Rookie Questions Galore.

[pastorduncan]

I had the opportunity to buy 140 750ml bottles with the Grolsch style tops and two plastic 25l brewing bins for like $75, so very excited to be a home brewer now.

Anyway, just started the process and got a Coopers Australian Ale and a Mangrove Jack Ginger beer brewing.

The Ale has been going for about 1.5 weeks.....bubbling about 1 time every 2 minutes. The Ginger beer is furiously bubbling away both sitting at around 22C.

Anyway I've been told infection is the big issue here so I don't want to pop the tops on these prematurely to check gravity and stuff.

Ale was 1032 OG
Ginger 1034 OG

Is there something I should be looking for before I pop the tops and check the gravity....according to the instructions Ginger beer is 8 days in the brew bucket right? Ale 2-3 weeks?

Love some insight here, I've just realized this is a little alice in wonderland right now, and the rabbit hole for home brewing is waaay deeper than I expected.

Still I have 140 bottles I want to get some beer into!

Thanks Team!

 

[mkstalen]

Err.. what do you mean by "pop the tops"?

Don't the brewing bins have taps at the bottom? I just tap off a bit into the hydrometer tube to check the gravity. (maybe remove the air-lock first so you don't suck in your air lock water, the CO2 in the fermenter should be enough to protect the brew)

I'd say the Ale is probably finished, the Ginger beer maybe, maybe not...

 

[pastorduncan]

Sorry Stienberg....complete Noobie. They have those Grolsch style tops on them....the bottles. Yeah they do have taps on the bottom, right will do. I'm assuming I should be looking for the same reading for the next couple of days to make sure I don't explode bottles right?

 

[heyhey]

Are you fermenting in the bottle? :unsure:

 

[welly2]

Sorry Stienberg....complete Noobie. They have those Grolsch style tops on them....the bottles. Yeah they do have taps on the bottom, right will do. I'm assuming I should be looking for the same reading for the next couple of days to make sure I don't explode bottles right?

The bottles have taps on the bottom?

 

[pastorduncan]

No no no, so I've got Grolsch style bottle which I want to transfer my brew which is comfortably bubbling away in a 25l bucket. I am trying to figure out when I put them into bottles and seal them up, I just don't want the thing exploding on me. I've figured out I need to get steady readings for 3 days, just new to the brewing family and want to make sure I'm on target to get some great beers...I've attached images so you can see my setup....Amp is purely there for coolness.

 

[Nizmoose]

Okay definitely don't transfer any of the brews to the bottles until you're sure they're done (3 gravity readings like you said earlier), another thing to consider is a little extra time fermenting is a good thing as the yeast will clean up a few things so I wouldn't hesitate to leave them till three weeks and check the gravity the last three days of that third week to make sure it's reached terminal gravity (i.e it's not moving anymore) then bottle away!

 

[mkstalen]

Right. Sorry, the way you said pop the tops I thought you meant pop the top off the fermenter, not pop the tops onto the bottles.

Tap off a bit of your brew from the fermenter to the hydrometer tube, check it over 3 days. When it's steady you're ready to bottle.
Prime the bottles with the correct amount of sugar for 750mL.
Seal the tops, and leave for another 1-2 weeks.

 

[pastorduncan]

Epic!

Thanks Team for the help, I'll post how they turn out, hopefully have some tasty Christmas Brews!

 

[Tahoose]

I'd start researching bulk priming while your waiting to bottle.

Also have a look at the state of the red washers on the grolsh bottles. After a while they can get brittle and cracked, might not hold a seal and could potentialy harbour infection.

Not sure where your located but I just picked up 100 new seals from grain and grape for $20. Good investment if your going to be reusing this bottles quite a bit.

 

[spog]

I had the opportunity to buy 140 750ml bottles with the Grolsch style tops and two plastic 25l brewing bins for like $75, so very excited to be a home brewer now.

Anyway, just started the process and got a Coopers Australian Ale and a Mangrove Jack Ginger beer brewing.

The Ale has been going for about 1.5 weeks.....bubbling about 1 time every 2 minutes. The Ginger beer is furiously bubbling away both sitting at around 22C.

Anyway I've been told infection is the big issue here so I don't want to pop the tops on these prematurely to check gravity and stuff.

Ale was 1032 OG
Ginger 1034 OG

Is there something I should be looking for before I pop the tops and check the gravity....according to the instructions Ginger beer is 8 days in the brew bucket right? Ale 2-3 weeks?

Love some insight here, I've just realized this is a little alice in wonderland right now, and the rabbit hole for home brewing is waaay deeper than I expected.

Still I have 140 bottles I want to get some beer into!

Thanks Team!

A hydrometer will tell you when fermentation is complete ,follow the Instructions and your set like jelly.with ideal conditions an Ale will be done in a week,( temp,yeast health etc ) there is plenty to read and learn from.i have left a brew in the fermentor for 4 weeks while away from home and it was fine.
All that you picked up for $75.00,you lucky bastard !
As for priming the bottles the choice is yours,you can use a measuring spoon or bulk priming I have only once used bulk priming and it was a breeze,the only issue I had was with cleaning etc another vessel to use and worrying about cross contamination .
Ahh well it's all personal choice at the end of the day.
Cheers....spog...

 

[pastorduncan]

Tahoose, Spog thanks team. I'm a little concerned for my ginger beer right now, temperatures got a little too high yesterday like up around 26-28 Air-conditioning went out. I'm gonna get a new chiller for the room so we can stay at a constant crisp temp.....a little annoyed. Thankfully the Ale reach 3 constant reading and is now bottled in the cellar.

The seals look really good on the bottles, like almost new....I do need to get a couple of those rubber seals for the airlock on the brewing can lid, they are starting to look a little nasty.

I was pretty pumped about the $75 too! I took it as a sign that I need to be making some beer!

 

[BobtheBrewer]

Before you take that hydrometer test bleed off enough wort to clear the yeast that is dropping out of solution out of your tap. If you don't you will know what I am talking about.

 

[wereprawn]

One thing which hasn't been mentioned is your alcohol content. Are you happy with a beer that is around 3.4% ?