Newbie 1st ever Brew.

Kingtj64 · Jul 9, 2020

Hi everyone,
I have just signed up after reading a lot on the forum.
Ok, I started my 1st ever Brew on Saturday 4th July it's the Cooper's Lager starter kit.
Mainly decided on this as the kit gives me everything to get started.
I have so far followed Cooper's instructions and removed the Krausen Collar on day 3 after around 75-80 hrs.
So what I'm unsure of after reading a few thread's here is; should I follow the instructions that came with the kit ? So I see what that tastes like ?

But I have read about 2+2+2 on here, so should I do that ?
Also have seen that some add hop's and spray malts ?
Also I picked up some Beer finings when I was in Wilkinson's this morning but not sure if I should use it or not.

Any advice would be helpful.

Banbeer · Jul 9, 2020

Welcome along to the forum, I would recommend the 2+2+2 method A. because it works and B. because you're new to the hobby, letting it ferment for 2 weeks should ensure that it's completed and the other 4 weeks is letting it carb and condition, you may have to wait a few weeks after that for it to be at its best but that's your choice (I'm not that patient).
I would get a couple of brews under your belt before you tinker around with hop additions but use DME (spraymalt) in place of sugar or Dextrose (brewing sugar).
As for beer finings it's up to you but I only have used them once and not a fan.

AnimatedGIF · Jul 9, 2020

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

Do you have a hyrdrometer? Measuring the gravity a couple of days apart is the most reliable way to tell if the fermentation has finished (if you get two identical readings 2 days apart, and they are not a million miles away from what you're expecting, you can be confident it's done and ready to package).

In what will you be packaging your beer? If you use finings then bottle/PB with priming sugar (for example), you may find it take a while for the secondary fermentation to take place, though I have not yet used finings so cannot be sure.
I have only done about 8 brews so far myself, but I stick to the 2 + 2 +2 while I gain experience and knowledge. Thinking about it, I do more of a 3+2+8 which works well for the styles I brew, and I take pride in being patient! The "3" is purely down to being busy, the "8" is because whenever I have tried after 2 weeks in a cool place, it's usually distinctly average, but after 8 weeks it often tastes so much better, and afterall, who doesn't want better beer.

Kingtj64 · Jul 9, 2020

Thanks for your replies.

Will go with the 2+2+2 then for this.

AnimatedGIF,
yes I have a hydrometer, it came with the kit. I did a reading on Saturday (1036) so I will start doing readings from this weekend, every other day like you suggested.
I will be using 750ml bottles with 2 Carbonation Drops which all came in the kit.

terrym · Jul 9, 2020

Welcome to the forum
This might be of help
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/...de-to-brewing-your-own-beer-from-a-kit.57526/Personally I would also give finings a miss. Time and gravity should clear your beer.
And don't go overboard taking SG readings. In theory all you need to do is to take one at the beginning (OG) and one perhaps two at the end (FG), latter to confirm its finished. In any case after two weeks in the FV, which is a good start point for new brewers, most beers should have fully fermented out, the yeast will have cleaned up, and you should have clear or nearly clear beer for bottling. So keeping the lid on your FV is good practice since it protects your beer from unwanted nasties, however small this risk might be.

Daddynoob · Jul 11, 2020

I was in the same boat as you with my first kit
I let mine ferment for 4 weeks as I wasn’t hitting the right temperature
Then I bottled and left for 2 weeks then chilled in the fridge (the beer not me)
My son bought a bottle of corona then had a bottle of my HB and said mine was better

Use the Geordie lager kit

You will get great advice on here

MmmBeer · Jul 11, 2020

Kingtj64 said:
Thanks for your replies.

Will go with the 2+2+2 then for this.

AnimatedGIF,
yes I have a hydrometer, it came with the kit. I did a reading on Saturday (1036) so I will start doing readings from this weekend, every other day like you suggested.
I will be using 750ml bottles with 2 Carbonation Drops which all came in the kit.

A word of advice when using larger bottles.

There will be an amount of sediment at the bottom of every bottle, some of which will be loose and if not poured carefully will end up in your glass, impairing the flavour of the beer. Always store bottles upright, handle carefully and pour in a single slow action, stopping once you see the first sediment particles approaching the neck of the bottle. If using larger bottles like yours, pour first into a jug, 1 litre or more, then from this into your favourite glass.

Daddynoob · Jul 11, 2020

Cheers for that

When I poured from bottle to glass I hardly saw any sediment
Have got a spare FV so have just bought a tap to attach to the fv to make it easier to pour into the bottles

Kingtj64 · Aug 3, 2020

have now bottled the brew on day 23, was bottling on day 21 but couldn't find a suitable bucket in shops to sterilise bottles.
Been in bottles 7 days, fg was 1009 so abv of 3.5. will report back next weekend as will try a bottle then ( will be 5 weeks old)

Will hopefully be brewing Woodfords Wherry at the weekend if I can get the fermentation fridge sorted by then.

Kingtj64 · Aug 14, 2020

Ok, so tried a bottle tonight, day 18 after bottling (day 41) first bottle was to me perfect. Had a nice head, carbonation bubbles floating to the top, like a can/bottle from shop. Tasted quite good, had worse.

2nd & 3rd bottles taste the same but have NO head & NO Bubble's floating. I stirred it with a spoon & got a nice head but it didn't last long.

Any ideas as to why the bottles have behaved differently ?

Funnily enough the 1st bottle was the last to be bottled, with the dregs.

All in all quite happy with it for a 1st brew.

Madhouse · Aug 14, 2020

What did you use in terms of sugars for carbonation?
Sugar syrup? Carbonation drops?

Kingtj64 · Aug 14, 2020

Cooper's carbonation drops.

Daddynoob · Aug 15, 2020

How did you add your sugar
To the bottles or to the bucket?

I had got a similar problem
1st batch I put the sugar straight in the bottles and was perfect

2nd batch I boiled the sugar and added it to a pressure barrel ok taste but flat

3rd batch I added the sugar without boiling directly to Pb it’s a bit hitty missy
Head is ok but flat ish
As in picture

so going back to sugar directly in bottles

I used ordinary sugar

terrym · Aug 15, 2020

@Kingtj64
Its only just over two weeks since you bottled your beer. I assume you left all your bottles in a warm place to carb up for the majority of that period. In any case you haven't given it time to condition properly. New brewers are normally advised to allow two weeks to carb up and then a further two weeks to condition before sampling, at which point it may or may not be drinkable. And in my experience the conditioning process seems to help the development of head retention. So on that, leave it alone for at least another two weeks at least then try again.
Next, I have no idea how carb drops translate into carbing potential, but if its a lager you should be using about 7g of table sugar per litre for priming which will give about 2.6 vols CO2 and that might be needed especially since lagers are served from the fridge.
Finally if your glasses are dirty or you clean them in the dishwasher that can destroy the head on your beer. I wash my glasses separately from other items (not in the dishwasher) rinse then dry on a dedicated glasses cloth and that works for me

Kingtj64 · Aug 15, 2020

Hi terrym,

Yes ALL bottles have (still are) in a box in the spare bedroom. Temperature has been very warm this last 10 day's or so but been above 70 every day since bottling.
The lager to me atleast was drinkable.
Like I said 1st was fine, with good head and lots of bubbles rising to the top, tasted like lager. The other 2 tasted very similar but no bubbles and little or no head. But did taste fizzy.
Fermentation was 23 days been in bottles for 17 days plus 1 in fridge. Was ment to wait until today (42nd day) but as it's was so hot yesterday couldn't resist.

Daddynoob · Aug 15, 2020

I wonder if mine was a bit flat cos I used dishwasher to clean the bottles then I rinsed just using water and used a glass that had been through the dishwasher

Kingtj64 · Aug 15, 2020

All things considered I'm more than happy with the outcome from my 1st brew :beer1:

Will be doing my 2nd this weekend, a Woodfords Wherry.

Merkin · Aug 15, 2020

Kingtj64 said:
All things considered I'm more than happy with the outcome from my 1st brew

Will be doing my 2nd this weekend, a Woodfords Wherry.

I'm just about to bung some yeast in my Woodfordes Wherry, which has been reaching correct temp overnight in my brew fridge. Only my 3rd brew since the 1980s!

Newbie 1st ever Brew.

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