First Brew :d

[enigma--]

should i just unplug the heater then?

 

[peas_and_corn]

Once the fermentation takes off, the yeast will create enough heat by itself

 

[cdbrown]

If it is a lager yeast that came with the kit (as said by others) then yes the temps need to come down otherwise the yeasties will produce some unwanted flavours. It will however take a fair bit longer for it to finish as they are less active at lower temps. Pitching the yeast at the higher temps isn't a problem, fermenting at the higher temp can be.

 

[enigma--]

mmm alright. how long will it take approximately then? ive just got a call saying im working from saturday week for probably over a week, interstate, so will this be a problem? can i leave it in the fermenter for 2.5-3 weeks? or shall i get my grandfather to come past n bottle it for me?

 

[Renegade]

Rack it, then leave it. Even if you don't, it will probably be OK. But that will be four weeks in primary, so someone with more experience might explain if this is good or not to have your beer sitting on the yeast cake for that long.

Although if you have someone there to bottle it, then let them do the hard work for you <_< Sounds like it will be in good hands with your grandfathers experience.

 

[peas_and_corn]

Rack it, then leave it. Even if you don't, it will probably be OK. But that will be four weeks in primary, so someone with more experience might explain if this is good or not to have your beer sitting on the yeast cake for that long.

Although if you have someone there to bottle it, then let them do the hard work for you <_< Sounds like it will be in good hands with your grandfathers experience.

Nah, four weeks won't be much of a problem. I personally pitch three batches on one yeast cake, so that's at least six weeks there.

 

[enigma--]

ta

so unplug heater tonight, or tomorrow morning?

guess ill wait n see how next week pans out before i make any decisions, but if i can leave it happily sitting there for just over 2 weeks, that would be awesome

 

[jonocarroll]

guess ill wait n see how next week pans out before i make any decisions, but if i can leave it happily sitting there for just over 2 weeks, that would be awesome

I very rarely leave my brews in fermenters for less than two weeks. While racking a beer off the primary yeast cake is useful if you are leaving if there for an extended amount of time (> 1 month), don't forget that the yeast don't just ferment sugars to alcohols - it's a long, complex process, which includes a stage where after the yeast have finished eating sugars, they tidy up a lot of the by-products (which aren't very tasty to you or me).

Racking doesn't remove all the yeast from the beer, just a lot of it. There is still some in suspension to do the cleaning up.

Don't be in any rush to get a beer done. Just brew often enough that you build up a stockpile.

 

[KGB]

Stockpile is definitely the way to go, but since this is your first brew I reckon you could just leave it as it is and ferment it high so you can bottle before going away for work. When you get back start your next brew. You can always do this brew again and ferment it low - and continue to stockpile.

The last batch I did with a lager yeast was in the fermenter for 21 days but that included starting at 20 degrees, lowering to 10 degrees in the first 24hrs, raising for a diacetyl rest near the end and then chilling for 2 days at 3-4 degrees to help it clear before kegging. You gotta love being able to ferment in a fridge with a temp controller.

 

[enigma--]

ok, i think ill leave it 20-22 (which it is at currently) and hopefully bottle it before i go away! then once im back ill put down another batch.

is that generally the way it goes? one done, another down? to add to the stockpile

 

[Renegade]

ok, i think ill leave it 20-22 (which it is at currently) and hopefully bottle it before i go away! then once im back ill put down another batch.

is that generally the way it goes? one done, another down? to add to the stockpile

Yep - back to back until your empty bottle supply runs out
Glad youve chosen a hobby that justifies your future alcoholism ?

 

[enigma--]

spot on, and to boot, you helpful people have well, helped me!

cheers

 

[BEC26]

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

just wait till you fill the fermenter with the tap open! :lol:

I haven't . . . . .yet, but lots have . .. will report when I do!


The important thing is . . .what was the Original reading? It will help calculate the alcohol content at the end.

Cheers

 

[BennyBrewster]

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

hahah classic stuff!

 

[petesbrew]

just wait till you fill the fermenter with the tap open! :lol:

I haven't . . . . .yet, but lots have . .. will report when I do!

Oh yeah, I've done that. Only lost a litre or so, but the sound of wort pouring on the kitchen floor was horrible.

 

[Mcstretch]

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

When I did my First Brew I didn't take the foam out of the hydrometer sampler and I even left the instructions in when i poured the sample so your not the only noob out there. LOL

 

[enigma--]

i actually didnt feel to stupid doing... i was just laughing.

my brew is sitting at 18C now, and has been since last night (checked then and this morning )

it smells yeasty and i even saw some bubbles go through the airlock

 

[brettprevans]

just wait till you fill the fermenter with the tap open! :lol:

after all my brews, i did that not once, but twice on the weekend with 2 seperate brews. so dont worry about mistakes.

 

[enigma--]

citymorgue, i recognise that name, are you on netrider?

 

[brettprevans]

citymorgue, i recognise that name, are you on netrider?

:icon_offtopic: yup. same name, same bloke, differant obsession. :icon_cheers: