Adam's Apples
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2006
- Messages
- 266
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Hi everyone.
I have just become interested in home brewing. Having been interested in drinking for ages, I have no idea what took me so long!
After buying a house with 3 apple trees in the garden I decided to follow a very simple cider recipe I found in a book I bought off a car boot sale, with ok-ish results.
The thing is, bitter is what I drink preferably, so I desperately want to get started making some bitters and other ales. I am reading everything I can on the subject of homebrew and, frankly, am surprised at how in depth it can all get. I definately want to produce my own beer as much as possible and would rather not buy any kits that produce the same beer as anybody else who may have bought them.
I have a few questions about things I'm not sure about and about which I have been given conflicting advice, which hopefully some of you more experienced brewers wouldn't mind clearing up -
1.) I have bought a large 'fermenter' plastic bin. The guy in my homebrew shop said to make sure I don't put the lid on tight and to make sure there is a gap when fermenting (this is what I think is referred to on this site as the 'primary' fermentation?). There is no hole cut for any airlock on the bin. My question is- is it ok to just leave the lid loose and have no airlock when primary fermentaion is happenning?
2.) Instead of syphoning when transferring to secondary, is it possible to just buy a fermeter with a tap on it and let the juice run in? I will have to give syphoning a go if not, but it sounds like a bit of an art form!
3.) I have heard talk of a carboy on this site. Is this the same as a Demijohn?
Any help is appreciated. I will carry on reading on homebrew methods etc until I have enough cash to get everything I need to start brewing properly.
Cheers
Bernie
I have just become interested in home brewing. Having been interested in drinking for ages, I have no idea what took me so long!
After buying a house with 3 apple trees in the garden I decided to follow a very simple cider recipe I found in a book I bought off a car boot sale, with ok-ish results.
The thing is, bitter is what I drink preferably, so I desperately want to get started making some bitters and other ales. I am reading everything I can on the subject of homebrew and, frankly, am surprised at how in depth it can all get. I definately want to produce my own beer as much as possible and would rather not buy any kits that produce the same beer as anybody else who may have bought them.
I have a few questions about things I'm not sure about and about which I have been given conflicting advice, which hopefully some of you more experienced brewers wouldn't mind clearing up -
1.) I have bought a large 'fermenter' plastic bin. The guy in my homebrew shop said to make sure I don't put the lid on tight and to make sure there is a gap when fermenting (this is what I think is referred to on this site as the 'primary' fermentation?). There is no hole cut for any airlock on the bin. My question is- is it ok to just leave the lid loose and have no airlock when primary fermentaion is happenning?
2.) Instead of syphoning when transferring to secondary, is it possible to just buy a fermeter with a tap on it and let the juice run in? I will have to give syphoning a go if not, but it sounds like a bit of an art form!
3.) I have heard talk of a carboy on this site. Is this the same as a Demijohn?
Any help is appreciated. I will carry on reading on homebrew methods etc until I have enough cash to get everything I need to start brewing properly.
Cheers
Bernie