Recent content by lastmandown

The CO2 is just for carbonation purposes and the beer being removed from the barrel depends on the pressure inside, otherwise air gets sucked back up the tap. If you don't use CO2, then you rely on the gas produced by secondary fermentation. But by the time you get half way down the barrel you...

I lost the tube for my hygrometer so I just threw it in the fermenter at the start and left it in there. Started at 1026. Finished at 1002. 3.2% ABV. Plus a little extra during secondary. About 3.5% approx.

This is like my barrel: http://www.art-of-brewing.co.uk/acatalog/Large/img765.jpg With one of these for the lid (with valve for inserting CO2): http://www.art-of-brewing.co.uk/acatalog/Large/img1806.jpg

Ok, so there's no secondary at all? I just stick it in the barrel, and give it enough time to clear? Do I need to use with CO2 in the barrel then?

Ok. Time to do some more research! I'm nearly half way down the barrel so it can't be that bad! :) For the recipe that was posted before are fermentation and secondary fermentation similar timescales to your standard off-the-shelf kits? I.e. five days to a week for primary, 2-4 weeks for...

Thanks for the replies! Could I do this with a kit and malt extract instead up using the grain? I've only done half a dozen kits before and don't want to get into partial/full mash brewing yet (it scares me). How important are the temperatures/timings? Do I leave the hops in during the ferment...

Hi, I'm new here. Hello! I recently made an IPA from a kit, and I boiled the extract and some hops in a muslin bag for 15 minutes before making up the brew. However, the taste is still not hoppy enough for me. I'm a big fan of strong double IPAs that literally punch you in the face with hoppy...