First Brew :d

[enigma--]

hello there. after tasting large amounts of my grandfathers home brew, i decided i had to get in on this act. :icon_chickcheers:

went to the local shop last night with him, came away with a complete kit and $185 poorer... for now <_<

put my first batch down just now... and ive only had one problem so far (hopefully its the only one hahah). my hydrometer wouldnt take a reading.
it wouldnt float at first, got another sample, and it floated. however, it would not move. i did this after the yeast was in.

is it buggered? either the meter or the brew. should i take another sample now its been sitting there half an hour?

cheers, and thanks for any help

 

[peas_and_corn]

Is the sample container full enough? If there isn't enough wort in it the hydrometer won't float properly.

Also, a side note: what's your ferment temp? Make sure it's as low as possible (18-20C being ideal) to avoid off flavours.

 

[enigma--]

i fill it about 3/4 of the tube, is this the right amount?

and its sitting on about 22C, should i try and get it down? the kit came with an immersion heater so that is in there, set at about 21-22. the kit was a lager so it might be a bit high? but i can just turn the heater on and off easy enough

 

[peas_and_corn]

22 should be fine

Hmm, that sounds like it should be enough. Could you post a pic? It would be a little easier if we could see what's going on.

 

[muckey]

i fill it about 3/4 of the tube, is this the right amount?

and its sitting on about 22C, should i try and get it down? the kit came with an immersion heater so that is in there, set at about 21-22. the kit was a lager so it might be a bit high? but i can just turn the heater on and off easy enough

depends on the yeast. If its a lager yeast then temp is too high. If it's a lager kit with ale yeast then 21-22 will be OK (on the high side for me)

You need enough wort in the sample tube for the hydrometer to float properly. I normally fill the sample tube

BTW what kit and adjucts are you using? It helps to know what you are using and what readings you are getting to work out if something is actually wrong. Having said that, dont worry too much if things dont go exactly to plan.

 

[enigma--]

thanks for the replies i'll get a pic once i find the camera haha

so completely fill the tube then put the meter in?

it was coopers european lager kit, and it said it was a lager yeast. the only adjunct i put in was the 'sugar' that came with the kit, which was 500g malt extract and 500g dextrose. other than that, nothing as it was my first one

cheers

 

[peas_and_corn]

If it was the yeast that came with the kit, I would wager that it's an ale yeast, just a really neutral one.

 

[muckey]

If it was the yeast that came with the kit, I would wager that it's an ale yeast, just a really neutral one.

most of them are - the euro lager is a lager yeast though I think.

to be honest p&c, I think you're on the right track - I think he's worrying too much

 

[Adamt]

Actually, the European Lager can has W34/70, a lager strain, so you'd get the best results if you lowered your fermentation temperature down closer to 10-12C. However for the moment I wouldn't worry about this.

 

[enigma--]

well, thanks

im trying not to worry, just when it didnt float... i know its not a vital part (using it) but id like to be doing it as properly as i can

thanks... even though i dont have the first reading, i assume i can still use the final readings to know when its done?

cheers!

 

[peas_and_corn]

Yeah, it's just your alc% measurements will be inaccurate. When your readings are steady for about 3 days in a row, your beer has finished fermenting.

 

[Renegade]

How long after you pitched the yeast did you take a reading ? You should be taking one before you pitch.

But yea, it will be fine, (as long as everything was absolutely clean & sanitised - and the addition of some extra malt means it will be better than just a kit and some sugar. A bit lacking in hop flavour and aroma perhaps, but it will still be OK.

 

[enigma--]

HAHAHAHH. oh dear. ive made a very embarrasing mistake here. i was putting the hydrometer in upside down *hits head on desk* hahahah. that counts as my stupid newbie mistake

i hope i sanitised everything enough, i did a pretty thorough job i reckon. guess ill give it a week or so n see how it turns out

 

[peas_and_corn]

Ahh it all makes sense now

The odds are you got it all down pat. It's normal to worry about *everything* when you're starting, but you should be fine.

 

[Renegade]

HAHAHAHH. oh dear. ive made a very embarrasing mistake here. i was putting the hydrometer in upside down *hits head on desk* hahahah. that counts as my stupid newbie mistake

i hope i sanitised everything enough, i did a pretty thorough job i reckon. guess ill give it a week or so n see how it turns out

Haha, that's hilarious. Nobody would have thought to recommend that to you ! Glad youve got it sorted, could have been much worse.

As mentioned, you may not be able to work out your ABV now, but at least you'll be able to tell when the final gravity is stable over a few days, and fermemtation is finished so you can safely bottle.

Oh, and the lid on your fermentor faces up, towards the ceiling.

 

[petesbrew]

so completely fill the tube then put the meter in?

Here's the story in step by step form, enigma

Make sure the bottom is on the tube, or hydrometer go break-y!
Put the hydrometer in the tube.
Fill the tube until the hydrometer starts to float... basically fill it up, but not all the way.
Give the hydrometer a bit of a spin to settle out the bubbles on top... they give you a false reading.
Write down your reading so you can measure the alc content later. Jump on www.countrybrewer.com.au, and download their alcohol cheat sheet. Very handy.
Take out hydrometer
DRINK THE SAMPLE!

Pete (the sample tasting king)

edit: just read your upside down hydrometer stuff up. Gold!!

 

[enigma--]

thanks i think ive manager to get everything else together in the right way! hahah.

thanks for confirming the ways i thought you did the readings.

seems like this is going to be a helpful site, will be nice once i can start helping (anyone putting meters in round the wrong way?... )

 

[glaab]

those hydrometers can be tricky!

 

[petesbrew]

Balls Up Thread

The first of many mistakes, Enigma.

It's all fun.

 

[cdbrown]

seems like this is going to be a helpful site

Very helpful site - and you've done the right thing by letting us know why things weren't working for you and even had a laugh at the mistake.

Try and get the temps down 18-20 for ales, 12-14 for lager