Help for beginner please

[izuel01]

Hi there I'm new to home brewing I've got a fermenting bucket a pressure barrel the shyphon tube and a hydrometer I am struggling everytime I buy the can of malt extract which has a packet of yeast in to get it right it's always cloudy and tastes horrible I've tried this twice now was just wondering what I'm doing wrong? Thanks

 

[akimbo78]

tell us about your process, and more details of the recipe.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

So, you are buying pre-hopped extract and using kit yeast?

Are you boiling anything? What kits? How old are the cans?

Your best bet, if possible, is to try the next "difficulty level" of extract kits. And to buy a separate sachet of yeast or try a liquid yeast.

Basically, you will want to start looking at stove top extract methods or better.

 

[izuel01]

Ok I got the kit youngbrew I sterilised everything ok 1st I boiled the can of malt extract for about 5 mins the poured it into the ferment bucket I then poured 3.5 litres of water in I then added 1kg of White suger then mixed it all together I then topped the bucket upto 5 gallon then poured the yeast over an gave a little stir I then left it in the kitchen temp between 15c-19c for 1 week I didn't check anything with the hydrometer as I'm not entirely sure how to use it and what the numbers should be I then syphoned the lager into the pressure barrel which was approx 40 pints of liquid I then added 20 teaspoons of White sugar to it I then put it under the stairs which was approx 17-19 degree Celsius for 2 days then moved it to the hall were it was approx 16 degree celsius and left it there for slightly over 3 weeks then tasted it and was nearly sick and the colour seemed very dark and cloudy

 

[badhabit]

If you have not read a how to home brew book I would suggest that you do that. The Complete Joy of Homebrewing by C. Papazian is a good place to start

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Okay, so a kit and kilo lager beer with ambient fermentation temps.

My only suggestion from here is to continue practicing the hobby with some ale kits. Lagers can be notably tricky if not handled meticulously.

Was the final product that you sampled "buttery" tasting, or butterscotch tasting?

 

[izuel01]

Hmm a don't recall it being buttery or butterscotch I just know it was like it tasted like it wasn't ready lol can't really describe the taste and yeh I've had suggestions on tryin light ale first because it's easier and been told to leave in ferment bucket for 3 weeks at 64F and then siphon into pressure barrel and leave in there for 3 weeks at 70F then it should be nice tasting and clear?