Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Eating and Drinking => Homebrew => Topic started by: Asherweef on January 04, 2015, 09:13
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Morning campers,
I'm going to be having my first ever brewday today: a St Peter's Golden Ale kit. I've got (I think) all of my bits and bobs and will be giving them a good sterilise before conducting the brew. Does anybody have any insider tips or best practise? I'm open to the fact that this one may be a failure but I'd really prefer that it wasn't...
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Only go for it!
I remember being nervous with my first brew, but then I did a batch as a sort of insurance if one of them went wrong.
The biggest tip is to maintain the temperature well after the yeast is pitched.
Good luck and don't forget to enjoy it!
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I've got a red wine kit from 2 Christmas ago that I've not been brave enough to have a go at. Your post might inspire me to get it out & have a go Asherweef.
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Go for it! It's no good sat in a box!
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It's done!npics to follow. Couldn't have been simpler only I'm concerned that I didn't wash the steriliser out properly as bubbles appeared when I added water to the can contents... Time will tell!
I say do it though, snowdrops :D
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Well Done!
I've got my fingers crossed for you.
Let us know what it tastes like!
Good Luck!
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Thanks both I will find it out this week & read through then aim to have a bash next weekend, will need to get some sterilising fluid/ tablets. What did you use, Milton or is it Campden (sp)tablets, I remember my dad having those. I might be going to see my mum weds,Thursday,fri so it will be the weekend before I'm ready to go
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I've never used Campden tablets or any sterilising fluid. I know the purists will be horrified!
As long as your equipment is clean is all you need.
For me, that means washing stuff a few times in soap liquid, rinsing off lots - I've even used fish tank gravel on really bad demi-johns. I've always finished off by using lots of warm/hot water to make sure it is properly clean after the initial soapy wash(es).
e2a:
By clean I mean as clean and sterile as you can get it.
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I used Young's :)
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you will need campden to stop the fementing when racked.We are currently drinking elderade as we didn't. I am normally slow in racking into a new demijohn. Kits are best left for months before bottling. we normally bottle after racking a year later
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I came back to wine making after a break of several years, I was surprised how few shops are left now (just Wilkinsons) and how much a kit costs
Well I bought demi johns, and all the other bits I needed and then went fruit picking, got gooseberries (I made a really good one of them I remember)
I posted a post in here about it clearing, a very kind member helped me out, but it doesnt smell like I remember it
Cant wait for the fruit picking time this year (maybe by then the gooseberry wine will be worth drinking (if not I'll just add some more gooseberry juice to what I have)
Good luck with it, lets know how you got on with it
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Mr Bee always used campden tablets when he used to make wine.
I used to pinch them to stop the apples going brown when preparing them for the freezer. :blush:
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Pepsi, have a look online as there are several great firms selling absolutely everything! If you want our supplier's name, please PM me! We've spent hundreds of pounds with them over the last year or so, they're so quick - and cheaper than Wilkos!
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Thanks, PM sent :)
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No problem Pepsi, PM sent as well!
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Please may I have their address too Mr Growster. I have been toying with the idea of having go at cider.
I might be able to get Mr Bee interested again.
:)
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you will need campden to stop the fermenting when racked.We are currently drinking elderade as we didn't.
I was given something similar but it was described as Elderflower Champagne. Delicious it was, too.
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Well yesterday I finally got round to starting my first wine kit,Cabernet Sauvignon. This morning it's bubbling away well on the spare room window ledge.
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I might be wrong but don't they need to be out of direct sunlight?
Still not posted my pics...!
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Oh, I didn't know that,it's been bubbling away all week & is just beginning to slow down this morning.
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Its where I put anything that I am making, regardless of colour, never had a problem
It bubbles more as the sun comes up and warms the room, dies back in the evenings
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I might be wrong but don't they need to be out of direct sunlight?
Still not posted my pics...!
It's only because it might fade a bit, Asherweef, I never bothered about keeping it in the shade either!
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If anyone likes rose, The Range do a 30 bottle kit for just over £20 (needs 3.5Kg sugar). It clears extremely well and tastes just like a Gallo Grenache... :tongue2:
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I might be wrong but don't they need to be out of direct sunlight?
Still not posted my pics...!
It's only because it might fade a bit, Asherweef, I never bothered about keeping it in the shade either!
Ahh Okay :)
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Just an update, my wine has now finished. I added all the various sachets as instructed, just a day late as I was out all day on Saturday. I'm now waiting for Campden tablets to sterilise my used wine bottles & should have them tomorrow so will rack it & bottle all being well. I didn't think an extra 24 hours clearing would matter :unsure:
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Just an update, my wine has now finished. I added all the various sachets as instructed, just a day late as I was out all day on Saturday. I'm now waiting for Campden tablets to sterilise my used wine bottles & should have them tomorrow so will rack it & bottle all being well. I didn't think an extra 24 hours clearing would matter :unsure:
Don't worry too much about timing, Snows, it'll be all the better for a few hours - or days longer!
We just use 4 pint milk bottles to rack into from a five gallon fermenter, then we leave them for a few days and even then there's maybe a tiny bit of residue, so I sometimes rack a second time - depends how thirsty we are! It takes just a couple of minutes, and makes a difference if the wine is about two weeks old!
Hope it all turns out good for you!
;0)
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The kit came with 2 buckets & says to rack from 1 bucket to the other, the if clear into the bottles. I'm not sure when it will be drinkable.it says you can drink it almost straight away. Can that be right?
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The kit came with 2 buckets & says to rack from 1 bucket to the other, the if clear into the bottles. I'm not sure when it will be drinkable.it says you can drink it almost straight away. Can that be right?
Probably is right, Snows! Did you use finings, because they can drop everything out in a day sometimes!
Why not taste some from the top - I would!
;0)
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Yes it came with 3 sachets of finings, each one added an hour after the other, then wait 24 hours for it to clear,then rack. That should have been yesterday,but the bottles weren't ready & I've got a bug so I kept away from it
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Yes it came with 3 sachets of finings, each one added an hour after the other, then wait 24 hours for it to clear,then rack. That should have been yesterday,but the bottles weren't ready & I've got a bug so I kept away from it
Hope you feel better soon, Snows! By the time you do, get racking!
;0)
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Thanks Mr G, still feeling rough so I've let it be,how long can it stay without racking
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Just take it easy Snows, it won't go bad and will definitely improve, so get better then get the racking bits going when you feel better!
You've got plenty of time - believe me! Growster has spoken!
;0)
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Thank you, I will do as told :D