My first brew - Have I messed it up?

[Drzava]

sweet tasting beer
time to batch prime and get into a bottle

Ok. So I've been using the tap on my FV to take samples for gravity readings. This is obviously not sterile now. How can I use this tap to get the beer it to my other bucket?

Is there some other process I will have to use?

Whenever I take samples from the tap, I rinse it twice after with boiled water (turn it 'upside down' to fill), and then fill it with Starsan for a couple of minutes. For racking I then just rinse it wit Starsan before attaching the tubing and away I go!

[thechevron]

I pitched more yeast and it eventually reached 1.016 and has been like this since 27/02/2016.

It's a bloody mess 

[thechevron]

sweet tasting beer
time to batch prime and get into a bottle

Ok. So I've been using the tap on my FV to take samples for gravity readings. This is obviously not sterile now. How can I use this tap to get the beer it to my other bucket?

Is there some other process I will have to use?

Whenever I take samples from the tap, I rinse it twice after with boiled water (turn it 'upside down' to fill), and then fill it with Starsan for a couple of minutes. For racking I then just rinse it wit Starsan before attaching the tubing and away I go!

Its a bit late for that now. I've taken at least 7 samples from the tap and have never rinsed it after or cleaned it.

[LordEoin]

just dump it and move on.

[Pheeel]

I got rid of all my buckets with taps. Too risky with infection

If you don't have a siphon you'll need to use the tap. Honestly it's your first beer, bottle it and move on

[thechevron]

I got rid of all my buckets with taps. Too risky with infection

If you don't have a siphon you'll need to use the tap. Honestly it's your first beer, bottle it and move on

I have a siphon. Should I still dump it?

[Richie71]

Just reading over this thread for the first time and I have to disagree with dumping it.  Firstly, can I reassure the OP that your beer looks fine and is giving the readings I would expect from this kit, the yeast used and the temps it's fermenting at.  If I'm right with my dates the beer was brewed on 13th of Feb and shouldn't have even been looked at until the 27th.  At this stage, this thread was 4 or 5 pages long! 
The pitching temp was a little low, but far better off than being too high, and in my opinion the fermenting temp was a little low.  I would have gone with 19 or 20 by throwing a duvet around it and if on a tiled floor, put a bit of cardboard under it.  But leaving it at 18 would have done no harm, just delayed fermenting time a bit. 
At your temps, I would have delayed my first reading until 02/03 and dry hopped on 05/03.  By opening and closing the lid, taking readings etc as much as you did, you did yourself no favours and could have introduced nasties, but if you cant tell from tasting then it looks like things are fine.
If you haven't dry hopped already, I would leave it a few more days, add dry hops, leave for a few more days and bottle away next weekend.  Clean and sanitise the tap before you bottle or siphon if you have one.     

[shweeney]

Brewing process is fairly resilient - if it looks and smells ok, it probably is, main risk of infection is at the start of fermentation, or from dirty bottles.

As others have said, bottle it and see how it turns out - I'd siphon it into the bottling bucket rather than using the tap though.

[Drzava]

sweet tasting beer
time to batch prime and get into a bottle

Ok. So I've been using the tap on my FV to take samples for gravity readings. This is obviously not sterile now. How can I use this tap to get the beer it to my other bucket?

Is there some other process I will have to use?

Whenever I take samples from the tap, I rinse it twice after with boiled water (turn it 'upside down' to fill), and then fill it with Starsan for a couple of minutes. For racking I then just rinse it wit Starsan before attaching the tubing and away I go!

Its a bit late for that now. I've taken at least 7 samples from the tap and have never rinsed it after or cleaned it.

Give it a few rinses with boiled water and Starsan - it'll be grand!

[craiclad]

OP don't dump it. Continue as usual, stop opening the lid so much, and wait for it to be ready!

[thechevron]

Just reading over this thread for the first time and I have to disagree with dumping it.  Firstly, can I reassure the OP that your beer looks fine and is giving the readings I would expect from this kit, the yeast used and the temps it's fermenting at.  If I'm right with my dates the beer was brewed on 13th of Feb and shouldn't have even been looked at until the 27th.  At this stage, this thread was 4 or 5 pages long! 
The pitching temp was a little low, but far better off than being too high, and in my opinion the fermenting temp was a little low.  I would have gone with 19 or 20 by throwing a duvet around it and if on a tiled floor, put a bit of cardboard under it.  But leaving it at 18 would have done no harm, just delayed fermenting time a bit. 
At your temps, I would have delayed my first reading until 02/03 and dry hopped on 05/03.  By opening and closing the lid, taking readings etc as much as you did, you did yourself no favours and could have introduced nasties, but if you cant tell from tasting then it looks like things are fine.
If you haven't dry hopped already, I would leave it a few more days, add dry hops, leave for a few more days and bottle away next weekend.  Clean and sanitise the tap before you bottle or siphon if you have one.   

Thanks for the detailed reply.

I dry hopped last night. 3/02. And I plan on bottling on Monday 7/02. I will use the siphon to transfer to the priming bucket which also has a tap.

Thanks for all the help folks.

[Leann ull]

More yeast ah here!
Too much tinkering  and fiddling and doubting yourself and others on this one 
Those yellow floating things were dead yeast from the packet killed by the alcohol in your beer
Bottle it and go and do another but trust me if its at room temp 18 degrees do not open the lid or mess with it in any form for 2 weeks and it will be fine.

[molc]

Something I've found with every part of brewing is less is more.

[LordEoin]

Something I've found with every part of brewing is less is more.

with the exception of patience

[thechevron]

First brew bottled. Took me fookin ages between batch priming and stick filling.

Hope it's worth it.. How long before I crack one open?