Hi guys, I just started my first ever batch yday. In my excitement I haven't actually taken an OG, however the instructions on the kit have told me what the FG should be. Will this effect my batch that I haven't taken the og? I'm using a little 3 piece airlock, and I'm afraid if I take a reading now....the water might be full of co2 and if it's gets in...spoil my batch
Og & Fg
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If you made your beer from a kit containing extract the kit instructions usually give the expected OG which will be pretty close if you measured the water amounts correctly because the extract has a known amount of sugars in it. Either way the lack of taking an OG will not really affect your beer. Give your beer plenty of time in the fermenter, about a week or more longer than most kit instructions call for as their instruction usually have your rushing to get your beer bottled.
If you pitched a day before this post, it is too late to take an accurate reading. If you are using a pre measured kit, The OG should be close if not right on the mark. You take your OG just before you pitch the yeast. wait at least a week to take a FG reading. Then you have an option, which is what I do, is to rack(with a siphon) to a secondary container(usually a carboy), or you can leave it in the primary for a week or 2. Many people will tell you, you don't need to secondary, but I do it to clear my beer. Plus with a secondary I do not get as much sediment in my bottles.
I'm only new to all of this but I have been doin some research beforehand. And I've gathered that secondary is near enough just a matter of choice. If I leave my batch for atleast a week after the instructed time period.....would that let everything settle and become slightly clearer?
What are the overall benefits from secondary? And also, is it possible to leave your batch 'too long' in your primary through being cautious?
What are the overall benefits from secondary? And also, is it possible to leave your batch 'too long' in your primary through being cautious?
Leaving the beer in primary for 3-4 weeks won't hurt it at our level of brewing. Autolysis is something commercial brewers have to be concerned with. They have hundreds of gallons of beer putting pressure on yeast & trub at the bottom of those silo sized fermenters.
Our little 5-6 gallon batches don't exert that kind of pressure. So you can leave it in primary for,say,2 weeks & take a hydrometer reading. That will tell you if you are within range of the FG given in the recipe instructions. If it is,then wait till the third day (2 days apart) & take another reading. If the numbers match,it's done. If not,give it more time to finish up to where the numbers match in FG range. Then give it another 3-7 days to clean up by products of fermentation & settle out clear or slightly misty. Then package it.
At that point,I leave it in primary to clean up & settle out clear or slightly misty. Usually takes 3-7 days to accomplish.
There are 2 schools of thought.
1) Take gravity readings to determine that final gravity has been reached then transfer to secondary to get a clearer beer.
2) Leave the beer in primary for a week or three after reaching final gravity and the beer will be just as clear without the hassle or additional risk of contamination by making the transfer.
I almost never use a secondary.
Ahhh, I see! Also saves you the hassle of sanitising other equipment and stuff too. Ok, great, that makes more sense, thanks!
On another note, i went and bought a load of beer bottles with the swing tops on them....like the grolsch bottles? I thought they'd end up paying themselves off in the long run instead of buying caps and a capper. What's everyone's thoughts/experiences with these? And what is everyone else using?
On another note, i went and bought a load of beer bottles with the swing tops on them....like the grolsch bottles? I thought they'd end up paying themselves off in the long run instead of buying caps and a capper. What's everyone's thoughts/experiences with these? And what is everyone else using?
I'm still using o2 barrier crown caps,but with a new Ferrari Super Agata bench capper. I do know those rubber seals on the grolsh style bottles need to be replaced every so often.
stpug
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Bottle style really comes down to what you prefer. I used to only use regular bottles when bottling, however since switching to kegs I've come to love the swingtops. The red gasket will eventually need to be replaced but it should last a long while.
Instead of posting up numerous threads I'm just going to chance my arm and keep asking q's on this in the hope they'll be answered.
If I sanitize all my equipment and have a spare sanitized bucket that I can put my hydrometer...spoon....etc etc in when not using them....will they stay sanitized for a long time?
If I sanitize all my equipment and have a spare sanitized bucket that I can put my hydrometer...spoon....etc etc in when not using them....will they stay sanitized for a long time?
sniperd
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I believe so. I think starsan has a life of a few months once you put in in water. The trick I do is on brew day I have a big bucket, put water in it, put star san in it, and all my stuff goes in it (minus hydrometer since it could break if it gets hit) while I brew. That way I know where my gear is, and I know it's sanitized. I brew with 2 other people so it's very helpful, we all know where the gear is, and we all know it's clean.
If you're asking about storing the equipment dry, I would say it won't still be sanitized on brew day. Normally, equipment is cleaned after use, and sanitized immediately before use. Keeping it in a pan of Star San solution while brewing is the way to go. The hydrometer can be left on a clean surface, and then sanitized for use if you're worried about breakage.
stpug
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I use a plastic "window box" about 32" long (i.e. a plastic window planter for plants) from home depot. One gallon of sanitizer fills it about 3" up which is plenty deep for most of the equipment I use.
On brew day, I don't bother sanitizing anything unless that something will come in contact with cooled wort. I leave a stir spoon in the boil for the last 10 minutes so I don't have to sanitize it (same goes for the immersion chiller).
Transfer day I sanitize anything that will come in contact with the beer.
Starsan only needs 30 seconds of contact time so things don't sit in sanitizer for very long over here.
On brew day, I don't bother sanitizing anything unless that something will come in contact with cooled wort. I leave a stir spoon in the boil for the last 10 minutes so I don't have to sanitize it (same goes for the immersion chiller).
Transfer day I sanitize anything that will come in contact with the beer.
Starsan only needs 30 seconds of contact time so things don't sit in sanitizer for very long over here.
Careful with the hydrometer. They break very easily. I never sanitize mine. I pull a sample using the tall skinny flask thing. My hydrometer never goes into the wort. I always drink my sample after my reading.
sniperd
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I've got something like this:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubbermaid-31-Gallon-Roughneck-Storage-Tote/21098644
I think it was only $5 though.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubbermaid-31-Gallon-Roughneck-Storage-Tote/21098644
I think it was only $5 though.
I keep gallon size SunnyD jugs full of PBW & Starsan for whenever I need them,& sanitize right before use. I also use a spray bottle of Starsan for on the spot use. And those window box things are also known as wall paper trays.
stpug
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My racking cane is too long for a wallpaper tray. I actually use a window box planter as is shown here but I got it on sale over the winter for about $3:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Dynamic-...ight-Terra-Poly-Window-Box-MB3612LT/203629183
To be honest, I liked the window box liners better because they have a flat bottom but were not on sale and about 2" shorter.
