Temperature sticker and other ponderances

[Gitchigumi]

A few questions from the nOOb:

1. Whats the thermometer sticker for that came with the equipment? Where does it go (plastic bucket or carboy)? Horizontal or vertical?
2. My kit says to take an OG reading but doesn't say anything beyond that. What do I need that for? I think I should be taking multiple readings to compare right? For what purpose?
3. Strictly speaking, PBW is for cleaning and Starsan is for sanitizing, right?
4. One bucket came with a tap. Is this used for the racking (bottling) stage only?
5. Does the auto siphon pull the liquid from above the gunk at the bottom (when touching the bottom) or do I pull the gunk through separately first?

Thanks for the guidance!

 

[MalFet]

1) Stick it right on your fermentor bucket. Doesn't matter which way you point it.

2) OG stands for "original gravity". It is your gravity right before you pitch your yeast. To track your fermentation, you'll take one before you pitch your yeast and another one at the end. Intermediate readings are generally unnecessary.

3) Yep.

4) Racking is just beer-lingo for "transfering". The spigot bucket should be used for bottling.

5) Generally, yes, the auto siphon will leave the gunk behind, but not if it's extremely thick. Start your siphon a few inches above the bottom and gentle lower it down. If you pick up a bit of gunk, it's no huge thing.

Welcome

 

[ArcaneXor]

1.) Stick it on the outside of your fermentor, in whichever orientation you prefer, to monitor fermentation temperature. Most ales like to ferment in the mid or upper 60s.

2.) To make sure everything went the way it should have during brewing, and to calculate alcohol content. Take a reading before adding the yeast (original gravity) and another before bottling (final gravity). Hydrometers are valuable tools for new brewers. Love them, use them, try not to break them.

3.) Correct.

4.) Also correct.

5.) It depends how deep the gunk (called trub, pronounced "troob" is). Generally, you'll transfer fairly little of the sediment unless you keep moving the tip of the auto-siphon around. There are plastic clams available for the auto-siphon that keep it still and allow to you control the "height" of the tip of the AS.

 

[Gitchigumi]

Thank you for the rapid responses! I know they probably sounded pretty obvious.