Starter kit & beer kit?

Will

Hi there,

I'm going to buy a starter kit and more than likely a basic beer kit, although having done some research most of the beer kits are a bit pants on their own it seems. Should I add some different malts or something? So I don't get disillusioned/disappointed with the whole thing? The worst thing in the world in my mind is having all this beer that I hate even though I made it myself.

Was looking at craigtube and he was saying how nice the coopers red ale was, but I've read differently from others. However since I'm a newbie I'm assuming I should at least start on one of these and maybe add something to jazz it up?

Any help is appreciated.

mayto

You could try two can kits like Brupaks Fixby Gold or whatever beer type your after. If you get a one can kit like coopers just add 1Kg of spraymalt and the beer will turn out good. Generally stay away from adding sugar and keep the recipe all malt. You could dry hop the kit with some hops after fermentation has slowed down. There are also Brewers Choice Kits which should make really good beer as its close to making an extract beer. Just add 1Kg of spraymalt or a tin of liquid malt extract.

Will

Got the coopers kit just there and got a half kilo of light spray malt. Gonna give it a bash now in a little while. tomorrow may go get more spray malt

The dude in the shop in rathmines said that I should avoid using tap water and use bottled water, should I get a few gallons of bottled water ya think?

mayto

You could use bottled water or you could just treat your tap water with half a crushed campden tab per 23L. It will probably be fine, not sure I would tell someone not to use their tap water unless I tested it with a kh alkalinity test kit or such.

Will

Think I will get it tomorrow so. Thanks for the heads up

guildofevil

Most water is fine untreated and I certainly wouldn't waste money on spring water unless there is something definitely wrong with what comes out of your tap.

Half a campden tab will get rid of the chlorine, but so will leaving the water out over night to let it gas off.

I have been brewing with untreated tap water for years. I don't use campden and I never remember to pour out my water the night before I brew. Never had any problems.

Will

Thanks for the heads up. Went up to tescos today and got 5 gallons for a fiver or there abouts just to err on the side of caution. Finished my first batch about 2 hours ago. Went well.

Used the spray malt and didn't add the sugar, OG was 1.030. So it's in or around what I was hoping for. Now to wait.

Thanks for the help. Will follow up in a week or two.

guildofevil

1.030 is actually pretty weak. I would be surprised if the beer ended up much above 3% Vol.

I would add 500g of sugar to that, if I were you. That way you end up with something around 4% Vol.

50/50 sugar/spraymalt is fine and is, more or less what a Beer Kit Enhancer is.

To add sugar at this stage, dissolve it in a bit of boiling water and boil it on the stove for 10 minutes to sanitise. Then put a lid on it and let it cool down before pouring it into the fermentor. You should gently stir the wort a little with a sanitised stainless steel implement of some sort.

500g of table sugar will add 0.008 to your OG reading, assuming you did a 23 litre (5 gallon batch).

Will

Yup did a 23litre batch. Yeah figured it'd be a bit weak. Ok will give it a shot so

Will

OG was 1.040
4th day of fermentation the SG is 1.025

I assume this is pretty normal?

rubadub

guildofevil wrote: »

I don't use campden and I never remember to pour out my water the night before I brew.

I have had issues just once (I'm in dublin). The chlorine can lead to TCP taste being produced, and it is very noticeable. I was never on the lookout for chlorine at the time so cannot remember how bad the water was.

They put more chlorine in water during the hot weather, as bacteria multiplies faster when hot, also when reservoirs are running low in water they put more in, since the water surface area to water volume ratio has changed. When you have a water drought it is usually around the times of high temps so you get a double dose of chlorine in the water, you can usually smell this a mile off.

Boiling will also remove it, but also remove oxygen, so leaving it stand is the easiest solution.

bibibobo

guildofevil wrote: »

Most water is fine untreated and I certainly wouldn't waste money on spring water unless there is something definitely wrong with what comes out of your tap.

Half a campden tab will get rid of the chlorine, but so will leaving the water out over night to let it gas off.

I have been brewing with untreated tap water for years. I don't use campden and I never remember to pour out my water the night before I brew. Never had any problems.

I too was advised to use bottled mineral water. Am in Dublin, northside. Water is drinkable.

Would it tap water not be prone to contamination causing an infection if left overnight to gas off?

The Mulk

you can buy 12x2litre bottles for about a fiver in Aldi.
I used it the last two times because my water has been rank(Co. Kildare).
Handy to stick a few bottles in the fridge the night before to get the temperature of the mix down too, before you pitch the yeast.

When(if) the water gets back to normal i'll use the tap water with maybe a campden tablet.