National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Kit Brewing => Topic started by: ddonlon on January 10, 2016, 10:58:15 AM

Title: Second brew question
Post by: ddonlon on January 10, 2016, 10:58:15 AM
I put my second home brew kit in the fv on Monday it was bubbling a lot on Tuesday but has slowed down a lot now , 6- 12 minutes between bubbles , is this ok , it's a wheat beer , I have a heat belt if I need it it's about 18 degs
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: Oh Crap on January 10, 2016, 11:12:03 AM
Remember your firs brew? Patience is key. Bubbling isn't the best guide, but yes it is normal for it to slow down. Waiting 2 weeks at least and using a hydrometer will tell you when it's done. Same reading for 3 consecutive days.  😄 It get easier with time
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: ddonlon on January 20, 2016, 09:59:04 PM
I have taken 3 gravity readings OG was 1.050 on 4th Jan and two more one on 15th Jan 1.012 and again this evening same reading 1.012 ,is it ready to bottle
Thanks
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: Leann ull on January 20, 2016, 11:58:27 PM
I'd give it until the 24th and measure again, if your frustrated do another one and keep them coming on a rolling basis
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: ddonlon on January 26, 2016, 10:26:23 PM
I'm almost ready to bottle its 1.011 tonight it was 1.012 for a few days before that, I want to check if I can use Milton to sanitise ,Im waiting for a rinser and sanitser  from HBW.
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: Leann ull on January 26, 2016, 10:29:00 PM
Yep plenty of rinse out
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: Pheeel on January 27, 2016, 09:48:45 AM
You should stop taking gravity readings. You're just wasting beer. Leave it for 3 weeks then check it next time! I've only ever missing my FG once and that was with a bad yeast starter
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: ddonlon on January 31, 2016, 04:48:08 PM
I have just cleaned my bottles with VWP the bottles are filled with the cleaner, it says to rinse out with cold clean water is this the correct thing to do or should I rinse out with the bleach vinegar mix, I have no bottle rinser I'm waiting for HBW to get mine in stock
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: Drum on January 31, 2016, 05:30:12 PM
I used vmp til the tub i got with my starter kit ran out. Found it a pain for bottling as it needs rinsing. What I used to do was turn on the immersion and get the tap water as hot as possible then rinse the bottles one at a time under the hot tap. Cold tap water is probably ok if you trust your water supply but I prefered to use hot water just in case.

Get yourself some no rinse sanitiser, you'll never go back to vmp for bottling.
Title: Second brew question
Post by: Leann ull on February 01, 2016, 12:20:55 AM
Cheapest solution for guaranteeing your bottles are clean is w5 from lidl, rinse and sanitise with starsan using a bottle washer and drain on a bottle tree
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: ddonlon on February 11, 2016, 10:30:50 PM
I have a craft range blonde lager brewing since Monday,do I follow instructions about time to ferment it says put hops in after 7 days and bottle after 10 . I looked at the review on the forum and it seems best to follow the instructions but want to make sure
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: Pepin The Short on February 13, 2016, 10:12:25 AM
Quote from: CH on February 01, 2016, 12:20:55 AM
Cheapest solution for guaranteeing your bottles are clean is w5 from lidl, rinse and sanitise with starsan using a bottle washer and drain on a bottle tree

But which w5 from lidl ?All their cleaning products are w5 from lidl .

Na I use their non scented bleach on any bottles I`m going to use. Got a large storage bin from £ land and I let them steep in there over night . I get a most of my bottles from my local for nothing .Just be careful when taking bottles out after steeping .The last thing you want is to lift a bottle out ,only to find yerself holding the label and the bottle hitting the floor and smashing .... Or worse still landing back in the storage bin and busting other bottles along with itself .

Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: LordEoin on February 13, 2016, 10:16:37 AM
it's the purple tub of powder called something like 'non scented oxi cleaner'
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: johnrm on February 13, 2016, 10:44:32 AM
It's in the laundry section.
Took me a year to figure that bit...
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: Pepin The Short on February 13, 2016, 11:27:28 AM
I have seen that in my local one .Got to head past there later today,so will pick up a tub cheers .
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: Will_D on February 13, 2016, 07:42:48 PM
I would love to ask the Lidl buyers a question:
"Have noticed a massive increase in sales of W5 Oxyclean in the last few years?"

Come to think of it I might just do that!

Update: Just done that!

Maybe we can get them on-board as an associate!!
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: ddonlon on February 27, 2016, 08:57:05 PM
I have just started opening my second batch its a Mangrove Jacks Wheat beer, it doesn't hold its head very long ,I think its still ok, i thought it tasted similar to the Pale Ale , but was wondering is there any way to keep a better head on these in the future .
I have a craft range lager bottled in the hot press for the last week and a Yorkshire bitter in the fermentor.
Title: Re: Second brew question
Post by: LordEoin on February 28, 2016, 12:58:05 AM
try steep some carapils