Done a kit brew the weekend. Not actually at home but my sources tell me that there's not much activity. Had my assistant peek inside the lid yesterday and there's a little bit of foam on the top of the liquid. I'm hoping it was just slow to take off. Yeast was dry and I re hydrated it (@ ~ 22 deg cel) before I added it. I'm probably going to leave it for 2 weeks (I had planned to do this pre brew as an experiment anyway). There is pressure acting in the bubbler but its not bubbling yet. I think maybe my bucket isn't perfectly sealed (Second bung in the lid for temp checks) so gas is probably escaping but I'm confident its sealed enough to prevent infection. My question, at long last, besides doing a gravity check is there any indication, tell tale or simple tests I can do to decide whether or not to bottle? :-/
What temp is the FV at? It may be too cold & the yeast have gone to sleep. Im back in my thermals this week like. You could take a hydrometer reading & see what its down to.
FV? I presume you mean the fermentation vessel aka "the bucket". I have a little thermostat so its never lower that 20 deg cel and she's wrapped in a blanket too. I'll take a gravity at the weekend so. Seems to be the most fool proof!
Cheers.
Sounds like its doing the biso to me.
The foam sounds good. (pic would be handy)
Your temps sound good.
The bubbler isnt bubbling, but from what you say it sounds like the water is slightly pushed up - but not past the point of bubbling. That means there is definitely something going on - its just the gas is getting pushed out a path of lesser resistance than your bubbler.
Vaseline on the lid might have helped the seal - but i dont think you have anything to worry about.
Just take a reading when you get a chance, in the meantime dont sweat it.
1,2,3 rule
1 Weeks Primary
2 Weeks secondary
3 Weeks in bottles
That last one is a minimum, the longer the better
You dont normally rehydrate yeast that comes with kits, just sprinkle over the top.
I used to use a drill and mixing paddle (loop pinched off the top)to get shed loads of oxygen into wort before pitching and bubblebath ;D, always had active ferment
It sounds like its doing all right.
Don't go poking at it, Once the Vessels temp is low 20s and you should be grand.
Is ambient temp inclined to vary much?
If you're fermenting in a cool room, your Beasties might go to sleep.
Took a gravity reading. FG = 1.010 & OG = 1.03ish (can't remember exactly off the top of my head). Had a little taste too. Seems fine. I'll give it another week although it doesn't have much more content to lose as far as liquid gravity content is concerned. Panic over! Looking forward to all grain brewing. Want to get higher starting gravity. The kit brews seem to consistently sit around 1.03~ although in saying that I always end up with 24 - 25 liters in my fermentation bucket instead of 23 which is what the kit is designed for. I'll put this panic down to a poor seal in the bucket!
most of the kits i did were all 1.040 down to 1.010, apart from Muntons that always started higher but stalled at 1014-1017, you can always add less water or bump your fermetables if you are looking for something a bit stronger??
If you want to boost your abv with kits add 17 litres instead of 24 or whatever. I made a great st.peters ipa doing this. It does increase the price per beer however.
This ws probably my last kit brew to be honest. I'm in the process of making the equipment for all grain brewing. I'm just glad I didn't mess it up!
QuoteThis ws probably my last kit brew to be honest. I'm in the process of making the equipment for all grain brewing. I'm just glad I didn't mess it up!
Kits are always great to cut your teeth on and get familiar with basic brewing priciples.
QuoteQuoteThis ws probably my last kit brew to be honest. I'm in the process of making the equipment for all grain brewing. I'm just glad I didn't mess it up!
Kits are always great to cut your teeth on and get familiar with basic brewing priciples.
I totally agree that they're great for getting used to basic principles, and I'd recommend doing another few kit or extract brews to nail these principles down a bit more and learn about the 'bit of foam on the top of the liquid', the dangers of having your assistant 'peek inside the lid', how your bubblers and 'bucket' work, temperature control, how to stop adding water at 23L, knowing when to bottle etc...
Otherwise it's will be a whole lot easier to mess up your all grain brew, and end up with a load of bottles full of.. well... fizzy pish.
As the others said, if you simply want to get a higher OG, add more fermentables or less water. Or both.
Coopers IPA + 1.5kg DME + 300g dex, to 20Liters = ~1.060 OG
Add some carapils and bramling cross to that and it would be a cracker.
Don't forget that if you do kits right you can make great beers without having to invest a lot of money in AG equipment, space for the equipment, and time in the brewing process.
The combinations of different kits/fermentables/hops/hopping schedules/grains/yeasts/temperatures/techniques are endless and great fun to explore. :)