- Joined
- Apr 17, 2020
- Messages
- 1,370
- Reaction score
- 3,503
Hi all,
Just joined up to better educate myself on the finer points of making some decent ale !
I used to homebrew about 20 years ago - with surprising success considering I can't recall using a hydrometer ever though I was always
very careful with sterilisation and cleanliness.
Like a lot of folk during the lockdown with time on my hands I thought I'd dig out my old barrels and FV again, picking up steriliser
new airlock and hydrometer online with a couple of one can kits to get started.
For old times sake I went for a Scottish heavy by Youngs for my first brew ( seem to remember it as first kit I ever did ) which is nearly ready to barrel.
Guide says 5-10 days, after 7 with krausen subsided and only occasional bubbling from airlock I took a sample and checked with hydrometer.
Reading was 1.006 , the top end of what guide advises 1.000 - 1.006 so will check again later to see if its dropped.
Had a little taste test on the sample which was promising ! Sweetness was gone which is an indication of finished fermentation according to the guide.
I'm sure though it could benefit from a little extra time for the yeast to 'clear up' from what I've picked up reading around.
I did try to take the starting gravity of the wort but it was difficult to read as it was quite frothy, I think it was approx between 1.045 - 1.050.
The recipe was 1.5 kg of brewing sugar and suggested ABV is 5% so should be about right ?
Hoping I can pick up whatever tips and advice I can to improve the beer I'm making so thanks in advance for any help, I'll try and search forums before asking
obvious noob questions !
Just joined up to better educate myself on the finer points of making some decent ale !
I used to homebrew about 20 years ago - with surprising success considering I can't recall using a hydrometer ever though I was always
very careful with sterilisation and cleanliness.
Like a lot of folk during the lockdown with time on my hands I thought I'd dig out my old barrels and FV again, picking up steriliser
new airlock and hydrometer online with a couple of one can kits to get started.
For old times sake I went for a Scottish heavy by Youngs for my first brew ( seem to remember it as first kit I ever did ) which is nearly ready to barrel.
Guide says 5-10 days, after 7 with krausen subsided and only occasional bubbling from airlock I took a sample and checked with hydrometer.
Reading was 1.006 , the top end of what guide advises 1.000 - 1.006 so will check again later to see if its dropped.
Had a little taste test on the sample which was promising ! Sweetness was gone which is an indication of finished fermentation according to the guide.
I'm sure though it could benefit from a little extra time for the yeast to 'clear up' from what I've picked up reading around.
I did try to take the starting gravity of the wort but it was difficult to read as it was quite frothy, I think it was approx between 1.045 - 1.050.
The recipe was 1.5 kg of brewing sugar and suggested ABV is 5% so should be about right ?
Hoping I can pick up whatever tips and advice I can to improve the beer I'm making so thanks in advance for any help, I'll try and search forums before asking
obvious noob questions !