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Homebrew Beer Howto

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    #2192
    1wizards sleeve
    Registered Users Posts: 184 ✭✭1wizards sleeve


    Hello all. Just ordered my first home brew starter kit. Long time drinker of ales and craft beer. So looking forward to a bit of experiments over the years ahead. I did not want to get ahead of myself so ordered a homebrew.ie starter kit. Fermentation bucket with bottle filler and Tap. Think this might be easier than using a Syphon. Basic question am I best just use the pack ingredients to start off and take it from there..the pack includes sugar. And I was advised to buy carbonation drops as well. Cooper's Amber pale ale will be my first try. Cheers


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    #2193
    BeerNut
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 11,783 Mod ✭✭✭✭BeerNut


    1wizards sleeve wrote: »
    Basic question am I best just use the pack ingredients to start off and take it from there..the pack includes sugar.
    Yes, if you've got it, use it. There's little point in being overly fussy about kit beers.

    Carbonation drops are just an expensive way of buying sugar. Half a teaspoon of ordinary sugar in each bottle will do just as well.

    My beer blog | The Twitter | My other beer blog



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    #2194
    1wizards sleeve
    Registered Users Posts: 184 ✭✭1wizards sleeve


    BeerNut wrote: »
    Yes, if you've got it, use it. There's little point in being overly fussy about kit beers.

    Carbonation drops are just an expensive way of buying sugar. Half a teaspoon of ordinary sugar in each bottle will do just as well.

    Lovely ill start at the most basic and hopefully work myself up.


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    #2195
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    Added the hops to the new England IPA today after 10 days fermenting and it sure does smell lovely. It's down to 1.012 so only needs another few days. I can't wait for this one.


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    #2196
    rubadub
    Registered Users Posts: 32,373 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    Might be said already but Pallas foods are doing a click & collect service. I would not feel comfortable buying up my usual 12 cartons of apple juice at once these days, or a rake of sugar, it would look like you were hoarding

    Juice Press Apple Juice Not From Concent
    Case
    12x1 LT
    €15.19

    Don Simon Juice Apple 12x1 LT
    Case
    12x1 LT
    €11.75

    Kulana Juice Apple Concentrate Tetra Pac
    Case
    12x1 LT
    €9.84

    there is a cheap one called "apple juice" but its an "apple juice drink", i.e. diluted


    Caster Sugar 1x25 KG
    Case
    1x25 KG

    €21.25

    https://collect.pallasfoods.com/


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    #2197
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    The 7 days of secondary fermentation is up for the new England IPA so I moved it from 20' in the downstairs toilet to a cooler location in the back utility to condition for 2 weeks. I had a taste and it's going to be nice, there's a lovely hoppy nose to it and it tastes fine, not too bitter. I can't wait.....


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    #2198
    raxy
    Registered Users Posts: 820 ✭✭✭raxy


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    The 7 days of secondary fermentation is up for the new England IPA so I moved it from 20' in the downstairs toilet to a cooler location in the back utility to condition for 2 weeks. I had a taste and it's going to be nice, there's a lovely hoppy nose to it and it tastes fine, not too bitter. I can't wait.....

    I'd bottle that now if it was me. Neipa's will loose the hopiness pretty quick. Bottle & carb it & drink it fresh.
    Planning to brew a neipa myself tomorrow.


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    #2199
    Bogwoppit
    Registered Users Posts: 2,559 ✭✭✭Bogwoppit


    raxy wrote: »
    I'd bottle that now if it was me. Neipa's will loose the hopiness pretty quick. Bottle & carb it & drink it fresh.
    Planning to brew a neipa myself tomorrow.

    I’d have to agree with that, although use your hydrometer to make sure the fermentation is finished.


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    #2200
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    raxy wrote: »
    I'd bottle that now if it was me. Neipa's will loose the hopiness pretty quick. Bottle & carb it & drink it fresh.
    Planning to brew a neipa myself tomorrow.

    It's kegged and just needs 2 weeks to clear. There are 4 adults in this house so a keg suits us, don't last long


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    #2201
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,712 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Try the NEIPA yet? I made a kit myself today but the OG was 1.034 vs a predicted 1.048 so I’ve either lost a bag of slop somewhere along the line or something has went badly wrong.


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    #2202
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    ReginaldSmythV wrote: »
    Try the NEIPA yet? I made a kit myself today but the OG was 1.034 vs a predicted 1.048 so I’ve either lost a bag of slop somewhere along the line or something has went badly wrong.

    I've had a taste, I have it in the fridge, it needs about another week to clear but I'm not that impressed. I didn't get a very active fermentation, activity pretty much stopped after 3 days. I worked out out that it's about 3.5%ABV which is very light for my taste so I'm not that hopeful for it. I won't be making it again


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    #2203
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    Had another glass and the NEIPA tastes very watery. It's due to be ready Friday which is carbonated in a keg 3 weeks ago, last 2 of those weeks I've had it in the fridge. It's not that nice! It's cloudy, but isn't NEIPA always cloudy? Is it for the drain or is there any hope for this batch?


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    #2204
    BeerNut
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 11,783 Mod ✭✭✭✭BeerNut


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    Is it for the drain or is there any hope for this batch?
    That's solely your decision. I'd be inclined to keep it until you need the container it's in for something else and you know that you're definitely not going to drink it.

    My beer blog | The Twitter | My other beer blog



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    #2205
    TomOnBoard
    Registered Users Posts: 5,109 ✭✭✭TomOnBoard


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    I've had a taste, I have it in the fridge, it needs about another week to clear but I'm not that impressed. I didn't get a very active fermentation, activity pretty much stopped after 3 days. I worked out out that it's about 3.5%ABV which is very light for my taste so I'm not that hopeful for it. I won't be making it again

    Don't expect it to clear completely. A NEIPA should be hazy!

    I suspect you didn't get a great start to the yeast growth phase for whatever reason. The lag between pitching the yeast and the fermentation beginning Is a crucial time for the rapid building of the yeast colony, and it's during this phase that much of the flavour profile is created by the yeast producing esters even before the alcohol production starts. So, your colony didn't start well and never recovered and ran out of steam. You're unlikely to be able to do anything to get the NEIPA scents and flavours (some say tropical fruitiness) and complexity back into it at this stage. You have the 3.5% abv, and that's as much as you're gonna get for now. You must be tasting a lot of sweetness in the current brew, as with an abv of 3.5%, there must be quite a bit of sugars left unfermented.

    You could use it as a learning exercise and put half of it back into the fermenter, get it up to 18-20C and add some DME/water and yeast nutrient. If you go down that route,first make a yeast starter and really focus on getting that to a stage of high activity over a period of 24-36 hours. Put that into the fermenter along with the 50% and let it rip for a few days, not allowing it to get much over 20C. The new starter will work on the new DME, and when the yeasties have chomped all that, itll snack on the previously unfermented remains. Also look up the Krausening process.

    You're not going to end up with a gold medal brew, but you'll be learning something and trying to produce an acceptable result. Use the other half of the original as a light snack brew.


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    #2206
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    The thing is it doesn't taste sweet at all, it tastes bland and watery


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    #2207
    TomOnBoard
    Registered Users Posts: 5,109 ✭✭✭TomOnBoard


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    The thing is it doesn't taste sweet at all, it tastes bland and watery

    What was the O.G. and the F.G.?

    Let's say you were aiming for a final ABV of 6%. You would have put in enough sugars to produce that after fermentation. If you ended up at 3.5%, then 42% of the fermentable sugars were not turned into alcohol. Some will have been consumed by the yeast as it colonised the wort initially. If 40 (+/-)% of your final beer is sugar and it doesn't taste sweet, it begs the question: Where did the rest go?


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    #2208
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    1.040 and it settled at 1.012
    This is the kit https://www.geterbrewed.ie/neipa-beer-kit/


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    #2209
    TomOnBoard
    Registered Users Posts: 5,109 ✭✭✭TomOnBoard


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    1.040 and it settled at 1.012
    This is the kit https://www.geterbrewed.ie/neipa-beer-kit/

    Ah, OK. The target ABV was 4.38%. Your readings suggest an ABV of 3.68% which is 15% of the target ABV that didn't get turned into alcohol. Your O.G. is marginally lower than their 1.042 advertised, and your F.G is higher than their target, so it might not be fully attenuated.

    I'd be inclined to have a chat with GetErBrewed to see if this 'experimental' kit contains enough malt/sugars in the 1st place. I see that the kit currently replaced LME with DME. Mmmmm!

    BTW, I think a target ABV of 4.38% is very low for a NEIPA in the 1st place. I see most US brews aim for ABV in the 5-7% range.


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    #2210
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,712 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    TomOnBoard wrote: »
    Ah, OK. The target ABV was 4.38%. Your readings suggest an ABV of 3.68% which is 15% of the target ABV that didn't get turned into alcohol. Your O.G. is marginally lower than their 1.042 advertised, and your F.G is higher than their target, so it might not be fully attenuated.

    I'd be inclined to have a chat with GetErBrewed to see if this 'experimental' kit contains enough malt/sugars in the 1st place. I see that the kit currently replaced LME with DME. Mmmmm!

    BTW, I think a target ABV of 4.38% is very low for a NEIPA in the 1st place. I see most US brews aim for ABV in the 5-7% range.

    That change to DME is probably only very recent as they had social media posts only today that they’re now out of liquid (some sourced but weeks away) and how much to use in comparison (think it said 80% quantity of dry vs 100% quantity of liquid).


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    #2211
    TomOnBoard
    Registered Users Posts: 5,109 ✭✭✭TomOnBoard


    ReginaldSmythV wrote: »
    That change to DME is probably only very recent as they had social media posts only today that they’re now out of liquid (some sourced but weeks away) and how much to use in comparison (think it said 80% quantity of dry vs 100% quantity of liquid).

    Yeah, that DME to LME ratio sounds about right.


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    #2212
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    Is there something weird about supplies from get er brewed. I stated a mangrove jacks American IPA on Thursday. Added the yeast at 23' and it's sitting since in the downstairs toilet at a constant 22'. After 65 hours I've no activity on my airlock, not a single bubble.


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    #2213
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,712 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Never had an issue with them before with anything. I don’t know what fermenter you have but is the lid definitely air tight? I’ve done that before.


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    #2214
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    ReginaldSmythV wrote: »
    Never had an issue with them before with anything. I don’t know what fermenter you have but is the lid definitely air tight? I’ve done that before.

    Yes, have double checked. There doesn't seem to be any positive pressure (yet). I'll give it more time, I've another kit here I can rob the yeast from


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    #2215
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    ReginaldSmythV wrote: »
    Never had an issue with them before with anything. I don’t know what fermenter you have but is the lid definitely air tight? I’ve done that before.

    Yes, have double checked. There doesn't seem to be any positive pressure (yet). I'll give it more time, I've another kit here I can rob the yeast from


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    #2216
    TomOnBoard
    Registered Users Posts: 5,109 ✭✭✭TomOnBoard


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    Yes, have double checked. There doesn't seem to be any positive pressure (yet). I'll give it more time, I've another kit here I can rob the yeast from

    The lag time for this yeast has been reported by other lads as very long (over 48h) in many cases, although 60+ hours does seem very long indeed.

    Google "M44 US West Coast lag time"


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    #2217
    TomOnBoard
    Registered Users Posts: 5,109 ✭✭✭TomOnBoard


    Check the SG and see if the OG has changed at all. After taking SG readings, put the wort into a sterilized plastic bottle. You can then do things with the sample to see if you can kick it into life, by giving it a good oxygenation and/or up the temp by a degree or two. It's easier to monitor that bottle than opening and checking the wort...

    I do this quite often after pitching, as it serves as a microcosm of the brew that can be watched more closely. It only costs 150-300 mls of product and you can play with it more easily.


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    #2218
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,712 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I will say one thing, and I’m by no means good at any of this, but I’ve never managed to make a Mangrove Jacks ‘yellow’ beer that wasn’t terrible.


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    #2219
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    TomOnBoard wrote: »
    The lag time for this yeast has been reported by other lads as very long (over 48h) in many cases, although 60+ hours does seem very long indeed.

    Google "M44 US West Coast lag time"

    Yes, 48hrs+ seems to be the norm for this yeast. I'll hold out a while to see


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    #2220
    TomOnBoard
    Registered Users Posts: 5,109 ✭✭✭TomOnBoard


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    Yes, 48hrs+ seems to be the norm for this yeast. I'll hold out a while to see

    Do the SG measurement in the meantime. If it hasn't changed, it will prove that the yeast hasn't started alcoholising the wort. And then you can watch the sample as posted previously. If the SG hasn't dropped, I'd also give it a stirring both to wake the critters up and oxygenate the wort a bit more.


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    #2221
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    Right so only got around to dealing with this early this morning before work. No activity on the airlock after 85 hours. There is a krausen building on top. I took a sample and it's gone from 1.050 to 1.030 so it is fermenting. I just gave it a good stir and left it alone.


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