Newbie Homebrewer needs advice

[Jacko]

Hi guys, This is my first post here.

I will be attempting my first batch of beer soon and would like your opinions on a matter that has me confused.

I have a standard 30l fermenter and have just purchased a cascade draught kit to get things underway.

My local HB shop sold me a half dextrose/half light malt (500g of each) to go with this kit and the cascade instructions say it will make approx 23 litres.

Here's where things get confusing, the instructions the HB shop gave me say mix all ingredients in 8-10 litres of hot tap water, then 3/4 fill the fermenter with cold tap water, add the yeast when the temp drops under 28C then fit lid and air lock and allow to ferment for 2 days.

Then they say to top up the fermenter with more cold tap water up to the bottom of the thread in the neck. I measured the amount up to the thread base and it is about 29 litres.

So will filling the fermenter up this much be watering down my brew?

I understand the added ingredients will displace about 1 litre of liquid but this just does'nt seem right to me, like 5-6 litres difference between both sets of instructions.

How would you seasoned brewers recommend I go about making this kit?

Sorry for the long newbie post, and many thanks to those who reply...

[db]

bah .. mix it up to a final volume 23litre's (or under, 20-22, for a bigger beer) inlcuding all ingredients.. i've never used that much hot water, nor tap water for that matter (i personally wouldn't use hot tap water - the inside of hot water pipes is pretty festy) . i'd use as much boiling water as it takes to rinse the remaining malt from the can, after dumping it (probably around 3litres), stir it up & top up to 23litres

[Tipsy]

G'day Jacko,
I'd just boil up the dex & malt in a couple of ltrs of water then chuck it in the fermenter with the can (contents only ) Top up to 23 ltrs with cold water sprinkle on yeast, do the lid up, bung in the air lock and walk away

[Oliver]

All you're really aiming to do is to dissolve all the ingredients. Don't use too much hot water or else the temperature will be too high even after you've added the cold water.

Particularly at this time of year (provided you're in the Southern Hemisphere), even using the smallest amount of hot water you can, you'll probably find that the temperature of the wort is quite high.

Cheers,

Oliver

[sleonard]

Jacko,

I have a mate who does what they have told you and his beers turn out pretty good. I guess it just comes down to how much you really want!

just out of curiosity, which HB shop??

regards

Simon

[501]

On some kits it suggests you pitch the yeast at the lower end of the temperature range in hot weather. ?

This seems to go against other's ideas of trying to pitch at the actual temperature the brew will ferment at..

what do you guys think ?


cheers
501

[501]

p.s.
watery / less alcoholic / less body beer == yUUUk !!!

[NickMoore]

those instructions are for 25-litre fermenters, which seem to be less common nowdays. 23-litre batch in a 25-litre container didn't leave much room for the head from primary fermentation. no need to bother with a 30-litre though.

also, forget the hot tap water ... for the same reason you don't make a cuppa with it. tastes bad.

[Jacko]

Thanks for the replies guys...

If the instructions are for a 25 litre fermenter they need to update them as the fermenter they sold me is definately 30 litre.

I think I will just follow the kit instructions and make up to 23 litres.

23 litres vs 29 litres is a big difference when using the same kit and ingredients.

Thanks for the tips on not using hot tap water too.

Cheers...

[Jacko]

Jacko,

I have a mate who does what they have told you and his beers turn out pretty good. I guess it just comes down to how much you really want!

Hi sleonard,

Does your mate make his beer up to 29 litres using a 23 litre kit?

This just does'nt seem right to me, surely it would be watery and have less taste and alcohol content then if made to 23 litres?

I don't doubt your mates beer tastes good, but this quantity thing is confusing me....

Filling the fermenter to the bottom of the thread would nearly put the airlock into the liquid...

[501]

Yeh most kits are for 23 liters
but some mix less (19/20 liters)
more body, ....
etc... ?

Don't overfill your missus won't like the mess and watery beer is gay.
Home brew Kits are Cheap enough as they come for 19-23 liters !!

cheers

[MHD]

yes... 23L is already a lot of beer... But I am sure you will realise that when it comes round to bottling...

[Jacko]

Just mixed it up to 23L

Hope all goes well...

I got my hands on a few extra 2nd hand fermenters from a friend so if this one turns out ok, I'll be on my way

Maybe try some secondary fermentation that I have read about here.

Thanks for the help ppl.....

[MHD]

Just mixed it up to 23L

Hope all goes well...

I got my hands on a few extra 2nd hand fermenters from a friend so if this one turns out ok, I'll be on my way

Maybe try some secondary fermentation that I have read about here.

Thanks for the help ppl.....

Some people have all the luck!

[sleonard]

Jacko,

My thoughts are that you are in Hobart. My reason for stating this is that I have also posed the same question to everyone here and they have had the same reaction.

So you must be seeing the girls (thats right to all others GIRLS) who run the shop in Elizabeth St.

If this is true let me know and I may be able to arange a tasting for you if you are truely pondering the topping up. (IE, we meet up and me and my mate donate a couple of bottles of the same brew to try; his ~29L and mine ~23L).

let me know Jaclo and will try to do something

Cheers

Simon

[Jacko]

Jacko,

My thoughts are that you are in Hobart. My reason for stating this is that I have also posed the same question to everyone here and they have had the same reaction.

So you must be seeing the girls (thats right to all others GIRLS) who run the shop in Elizabeth St.

If this is true let me know and I may be able to arange a tasting for you if you are truely pondering the topping up. (IE, we meet up and me and my mate donate a couple of bottles of the same brew to try; his ~29L and mine ~23L).

let me know Jaclo and will try to do something

Cheers

Simon

Simon....you would be correct in your assumptions regarding my location and HB Shop.

How is the alc content in the 29l compared to the 23l?, would you agree that 1kg gives 5%?

With your mates success, will you be switching to the 29l method seeing as your doing 23l batches atm (or so it would seem)?

I am doing a ginger beer atm using the 29l method and it has made a hell of a mess spewing out the airlock, but I am fine with that if it tastes good

The other thing I thought was a bit strange was the amount of hot water they say to use, I had to wait hours for the temp to become acceptable before I could add the yeast to my ginger beer.

I would probably only use 2l, 3l at the most next time instead of the 8-10l they recommend.

What kits have you tried so far, and what did you think of them?

Cheers...

[sleonard]

Jacko,

The alc% seems to still be up there, but he does add ~1.25kg of sugars.

I have no plans to switch to the 29L method (Dunno why, just dont seem right!!) but I do say that there is nothing wrong with my mates brews.

You are right about the hot water! use less as everyone on here says, about 2-3 L does the job.

As for the kits, I have only about 8 brews under my belt so still learning. One of my favorites would be the coopers heratige larger (YUM).

Anyways, goodluck and hope to see you round the forums here

Simon