Mr Cat

[MrCat]

Hi folks,

I'm from Scotland and just finally took the plunge and bought myself a homebrew kit last month. I've never done it before but my best friend has now been brewing for a few years and I decided it was about time!

My kit came with fermenter and pressure barrela and all the usual trimmings, and a kit of American IPA. This has now been in the keg for exactly 2 weeks and is beginning to taste really nice! Hoorah! After a few tastes along the way I noticed a vinegar taste a while ago whuich seems to have gone now and I can just taste the hoppy flavour. It came with dry hops.

After I put on the IPA and it started fermenting I got the bug and wanted more haha, so I got some more second hand kit, another fermentor and some more barrels and bottles and went crazy

I got a Coopers Australian Larger kit which went on second, and is now in bottles waiting in relative warm. (16C min to 24C max I'd say).

Next I put on a Woodfordes Nog Porter kit which almost ready to bottle I think, and also a Woodfordes Wherry kit which seems to be having a little trouble but I'm not sure if there's an air leak somewhere so not much bubble activity. I have a second Wherry kit on standby waiting for an empty fermenter!

All this and I haven't had a proper taste of my first brew yet, but hey when it all starts flowing I won't be short of a nice selection I hope

My only troubles are no heat mat or anything just now and I live in a caravan so temperature I've just got lucky with so far. But winter is a-coming...

Any suggestions on preferred heating methods with easy thermostat control welcome

I guess that's me!
Cheers

Oh, and I'm sure I'm not the only one but I find taking SG readings with a hydrometer a pain in the butt, so I invested in a refractometer and use a calculating system online to get the SG. I suspect ultimately you're supposed to use the refractometer and hydrometer in conjunction but I'm trying to see if there really is an agro-free and accurate way...

 

[Pappers_]

Welcome Mr. Cat, both to the hobby and to HBT!

 

[RobbyComstock]

Welcome!!

 

[Sammy86]

Welcome to the obsession!

 

[actionjackson905]

Hi folks,

I'm from Scotland and just finally took the plunge and bought myself a homebrew kit last month. I've never done it before but my best friend has now been brewing for a few years and I decided it was about time!

My kit came with fermenter and pressure barrela and all the usual trimmings, and a kit of American IPA. This has now been in the keg for exactly 2 weeks and is beginning to taste really nice! Hoorah! After a few tastes along the way I noticed a vinegar taste a while ago whuich seems to have gone now and I can just taste the hoppy flavour. It came with dry hops.

After I put on the IPA and it started fermenting I got the bug and wanted more haha, so I got some more second hand kit, another fermentor and some more barrels and bottles and went crazy

I got a Coopers Australian Larger kit which went on second, and is now in bottles waiting in relative warm. (16C min to 24C max I'd say).

Next I put on a Woodfordes Nog Porter kit which almost ready to bottle I think, and also a Woodfordes Wherry kit which seems to be having a little trouble but I'm not sure if there's an air leak somewhere so not much bubble activity. I have a second Wherry kit on standby waiting for an empty fermenter!

All this and I haven't had a proper taste of my first brew yet, but hey when it all starts flowing I won't be short of a nice selection I hope

My only troubles are no heat mat or anything just now and I live in a caravan so temperature I've just got lucky with so far. But winter is a-coming...

Any suggestions on preferred heating methods with easy thermostat control welcome

I guess that's me!
Cheers

Oh, and I'm sure I'm not the only one but I find taking SG readings with a hydrometer a pain in the butt, so I invested in a refractometer and use a calculating system online to get the SG. I suspect ultimately you're supposed to use the refractometer and hydrometer in conjunction but I'm trying to see if there really is an agro-free and accurate way...

Welcome to the obsession my long lost cousin! (My grandmother was from Aberdeen)

Fermentation temp control is going to a bit if a challenge in a caravan. I would suggest as the temps start to drop you might want to think of using a mini fridge with a heat belt connected to some sort of temp controller. Then you could also use it to lager in eventually. You should be able to find a used one someplace. Look for one without the freezer and has the chill plate in the back, make sure your primary pale fits and the door closes (you might have to take the inside door panel off).

As for SG readings, I just stuck with the hydrometer, and learned how to use it properly and make the temp adjustments.

Feel free to PM if you need any more help, or keep posting. Plenty of HB brethren on here who love to help.

AJ

 

[Melana]

Welcome to the hobby and to HBT.