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Home Brew Questions

When I first started brewing I kept reading on the hb forums about keeping beer out of the sunlight or the beer will end up getting 'skunked'. Of course, I followed the advice, but after reading it being repeated again and again, I asked the question if anyone had actually ever experienced a bottle of their beer suffering from the skunking effect. No one had.:confused:

Obviously because they all avoid sunlight on their beer.:hmm:
 
og ogilby said:
When I first started brewing I kept reading on the hb forums about keeping beer out of the sunlight or the beer will end up getting 'skunked'. Of course, I followed the advice, but after reading it being repeated again and again, I asked the question if anyone had actually ever experienced a bottle of their beer suffering from the skunking effect. No one had.:confused:

Obviously because they all avoid sunlight on their beer.:hmm:
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It may well be that the advice comes from parts of the world where they have a lot more/brighter sunshine than we do.

However, "How To Brew" mentions that even putting beer that isn't in brown bottles near to fluorescent tubes that remain on for long periods can "skunk" the beer - some of the alpha acids contain sulphur compounds which the blue (and green) light in sunlight (or fluorescent light) affect, changing them to compounds very similar to what comes out of the back end of a skunk (sulphur compounds are notoriously stinky).
 
Frances Lengel said:
If it did happen I'd still drink it though.
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Me too.:D

I was worried about the high temps over the summer because I'd read so many posts warning of the negative effects of brewing beer in temperatures over 22 or 23 degrees, but when it came to drinking my brews, they tasted fine. Maybe just a slight 'meaty' taste, but after a few mouthfuls, I couldn't taste the off flavour.

Of course, the advice is good if you want to achieve perfection, but I've found homebrewing to be very forgiving when it comes to not following the 'rules'.
 
og ogilby said:
Me too.:D
<snip>
Of course, the advice is good if you want to achieve perfection, but I've found homebrewing to be very forgiving when it comes to not following the 'rules'.
Click to expand...

Me too, as long as everything's clean it's just a matter of leaving the yeast and the sugar to do their work IME.

I've only had one batch go wrong and that was when the seal on the lid of a barrel perished, so it wasn't airtight - That was a failure of hardware though.
 
I would have to question how much truth there is about skunking of beer as we see more and more bottle conditioned beer on the supermarket shelves in clear glass bottles.

The only skunking of beer I have know was when my dad done homebrew.
He never protected the beer from the dark and he found that after 1 spectacular lightening storm he ended up with a skunked keg.

.... but nice work there Frances :)
 
og ogilby said:
Me too.:D

I was worried about the high temps over the summer because I'd read so many posts warning of the negative effects of brewing beer in temperatures over 22 or 23 degrees, but when it came to drinking my brews, they tasted fine. Maybe just a slight 'meaty' taste, but after a few mouthfuls, I couldn't taste the off flavour.

Of course, the advice is good if you want to achieve perfection, but I've found homebrewing to be very forgiving when it comes to not following the 'rules'.
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If it gets up to 25, you're OK, but much above that, and the yeast starts producing complex higher alcohols (including what are called "fusel alcohols", which can affect the taste, not necessarily too badly, but are also a significant part of the reason why we get hangovers). Strong, dark beers tend to be less affected, lighter beers and lagers can be ruined...
 
I've managed to amass enough bottles to get my super cheap (wilkos special) shiraz on the go, so currently have 23 litres fermenting away and a DJ of mead is still there.

Did pop into the HB shop the weekend and picked up some choc malt for my stout and will be doing that next
 
Frances Lengel said:
View attachment 44005 The Laundry Bar. From far to near, Cerveza, Pils, IPA & Golden Ale. I do put a cover thing over the barrels so no sunlight can go on them, I just took it off for the pic.
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FL, I may disagree with some of your opinions but seeing such a fine display of loving crafted nourishment, I salute your good taste and foresight, I'd gladly share a glass of my own brew with you.
 
Just bottled up 22 bottles of the Shiraz kit I got from Wilkos when they were selling the muntons stuff off at a tenner, got a dj full too but ran out of steriliser for the remaining bottles. Tasted half decent for a young wine :cool:
 
My Coopers double kit was the finest beer I have brewed to date:

APA and Real ale, plus 1Kg amber malt,
plus a partial amber malt mash (200g in 4L @66deg for 1hr),
dry hopped with 30g Cascade after ferm died down,
kegged for 8 weeks

Simply IPA heaven, approx. 7%, hoppy malty sublime ALE.
 
Wilkos seem to be reducing their beer stuff again. I got a 23 litre bucket for £6.80 and all of their own brand kits; lager, bitter, pilsner etc were reduced to £8. Woodford's was reduced to £15 and there was loads of other bits and bobs reduced too.

Anyway, I've got the Wherry kit and it says that it's quite citrusy and hoppy, which I like. However, I do like my ale to be a little more pale than I think this one is going to turn out like. I'm guessing there isn't anything I can do to the kit (add / take away) that'll make it a more slightly paler ale?

Cheers
 
diond said:
Wilkos seem to be reducing their beer stuff again. I got a 23 litre bucket for £6.80 and all of their own brand kits; lager, bitter, pilsner etc were reduced to £8. Woodford's was reduced to £15 and there was loads of other bits and bobs reduced too.

Anyway, I've got the Wherry kit and it says that it's quite citrusy and hoppy, which I like. However, I do like my ale to be a little more pale than I think this one is going to turn out like. I'm guessing there isn't anything I can do to the kit (add / take away) that'll make it a more slightly paler ale?

Cheers
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TBH mate, give the wherry a go without messing with it - I know taste is subjective but IMO it's a really nice pint. And my preferred style of beer is quite bitter tasting light and hoppy as well so I reckon you'll enjoy it. Happy drinking anyway :cool:
 
Frances Lengel said:
TBH mate, give the wherry a go without messing with it - I know taste is subjective but IMO it's a really nice pint. And my preferred style of beer is quite bitter tasting light and hoppy as well so I reckon you'll enjoy it. Happy drinking anyway :)
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Cool - I'll take your very learned advice, thanks. I'll crack on with it tomorrow evening, thanks.:cool:
 
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