Dovydaitis
Official fishco fish groupie
I heard somewhere fish tank heaters are pretty good and they are pretty cheap (nb. I may be wrong)
Home Brew Questions
- Thread starter Voley
- Start date
I've read that too.
I've also read you shouldn't put the heater directly into the FV as that would cause a hot spot around the heater??? So, instead you should put your FV in a 'bath' of water and put the heater in that.
Either way, 5 heaters and 5 baths still sounds like more expense/messing that I can be bothered with for a few months of cold weather.
I'll be more prepared for the winter next year by stocking right up in the warmer months.
badseed
Mighty but thin.
I would love to hear how this turns out.
sunnysidedown
caput mortuum
I'll keep you updated mate. We've been getting our stove top kits from Dave's in North Sydney, we did a Porter first which turned out lovely and currently have one of his Belgians & an IPA on the go, but we now want to move to the next step
My mate spotted this thread and suggested we give it a go.
Dovydaitis
Official fishco fish groupie
got the DJ soaking in some VWP along with the airlock and bung. Got all the ingredients for the toffee apple cider recipe I found..... my first non kit beer (well unless you count a ginger beer plant)
this could be interesting.....
this could be interesting.....
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
So, would I just drop it in the FV?
Would it need to be on a timer to take into account when my central heating is on and off?
Dovydaitis
Official fishco fish groupie
do love the smell in the kitchen when brewing
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
Basically yes.
I paid a couple of quid more and got one from argos that has red indicators for the temp settings on it.
I drilled a one inch whole in my lid for an airlock bung and then put the cord through the bung so I can still keep the lid sealed but a lot of folk just leave the lead poking out.If you do that though you loose the airlock in ya bucket. I then sealed the bung with silicone. It's a bit fiddly to clean but it does the job. My stout brewed out to 1010 in 4 days at 24c. The only thing you've gotta watch out for is condensation if it's in too cold surroundings as this will build up at the top of the batch which I why I think there's some merit in having it poking out the lid.
It will be plugged into the mains and it switches itself on and off as it needs to via a built in thermostat.
Anyway it ain't rocket science here's a diagram of mine though I do like the idea of Addys cupboard
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
Where did you get the thermo Ads? I've got one of those barrel heaters and the ideal cupboard in my Brewery errr I mean utility room. Can't you tell I don't live with a ladyYeah I done the whole fishtank heater in the FV, then in a waterbath and decided a dedicated brew cupboard was the way forward.
I can get 4 fv's in there at any 1 time
I'll post up a video of my brewery room when i get the chance
Addy
cooking...
I got mine off Ebay
wasn't too dificult to wire up either, and it will controll a heater and cooler if you want to brew in a fridge for lagers etc.
wasn't too dificult to wire up either, and it will controll a heater and cooler if you want to brew in a fridge for lagers etc.
badseed
Mighty but thin.
Much the same as the one I use to control my brew fridge.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
Dovydaitis
Official fishco fish groupie
that sounds gorgeous! Wish I'd discovered home brew sooner, the ultimate easy xmas gift
badseed
Mighty but thin.
That looks pretty cool, I am quite tempted.... Do you just use the same AG recipes as a trad AG setup?I'll keep you updated mate. We've been getting our stove top kits from Dave's in North Sydney, we did a Porter first which turned out lovely and currently have one of his Belgians & an IPA on the go, but we now want to move to the next step
I would need a kettle, chiller and burner which (from a quick google) would set me back about $300.
The bags are ready made in the lhbs for $10.
I am looking forward to hearing how this goes.
butcher
boner at the ready
Have just transferred my first Ditch stout to the Keg after 10 days in the FV, primed with 120g golden syrup, the sneaky tester was lush to say the least! This one will be repeated without doubt.
NB was a tin of Coopers Stout plus 1Kg Medium DME plus a ginormous handfull of dark soft brown sugar, brewed to 23l drinking is now t- 7 days and counting!
NB was a tin of Coopers Stout plus 1Kg Medium DME plus a ginormous handfull of dark soft brown sugar, brewed to 23l drinking is now t- 7 days and counting!
butcher
boner at the ready
Ahhh, I was assuming thesame as an ale, ie 100g sugar = 120g golden syrup and right for 40 pints....
I might ease off the cap a bit then and let her vent.
Thanks for the advice
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
I primed mine with a tin of treacle and it's grand, nae gas issues. Sadly though i've only about 8 pints left, happily though this means I can make another one
Addy
cooking...
Ahhh, I was assuming thesame as an ale, ie 100g sugar = 120g golden syrup and right for 40 pints....
I might ease off the cap a bit then and let her vent.
Thanks for the advice
Don't vent it unless you find your getting a fizzy pint.
You have to keep the brew cold for the ale to absorbe the co2, which it then releases when poured and thus creates fizz...
If you pour a pint after secondary and its fine, then no need to vent.
Addy
cooking...
I primed mine with a tin of treacle and it's grand, nae gas issues. Sadly though i've only about 8 pints left, happily though this means I can make another one
The Coopers stout soon becomes a regular session ale.... always good to have a keg with stout in it.
I need to brew another soon
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
I was amazed how quick it brewed as well. I'm thinking of toasted oats with this one, syrup of figgs and real cocoa
Addy
cooking...
I was amazed how quick it brewed as well. I'm thinking of toasted oats with this one, syrup of figgs and real cocoa
Just make sure there are no 'fat's in the tin of coca ingredients as it might kill the head on your pint.
Others who have tried a chocolate stout have used a bottle of chocolate essence to add the flavour iirc.
I've just bottled my Barons Amber Ale and the last bottle from the filling bucket only got filled up to half way but instead of having a sip then pouring it down the sink, I'm keeping it to drink tonight as it already tastes gorgeous with no carbonation or conditioning.
The real reason for my post is to ask if I'm doing the right thing by putting a half teaspoon of sugar in the bottle, then filling and capping, then I shake the bottle a few times to mix the sugar in. Is the shaking the bottle the right thing to do, or will the yeast find the sugar anyway?
The real reason for my post is to ask if I'm doing the right thing by putting a half teaspoon of sugar in the bottle, then filling and capping, then I shake the bottle a few times to mix the sugar in. Is the shaking the bottle the right thing to do, or will the yeast find the sugar anyway?
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
Some people shake some say it introduces air into the brew which can alter taste but yeah the yeast will find the sugar anyway.I've just bottled my Barons Amber Ale and the last bottle from the filling bucket only got filled up to half way but instead of having a sip then pouring it down the sink, I'm keeping it to drink tonight as it already tastes gorgeous with no carbonation or conditioning.
The real reason for my post is to ask if I'm doing the right thing by putting a half teaspoon of sugar in the bottle, then filling and capping, then I shake the bottle a few times to mix the sugar in. Is the shaking the bottle the right thing to do, or will the yeast find the sugar anyway?
Personally I prefer to batch prime in a keg or spare fv and then you can mix all the sugar into the wort without introducing any air. I then have a bottle wand on the keg to save my ageing back whilst bottling.
If it tastes nice when you drink it you're doing it right
21 ltrs of Merlot/shiraz beefed up to the max with a bottle of red wine concentrate and 3 ltrs of red wine juice. OG 1100
