First ever home brew

[Onoff]

I always used to put half a Campden tablet in my airlocks before adding water. This to keep that water sterile. The CO2 still bubbles up happily through it. Just be careful not to drop the Campden tablet into the denijohn and stop (kill) the fermentation! (Save that for winemaking when you want to stop any secondary fermentation before bottling).

This is briging back memories, using egg white for clearing etc...my older brother taught me, he learnt from CJ Berry's books. I started making my own aged about 12. Probably why I didn't do too well at school When our Dad retired he was bored stiff and decided he'd start making it rather than drinking ours. Went for it in a big way, 25 litres of wine was his first one and he bottled it too soon / didn't stop it. One night the whole lot started exploding like Las Vegas fountains in M&D's wardrobes!

 

[daedalusminos]

6 days and no fermentation is not good!

Any idea on age of the yeast? I tend to substitute my own yeast in these kits so I know it's fresh.

 

[brewdexta]

Can I decant it into a sterile saucepan and back out again. It's on day 6 now so might it be too late.

I checked this morning and there's a few bubbles in the air trap but nothing actively moving.

A sterile saucepan is fine, just splash it around a bit to get some oxygen in.

It should be around 18c to 20c for a vigorous fermentation.

If that don't work, another sachet of yeast. My goto yeast if others fail is Nottingham yeast, it always go like a train.

 

[8ob]

6 days and no fermentation is not good!

Any idea on age of the yeast? I tend to substitute my own yeast in these kits so I know it's fresh.

Pete never had water in the air trap gadget, it may well have fermented. I have had some of these traps dry out on brews and its not spoiled the beer

Bob

 

[brewdexta]

Good spot!

So, does it taste like beer

 

[Melvyn Best]

My first attempt ended up going down the drain, the second brew is a lot better so don’t be put off if it doesn’t work out

 

[Cobbler]

Made beer for many years, never had to tip any down the drain. Had the odd one that’s pretty dire, but had some really cracking ones as well. The kits are so much better than they used to be, buy a good kit, a 2 can one & you will get good beer.

 

[brewdexta]

I'm brewing today, a standard bitter of about 3.6% as requested by the missus. As the premium bitter I've just brewed is called sheep dip, so this weaker one was going to be called, lambs tail, but the missus suggested dag end (the dirty bit of fleece near a sheep's bum) which has morphed into Brewdag bitter

 

[Pete.]

Thanks for the input, I'll have a taste this evening when I get home.

So if it's finished bubbling it should tate like beer except without the alcohol content because I haven't added the sugar yet?

I have a Holland & Barrett across the road and they sell brewer's yeast (although it'[s a tenner a packet). I probably only need half a gram

 

[daedalusminos]

So if it's finished bubbling it should tate like beer except without the alcohol content because I haven't added the sugar yet?

You haven't added the sugar?

 

[Pete.]

You haven't added the sugar?

No, the sugar is added in step 7, I'm still on step 6 of the instructions.

 

[daedalusminos]

AHH, that just looks like the conditioning sugar....4.5g/litre

No sugar added earlier on?

 

[Onoff]

@pete, how many pints does the kit make?

Pretty sure the old kits I used to make like Boots, Geordie and Tom Caxton (Tom Cats we called it), came in a tin and you just added a bag of sugar. Then half a tsp per bottle for secondary fermentation. Tins I say, not this new fangled stuff in a bag!

Bought and tried the early Rotokeg a couple of times. Could never get on with it. All perishable seals and pressure cooker style relief valves.

 

[brewdexta]

Thanks for the input, I'll have a taste this evening when I get home.

So if it's finished bubbling it should tate like beer except without the alcohol content because I haven't added the sugar yet?

I have a Holland & Barrett across the road and they sell brewer's yeast (although it'[s a tenner a packet). I probably only need half a gram

If the brewers yeast is a dietary supplement, the yeast will be dead. Amazon and Ebay sell proper brewing yeast and is probably your best bet if your local brew shop is closed

 

[Onoff]

@pete, any good?

. Home

 

[Pete.]

@pete, any good?

. Home

Yes mate cheers I'll pop down there tomorrow I think.

 

[Onoff]

Yes mate cheers I'll pop down there tomorrow I think.

Bl@@dy Hell, we're nigh on neighbours then!

Are they open? I suppose alcohol production could be construed as essential.

 

[Pete.]

The website says they are. I'm just in Gravesend so not very far away.

TBH if you can't find brewing stuff in Kent you're in trouble

 

[slim_boy_fat]

As the premium bitter I've just brewed is called sheep dip

Hope none of the copyright owners read this....

A quick re-labelling might be in order.

 

[Onoff]

The website says they are. I'm just in Gravesend so not very far away.

TBH if you can't find brewing stuff in Kent you're in trouble

Norton's in Barnhurst used to be my go to shop years ago. There was also a good one in Charlton. Both long gone.

The Range just the other side of the Medway tunnel does/did do a bit of home brew stuff. Try the bigger Wilkinsons too.