Dovydaitis
Official fishco fish groupie
My first batch of cider is ready for bottling so will do that tomorrow, then clean out the stuff ready to get my brewferm christmas in and off
Home Brew Questions
- Thread starter Voley
- Start date
Having now done a good few kits I'm wondering how the manufacturers get away with the claim on the packaging that by following their instructions the beer will end up being the percentage they claim.
The Wherry kit claims 4.5% and I doubt mine have been anywhere near that. Maybe 4% at best. Same with the other kits I've tried too.
The Wherry kit claims 4.5% and I doubt mine have been anywhere near that. Maybe 4% at best. Same with the other kits I've tried too.
Addy
cooking...
Under lab conditions, where the temperature is controlled to 0.1degree, the water contains no impurities that might affect the yeast, the yeast is 100% viable and is pitched correctly and you achieve the correct SG and FG then yes, the %ABV is spot on.
I have a brew fridge / heater controlled by a digital thermostatic controller, I treat my water prior to use, I generally make a starter from the yeast, I airate the wort well before pitching the yeast and usually brew to a shortened brewlength of 20l rather than 23 to get extra strength and body from a kit.
The kit instructions are merely a guidline, not gospel to most homebrewers.
I have a brew fridge / heater controlled by a digital thermostatic controller, I treat my water prior to use, I generally make a starter from the yeast, I airate the wort well before pitching the yeast and usually brew to a shortened brewlength of 20l rather than 23 to get extra strength and body from a kit.
The kit instructions are merely a guidline, not gospel to most homebrewers.
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
I've got 50 bottles of Diablo to fill and cap tomorrow and then it's a 30 bottle shiraz kit that's gonna be bubblin 
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
What's the tomato paste do?I have now made a 25 litre wash using 5 kg sugar, 200g tomato paste, a bit of citric acid and pitched bakers yeast. This is apparently a tried and tested recipe for a great neutral spirit, no bad smell.
I should end up with 5 litres of proper ghetto hooch.
I might get some oak chips and have a go at a bourbon.
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
If it's anything like my oatmeal ditch it'll be bloody nectar. I'm doing a pure ditch to compare when we've drunk the last of this batch. Keep us postedJust pitched my first Ditches stout, so it is t- 20 days untill the first little tasting
Dovydaitis
Official fishco fish groupie
diablo is on my project list, heard good reports about itI've got 50 bottles of Diablo to fill and cap tomorrow and then it's a 30 bottle shiraz kit that's gonna be bubblin
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
I have currently in the brewery.Have tested a single Diablo after 1 month i the bottle, and it is a winner
I'd guestimate 7-8%, carbonation good, cleared well, good tight head and nice toffee-ish note on the finish.
Only 15 pints to drink at Christmas tho'
10 ltrs of muntons Old English bitter kegged
15 ltrs of oatmeal stout kegged.
23 ltrs of Yorkshire bitter kegged
20 660ml bottles of muntons imperial stout
22 330ml bottles of oatmeal stout
15 1 ltr bottles of Strawberry and Elderflower Turbo cidre
50 330ml bottles of Diablo that are hoping to remaim untouched during the festive period.
Add to that a wherry on the way and 30 bottles of shiraz I think we may have a right merry xmas this year
badseed
Mighty but thin.
Just a nutrient for the yeast. There are a few different things you can use, this was the easiest as it was in the cupboard already.
Still fermenting hard. I have cling wrap over the top not an airlock but you can hear it.
I suspected that might be the case. Still, the instructions don't say you have to do all that. "Up to 4.5%" would be a more honest claim.
Has anyone tried the festival range of kits? My second ever brew was a Festival London Porter and it's the best pint I've ever had by a long shot.
The kits are £24 each, but well worth it imo.
I've also tried the Old Suffolk Strong Ale, which was also a top pint, and I've got a Pilgrims Hope in the FV as I type.
Dovydaitis
Official fishco fish groupie
well my first batch is now bottled and maturing, the fermenter has been sterilised and will be getting the brewferm christmas in it in the next hour
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
Not tried that one but all the two can kits i've done have been stunning. My hb shop has got that one in. I think it may have to do a turn in Frieda breweryI suspected that might be the case. Still, the instructions don't say you have to do all that. "Up to 4.5%" would be a more honest claim.
Has anyone tried the festival range of kits? My second ever brew was a Festival London Porter and it's the best pint I've ever had by a long shot.
The kits are £24 each, but well worth it imo.
I've also tried the Old Suffolk Strong Ale, which was also a top pint, and I've got a Pilgrims Hope in the FV as I type.
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
Ace choice. Let us know how it turns out
Dovydaitis
Official fishco fish groupie
will do! I'm making it for a July drinking date so will be a while till I get to sample it in it's full glory
You get two pouches of gunk, a kilo of brewing sugar, a pouch of hops, a bag that you put on the end of your syphon to help filter your beer, and a small bag of sugar for priming.Not tried that one but all the two can kits i've done have been stunning. My hb shop has got that one in. I think it may have to do a turn in Frieda brewery
Of all the kits I've done so far, these kits not only shine through on quality, they're also the only kits I've tried where the beer is ready to drink after only 3 weeks in the bottle. The other kits where I've tried a bottle after 3 weeks, I've always found them to still be a bit flat with hardly any head.
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
Sounds great. I like the look of the porter
Dovydaitis
Official fishco fish groupie
wilkos own brand kits are currently going for a tenner complete with brewing sugar.... might have to nip down! don't like the idea of not having my next kit ready when the current one gets bottled
sunnysidedown
caput mortuum
Bottling 19 litres of a stove top Belgian ale tomorrow, looks like it should be around 9%, and I have a good feeling about this one.
We're heading into all grain next.
We're heading into all grain next.
I've got six beer kits and one wine kit all in the queue for when an FV comes empty.
I currently have five FV's all full.
Dovydaitis
Official fishco fish groupie
im off to buy beer kit(s) and a second fv 
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
Get thee to wilco and get an £18 Wherry kitim off to buy beer kit(s) and a second fv
Their FV's are cheap too. I got the wide neck one and banged a tap and bottling wand on it all done for £15
Dovydaitis
Official fishco fish groupie
my branch had sold out of the wherry, it was always a gap when it was £15 too. got a wilkos cerveza though with a kg of brewing sugar for a tenner if its crap a tenner is not much to waste
if its crap a tenner is not much to waste
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
I've heard good things about their cerveza. I was buying some corks last week and a bearded boaty was raving about itmy branch had sold out of the wherry, it was always a gap when it was £15 too. got a wilkos cerveza though with a kg of brewing sugar for a tenner
No. a tenner isn't much to waste (I'm sure it will be grand) but it's the time and effort wasted that would bother me.got a wilkos cerveza though with a kg of brewing sugar for a tenner
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
Homebrewing rule 267.
Never allow two drunk women to pour themselves a beer from a keg at 2am
It's up the walls, all over me new shiny washing machine, fuck knows if they managed to get any in the glass
Never allow two drunk women to pour themselves a beer from a keg at 2am
It's up the walls, all over me new shiny washing machine, fuck knows if they managed to get any in the glass
Dovydaitis
Official fishco fish groupie
you guys have a lot to answer for! 
I now have the bug.... I have a brew in the FV, one waiting to go in, a planned toffee apple recipe to go on the DJ tomorrow once I get the rest of the ingredients.....
I now have the bug.... I have a brew in the FV, one waiting to go in, a planned toffee apple recipe to go on the DJ tomorrow once I get the rest of the ingredients.....
Addy
cooking...
Homebrewing rule 267.
Never allow two drunk women to pour themselves a beer from a keg at 2am
It's up the walls, all over me new shiny washing machine, fuck knows if they managed to get any in the glass
Get some cornies, a fridge / chiller and a beer pull and you can let the ladies serve beer all night
