Recent content by jimsx

Quick newbie question ... I decanted my first wherry kit (made up to c35 pints) into a "batch primed" barrel last weekend & then filled 20 bottles direct from the barrel. I was going to leave the remaining brew in the barrel - however, I have since discovered that there is a very slow leak...

Oh - I think the barrel is always half empty ... so you'll have to get another brew started :cheers:

I've done slightly the opposite of you! I'm also a newbie & I transferred my Wherry (also my first brew kit) into a 5 gallon barrel last night. I had started it on Fri 30 Aug 2013 and then on Sat 7 Sept 2013 it had an ABV of 1015 ish. Last Tue (10 Sept) I transferred to a secondary FV & added...

Couldn't you just use these instead of CO2 bulbs on the barrel? http://www.homebrewcentregy.com/10-disp ... -gas-bulbs

Can easy kegs keep the beer for many weeks even when pints are being drawn / reused multiple times / don't need CO2 added? (Sorry - just seen the link details so have answered the question already!) I guess the negative with this system is that the beer only keeps for a few days one a mini-keg...

Thanks for your replies. I'm still at the newbie stage (currently have my first brew at the secondary FV stage and started the second one last night). I've got a couple of new 5g barrels so far - one with just the standard safety valve and one with a CO2 "bulb" connector. Apologies for the...

Simple question - I appreciate that here are a variety of metal "mini-keg" systems available, but why is the standard plastic pressure barrel only available in a 5 gallon size? Fermenting buckets come in a very wide variety of sizes (5, 10, 15, 25, 30 etc) - so why does no-one manufacture...

Brilliant - thanks morethanworts! From what you have previously mentioned about adding the hops, am I right to assume that flavours are best added once all the initial fermentation has settled down - as otherwise it is just converted to alcohol at the primary stage so the flavour element is...

So ... all went really well last night - I racked off the Wherry to a secondary FV, adding about 40g of Golding pellets. The difference in the smell / taste of the Wherry since I tested on Saturday really is night & day. It's looking good now - so I'll give it another week or so for the...

Thanks - I'll rack it off to a secondary & get "hopping" tonight. ;) Time (& football coverage) permitting, I'll probably also get my second brew started - a Woodfordes Nog. Would adding Dark Dried Malt Extract to the FV improve this - & if so, how much do you suggest I add immediately...

Couple more newbie questions ... I have ordered some hop pellets so will add this in as you suggest: Should I just sprinkle this in immediately to the FV - or is there any advantage to wait (probably for another week or so) until the primary fermentation has stopped first? You mention about...

I'm impressed that you can still type properly!! :D

Thanks for all of your replies! I was just going to make up this first kit "as is" ... but if it can be seriously improved by adding hop tea (?? I don't even know what this is) / liquid malt extract etc - and this is easy for a newbie to do - then any (idiots-guide level) advice gratefully...

Thanks Rob - so is CO2 only added to a keg once the beer doesn't easily come out of the tap and it doesn't have any sort of "preservative" affect? I think I was getting confused with another comment on here about adding CO2 and then releasing / retightening the cap on the keg briefly to let any...

Apologies for newbie question ... If I fill a keg with 40 pints and then (once ready) start drinking it / emptying via the tap - how long will the remaining beer keep? I'm hoping it is more than just a few days - as obviously I can't drink a gallon or more each day! Is this where the CO2...