Lankhoss
Member
Hello,
I am new to the forums, and brand new to (trying) making beer. I literally just ordered a kit and book, and have been trying to follow all of the steps and see how things turn out. I have a two stage kit, with a 6 1/2 gallon glass carboy and 5 gallon glass carboy.
My first question is about "lagering" the beer. I am using Coopers Lager canned malt extract. I have mixed it and put it into the first carboy with an airlock on top. I am wondering when I should change it to the second fermenter. Do I wait until my hydrometer readings are the same for a few consecutive days, or do I swap it over once the beer has changed color and has sediment on the bottom? Also, when should I move it to a cool temperature (I was going to use my fridge)? Do I do that when I put it in the second fermenter, or wait until I've bottled it?
I was also curious what a good method for checking the temperature/gravity is while it is in the first fermenter. Do you usually just stick a racking cane down through the rubber top and siphon it into a test tube?
Any tips and advice are certainly welcome, thanks in advance
I am new to the forums, and brand new to (trying) making beer. I literally just ordered a kit and book, and have been trying to follow all of the steps and see how things turn out. I have a two stage kit, with a 6 1/2 gallon glass carboy and 5 gallon glass carboy.
My first question is about "lagering" the beer. I am using Coopers Lager canned malt extract. I have mixed it and put it into the first carboy with an airlock on top. I am wondering when I should change it to the second fermenter. Do I wait until my hydrometer readings are the same for a few consecutive days, or do I swap it over once the beer has changed color and has sediment on the bottom? Also, when should I move it to a cool temperature (I was going to use my fridge)? Do I do that when I put it in the second fermenter, or wait until I've bottled it?
I was also curious what a good method for checking the temperature/gravity is while it is in the first fermenter. Do you usually just stick a racking cane down through the rubber top and siphon it into a test tube?
Any tips and advice are certainly welcome, thanks in advance