Brew UK Forum | Beer Kits
Away To Start First Ever Kit This Weekend
Hello everyone.
I'm Nick and for my anniversary my wife bought me a beer making kit from this site.
This weekend I aim to to try it. I got the Woodfordes Microbrewery Premium 40 Pint Starter Set.
But having looked at the instructions it seems a little daunting as I thought it would be a step by step guide and it isn't, in fact the instructions seem a little lightweight for me.
Having never done this before I really do not want to mess it up.
Anyone give any good tips to alleviate my fears? Apart from the kit do I need to get anything else (I read on another post you need to buy your own yeast???). I have some vaseline as the instructions mentioned that...
After it is done in the big bucket I need to get it in the keg that the kit has, what do I do with it after that? (Apart from glugging it) If I want to bottle it is there instructions somewhere on how to do that?
Sorry for all the questions, it just seems a little daunting at first...looking forward though to getting going at the weekend with it!
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Member
You shouldn't have to buy yeast.
I would buy a 23 lt fermenter with a tap that can also fill bottles and use a airlock. ( about £20 and is a good bit of kit to have for ginger beer/wine)
Than I'd brew in fermenter and transfer to barrel.
Have a go at that and forget trying to bottle it as its your first attempt.
The Wherry's is an excellent kit, keeping stuff clean is paramount.
But once its has stopped bubbling for a few days check with hydrometer and than transfer to barrel.
Plenty of tip in forum under beer kits.
Have fun!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
The Woodfordes Microbrewery should have all you need to start off. I am only on my 2nd brew and it is as easy as it looks. Well it is so far. The first brew has been in the keg for about two weeks and is starting to look good. The basic instructions on the box with the tins in it shoud tell you what you need to do when you put the beer in the keg. And yes as Lol said have fun I know I am
5 gal St Peters Golden Ale as per tin
Youngs Harvest Mild
all a bit moded
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
You should have everything you need.
Just sterilise the equipment by making up some steriliser solution in the ferment bin (the big bucket) and wash it round and leave for 10 mins. Then rinse really well.
Meanwhile stand the 2 cans in some hot water to soften the contents. Empty them into the sterilised ferment bin, add a kettle full of boiling water and stir to mix (using a sterilised spoon). Top up with cold water as per instructions and stir again. Sprinkle the yeast on top.
Stick the lid on and move somewhere warm (18c - 22c) and away from direct sunlight. Put the bottom piece of the airlock in the hole in the lid (with the black grommet inserted) and fill with a small amount of water. Place the top half back in and get yourself a beer.
After about 24 hours a thick head will form on the top of the brew. This will subside after about a week. Check the gravity by sticking the (sterilised) hydrometer in the beer and if its the same over 2 days (around 1.012 ish) then syphon to the sterilised barrel. Sterlise this just before you use it, same goes for the syphon. Add 60g of sugar and leave in the same place as you fermented for 1 week. Then move somewhere cooler (garage etc) and leave to clear. This will probably take about 4 weeks but best thing to do is take a sample each week and see how its going.
Simples.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
just to back up what every one else has said follow gregs instructions, it's a lot easier than you think.
Just remember keep every thing steralised, if you steralise a spoon then put it down on you kitchen work top then it's not steralised any more, I always lay out some tin foil and give it a quick wipe with kitchen roll dipped in steralising solution then you can leave all your little bits (spoon, hydrometer etc) on it. I also do a sweep of the kithcen and kill off any flies, once you start mixing it up they'll head straight for it and try and sneek into the FV while your not looking.
Conditioning - Woodfords Great eastern ale, Parsnip wine, Rhubarb wine.
Brewing - nothing at the minute
Planing - Coopers ginger beer, 5L turbo peach thanks to bmsleight, maybe beetroot wine if there enough spare on the alotment,
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thanks guys and greg...those instructions are perfect...so I need to buy 60g of sugar...and am I best to use bottled water???
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I have just started my second brew, used water from the tap both times,doesn't do any harm except some say you might get slight difference in taste depending on regional water quality, Ive also hear that you can use a 1/2 campden tablet, but I am keeping it simple, spent enough already.
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Homer you can use normal sugar for priming.
Bottled water or 1/2 a campden tab will be the best.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
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