Too-long, didn't read? Summary at bottom.
Okay,
So I just went out and recently purchased a "Cooper's Micro-brew Kit" from my local K-Mart (I'm Australian). For the time being I plan to stick to easy to use home-brew kits, such as the ones Coopers sells. I will one day move on to making my batches (through, mashing? partial-mashing?), but only when I have a steady grip on the fermentation process. My first brew (an Ale) is currently in its 5th day of Fermentation. I just have a couple of questions.
1) Cleaning.
To clean the kit, my friend and I used standard unscented household bleach mixed with 23litres of water, placed all equipment coming in contact with the brew inside the fermenter and let soak for 1/2 hour. After this, we rinsed EVERYTHING in boiling hot water, and let soak on a CLEAN tea-towel. Is this process okay? Any tips/advice for easier cleaning?
2) Alcohol Content.
We want to make a strong alcoholic brew to break out for my mates 19th Birthday. Basically, I've been reading that TOO much sugar can cause bottles to explode. Though, I think that's only for priming, and we aren't using priming sugar. As per Cooper's instructions we are using carbon lollies. I've also read that honey can be used to increase the... food?... for the yeast. How much honey? How do I put it in the beer? When? What is too much? And questions of the like.
TL;DR:
1) Is cleaning the fermenter and all equipment with bleach okay?
2) How can a more alcoholic brew be achieved? What can be used, what are the rules of adding more fermentables to a brew, and more-over what is the highest % you've made, and how.
Okay,
So I just went out and recently purchased a "Cooper's Micro-brew Kit" from my local K-Mart (I'm Australian). For the time being I plan to stick to easy to use home-brew kits, such as the ones Coopers sells. I will one day move on to making my batches (through, mashing? partial-mashing?), but only when I have a steady grip on the fermentation process. My first brew (an Ale) is currently in its 5th day of Fermentation. I just have a couple of questions.
1) Cleaning.
To clean the kit, my friend and I used standard unscented household bleach mixed with 23litres of water, placed all equipment coming in contact with the brew inside the fermenter and let soak for 1/2 hour. After this, we rinsed EVERYTHING in boiling hot water, and let soak on a CLEAN tea-towel. Is this process okay? Any tips/advice for easier cleaning?
2) Alcohol Content.
We want to make a strong alcoholic brew to break out for my mates 19th Birthday. Basically, I've been reading that TOO much sugar can cause bottles to explode. Though, I think that's only for priming, and we aren't using priming sugar. As per Cooper's instructions we are using carbon lollies. I've also read that honey can be used to increase the... food?... for the yeast. How much honey? How do I put it in the beer? When? What is too much? And questions of the like.
TL;DR:
1) Is cleaning the fermenter and all equipment with bleach okay?
2) How can a more alcoholic brew be achieved? What can be used, what are the rules of adding more fermentables to a brew, and more-over what is the highest % you've made, and how.