tahe a reading before adding the yeast, then another at the end of fermentation, do a little sum (or use this website - http://www.rooftopbrew.net/abv.php) and you get a failry good idea of ABV.

[Stufat]

Sorry, last one for tonight.
4 tea bags in a mug..... Do you mean tea bags in water In a mug, then into the demijohn, is it just the bags that go in or the whole cupful?

Thanks for all help so far

[Geezah]

make a really strong mug of black tea by leaving 4 tbags in a mug of boiling water for about 20 minutes, then add the tea to the DJ

[oldbloke]

Can't remember what it's called, but my kit didn't come with the thing for measuring the alcohol content, going to a shop tommorow to buy a few more its n bobs that I will need. Now to watch eBay for some gallon demijohns

Did you get a hydrometer?
I don't bother much with mine - I always ferment to dry and so work it from how much sugar the recipe has.
A pound of sugar in a gallon is 5% (likewise, 100gm in a litre is 5%)

[Stufat]

Went to beers unlimited in Essex today, got a plastic demijohn, a hydrometer, some yeast and airlock. Stopped at sainsburys on way home and picked up the apple juice and some nice natural ginger/lemon cordial which could be epic