Totaly Confused

[QBCrocket]

Hi all I am a newbie to home brew and have put 7 brews down and bottled with mixed results I have just got a keg system and have 2 brews on a coopers lager with added hops and a Morgans Australian blonde , In the past I have done as per instructions and bottled at 7 days but I am being told all this conflicting information
1. to rack into another container at 7 days and leave for another 7 days then keg
2. Leave in the fermenter for 3 weeks then Keg
3. Keg at 7 days then leave for 3 weeks before gassing and drinking
4. Keg at 7 days drink straight away
And at what temperature should I be fermenting at my local shop sed I need to be 22 -24 degrees so I had to buy a heater , but I've been reading some of the forums that say 18 degrees is the best .
Both brews are 8 days in , the larger has been on a heater at 24degrees and is sitting at 1010 the Blonde has been at room temperature 18 - 20 degrees and is at 1006
When should I be putting in the keg ?

 

[Lincoln2]

Option 2.

Spend a couple of hours on here just searching and reading etc. Also, 18 degrees is probably better than 24.

All the best.

 

[manticle]

Don't rack at this point. Yes 18 is good for what you are doing. Ferment until it's hit final gravity then leave 2-3 days, chill another 3 days, then keg. Drink when gassed, give a little longer if it tastes green or yeasty.

Lager using proper lager yeast likes it cooler - closer to 10-12 but in your case the yeast is probably really an ale yeast. Still should be cooler.

 

[Bribie G]

As stated, keep below 20 degrees.

If you ferment warmer, especially using the kit yeasts supplied under the lid, you can end up with fruity esters etc creeping into the brew.
Don't rack into another container as this can introduce infection by exposing the beer to the air.

Sounds like you are on the right track. Do you have the ability to chill, i.e. a fridge that can take a fermenter?

Chilling for a few days after the fermentation is finished will really improve the quality of the finished beer and you'll end up with far less sludge in the kegs.

Unless you are right in the South of WA I don't think you would need a heater.



Welcome to the obsession.

 

[Danscraftbeer]

Option 2. Also I trimmed 5 to 10mm off the beer line tube in the keg. Just so it doesn't pick up sediment in the keg if there is any.
Or, make sure the beer feed tube doesn't sit too close the bottom. About 10mm clearance.

 

[QBCrocket]

Cheers for your help ,will take all on-board , an obsession for shore ,