Hi, I'm a first-time home brewer. I bought some gear on Gumtree and started my first batch with a Coopers Amber Ale kit, 500gm of LDME and 500gm of Brew Enhancer. The yeast has subsided now, and the SG is at 1.01 if I'm reading the hydrometer correctly. I didn't know to test the OG but will do so in future having learned a bit more from books and this forum. How long do most people leave the beer in the fermenter prior to bottling? I see a lot of conflicting info in different books -
- bottle as soon as SG stabilises vs condition in fermenter
- rack into a secondary fermenter vs don't rack
- etc, etc
I'd also like to dry hop this batch to add a bit of flavour. Anyone recommend a particular hop strain for the Amber Ale?
My plan is to experiment with the kits to get experience on how changing parameters alters the beer, then move on to straight malt, hops and yeast, then maybe BIAB. Baby steps at first.
- bottle as soon as SG stabilises vs condition in fermenter
- rack into a secondary fermenter vs don't rack
- etc, etc
I'd also like to dry hop this batch to add a bit of flavour. Anyone recommend a particular hop strain for the Amber Ale?
My plan is to experiment with the kits to get experience on how changing parameters alters the beer, then move on to straight malt, hops and yeast, then maybe BIAB. Baby steps at first.
