Search results

I have given them a cleaning and sterilisation soak over a 3 day period that only a super bug could survive. 1 more try with 1/2 brew in each, then I'll try new taps at $6 each before I ditch them. If I do get 2 new FVs, they won't be Coopers again anyway. My generic lidded buckets are over 20...

I have one but I can't put 6 FVs in it.

Twocrows, could you tell me what phosphoric acid you use please? As I said, I have some concentrate pure stuff that goes by the name of pH Down which is used to lower pH of hydroponic nutrient solution, but I'm not sure what concentration you'd use for brewing sanitation purposes. I just...

Update: It is definitely a problem with these 2 FVs. Powdery scum on the surface already and it tastes like vinegar when I did an SG sample today. The other 2 air-locked (bubbler) FVs are perfect. Fully fermented out, clear and clean and taste fine, ready to bottle. All 4 brews are...

I use the Bunnings barrel as my priming / bottling drum.

It isn't water if my other 4 fermenters are fine and these 2 aren't. Same water. I've got 1 of each style tap. The white one (sounds like the one you describe 2crows) and the other style, which has large black grommet seals going into the fermenter and operating the flow. I will pull them...

I'd be very interested to know why I'm getting this only with these 2 FVs. As I said, I use the same cleaning and sanitising procedure for all 6 of my fermenters and the problem is recurring with just these 2. I bulk prime in, and bottle from a different drum used only for that purpose...

Yes Eddy. One thing I've noticed is frothy bottles. Not every bottle, but with the most recent batch there have been a few that gushed when opened.

Yes. They are big. As I said, I don't use the KK anymore. I wonder if that's an issue with them. Can't see why it would be other than the fact it would create a thicker CO2 blanket. I'm using the same cleaning and sanitizing regime for all my FVs, so I don't know why these ones are causing...

A while ago (not sure how long) Coopers introduced the new style fermenters which do not have an airlock. Big bucket with a Krausen Kollar and lid that just fit inside each other. They must just rely on CO2 presence to keep out nasties. You don't need to use the Krausen Kollar for low...

It has cleared now. Pretty cold nights in my shed have caused slower than usual bottle conditioning. The Cerveza cleared in 2 weeks, but the blonde took 3.

I have to ask though, is the Canadian Blonde meant to be a slightly cloudy beer? While the flavour and overall behaviour of both of the second brews was far better than the first (botch) batch, it is apparent that the CB is slightly cloudy upon pouring, while the Mexican Cerveza is crystal clear.

Well it was clearly my mistake. The 2nd batches of same kits (using the same rainwater) are both fine. I have no idea what went wrong as I followed the exact same procedure as I always do.

6'C above ambient with just a blanket wrap seems a bit high. Are you just relying on one of those stick on, light up, thermometers? I have 2 of those and one reads 20 and the other reads 24 when they are side by side on the heat mat under the same blanket. I don't think they are particularly...

Cooper's DIY Beer says to try to keep your ferment at the lower end of 21'C - 27'C. I'd say leaving it at 24'C will not be a problem. I doubt you'd get too much off flavour by allowing it to drop a little either. I've had problems with their kits and autolysis if I brew in summer without...

At least this forum hasn't yet descended to the point where apparent trolls call supposed trolls out for being actual trolls and then the so-called actual trolls defend themselves and declare themselves as being not at all trolls and support this by accusing those apparent troll troll callers as...

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm not convinced that using rainwater is a problem. It never has been for me or my father. I used it for 5 years between 15 and 10 years ago, and I re-started brewing using it nearly 2 years ago. These periods were in different locations, and I've made...

If there were a problem with my rainwater, I'd expect to have a failure rate of greater that 2%. 2 infected 23 litre brews out of over 100 is too low a number to suggest the water is the issue. Brewing from cans is nothing more complicated than making a large cup of coffee. Reasonable...

I've never had any issue with rainwater and brewing. I guess it depends where you live. To address a few question / points. I never said there was a problem holding temperature in fermentation. The weather has been cold for bottle conditioning, so I put a few bottles in the warm fridge. It...

I do not have the facility to boil 70 litres of water every week to 10 days. Who does? In decades of (mostly) successful brewing have never done so. It takes 50 minutes (summer) to 75 minutes (winter) to raise 25 litres by àround 50'C using a 3 ring propane burner. Bringing the volume of...