new to all this

[RoryOConnell]

Hey guys,
I am new to all this
my neighbour gave me a fermentation kit and I can't wait to get started but I have a few questions.
Is there anywhere in cork to buy yeast (preferably for lager) or do you have to buy it online ?
I would appreciate any feedback/tips you could give
thanks
Rory

[LordEoin]

Are you from Ballygarvin?

Welcome by the way!

You can usually get sachets of lager yeast in the health food shop upstairs in Paul Street shopping center.
What have you got? What will you be fermenting? if you're doing it off kit, there should be a packet of yeast under the cap with the instructions.

[RoryOConnell]

No I live in cork City(On the Mardyke)
Thanks I will try there !
I am not exactly sure what I have got to be honest, a barrel and a fermentation container
and then just a box of what looks like assorted lab equipment which ill have to find a use for
but I want to brew lager
Thanks
Rory

[DEMPSEY]

If you want to brew Lager then you will need a High technology temperature control unit that can specifically(spelt that first time off )be used for Lagering. We call them freebie fridges

[Ciderhead]

Another O'Connell, I always said this was a quality site
Me Da came from Wilton to Wickla on the missions 50 years ago and educating the locals is proving harder than he thought 

Start with a coopers Blonde ale and follow instructions!
ferment at 17-21 max
post if you want any more help

John

[johnrm]

Hey Rory, welcome to the site.
You say you have kit, I assume you mean the hardware.
Have you pocket up a beer kit yet? If you have an old kit beyond date, the experience for you might not be the best. Consider getting a fresh beer kit from Paul St.
Lay your bits out on a table, take a pic and post here.
We'll help you get up and running.
Have a look at the homebrew sites to identify components and see how it all hands together.
I'm out Midleton, but work on the City, can meet up for in the Well for a beer and a chat some evening if that suited you.

[RoryOConnell]

Okay I have included a picture of my hardware
I think my neighbour used it for wine
I went in to the health shop on paul street today and had a look around
a coopers mexican cerveza kit caught my eye.
I was wondering would I need any other hardware to use this kit and if anyone here has used that kit before and would reccomend it ?
thanks
Rory

[Garry]

Welcome aboard Rory. I have never done the mexican cerveza but according to craigtube it's like a macro lager so should be what you are looking for.

Have a look at LordEoin's post on how to brew a kit.

[Garry]

I've labeled up your equipment!

I don't see any syphon? You will need one to get the beer out of the FV and into the bottles (unless the FV has a tap which I can't see). This can wait for a couple of weeks until you are ready for bottling.

A hydrometer would also be handy but you can work away without one.

There's nothing stopping you putting on the brew today

[RoryOConnell]

haha okay thank!
I will pick up a syphon so
I think ill wait a week or two to start the process tho because i am busy at the moment with college work.
Thanks for all the help and advice guys
Oh another question what does a hydrometer do exactly
and is brewing sugar basically the same as a beer enhacer ?
Thanks
Rory

[Garry]

A hydrometer measures how much sugar is in your brew. You measure before adding (pitching) your yeast and before bottling. You can use these measurements to calculate the ABV of the brew and it will also indicate when fermentation is finished.

Original gravity - final gravity * 131 = ABV
ie (1.040-1.010) * 131 =3.93% ABV

If you've got 20 minutes have a look at this video.

I think brew enhancer is a mixture of brewing sugar + maltodextrine  + spraymalt. These will give better body and head than sugar alone.

[RoryOConnell]

Okay thanks I should probably pick up one of those too
Thanks the video was helpful
Rory

[johnrm]

Garry its partly correct on the hydrometer.
It measures sugar indirectly.
It actually measures the specific gravity of the solution it sits in.
The denser there solution the further up it sits.
As sugar is dissolved, the gravity decreases a there are less solids in solution, additionally, as sugars are converted to alcohol, the gravity decreases.

[LordEoin]

A different Rory OConnell so 

But yeah, brew enhancers are basically just blended sugars/malt depending on which enhancer you get.
For more about sugars check this thread: HERE
Also, here's a thread about kit yeast and fermentation temperatures: HERE

What you've got there seems to be a wine setup. It'll do the same job, but you'll also need:
- a bottle capper (to fit crown caps)
- a stir paddle (really long slotted spoon)
- syphon or tap (to get beer out)
- Hydrometer with trial jar (to measure progress and calculate abv)
- Sanitizer

Give everything a good wash first without washing up liquid, fill the buckets with milton or something similar and soak all the plastic and rubber bits.

[Will_D]

A different Rory OConnell so 

- a bottle capper (to fit crown caps)

Or collect empty swing tops from your local pubs - they are no-returnable so they happliy give them away when asked "polite like"