Homebrewing - Part 3

I'd chuck it personally but I don't like cider! :lol: Give it a taste, if it seems fine you'll probably be alright.
I've realise my mistake - I've been using the spigot for taking gravity readings - which lets liquid in, and air in - so it can go manky. I've been doing this with that particular FV since day one. I bet that's why my first few goes were shite.

It smells a bit crap, but all of my ciders have done - they take months to clean up. I guess I can bottle it and just leave it be. Might work out ok.

The whole garage is covered in mould now - a very thin layer. Its time to do a deep clean and shut down for winter I think.


Oh, my super Punk IPA - Tried it last night, its pretty damn good. Its got that very strong taste you get with belgian beers which you excuse because its belgian. I'm chuffed about that.
I think my 2 x standard strength Punk IPAs will be poor - the temps dropped way under the threshold before I think they finished. I've just left them for now hoping they'll finish off somehow. Might buy a pressure barrel for one batch and bottle the other.
 
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Bad times
Just been into check on my rather aged cider with view to bottling it this afternoon - and found this:
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Given that the spout is isolated from the contents of the FV, will it be ok if I siphon it to another bucket for bottling? Or will it have infected the lot?

@Wilfy @DoctorMick
I'd rack it and have a taste. If it tastes fine, bottle it.

Just sorting the old brewery out as I want to make a quick brew for Boxing Day this week.
 
I'd rack it and have a taste. If it tastes fine, bottle it.
Just sorting the old brewery out as I want to make a quick brew for Boxing Day this week.
I was going to bottle straight from FV since I wasn't adding sugar. But yeh, that sounds like a better idea. I can sample a bit - I've never had an infected batch before, so not sure exactly what to taste for? Tips?
 
I was going to bottle straight from FV since I wasn't adding sugar. But yeh, that sounds like a better idea. I can sample a bit - I've never had an infected batch before, so not sure exactly what to taste for? Tips?
I had one batch that i presume got infected and it had a very sour taste.
 
*********
Bad times
Just been into check on my rather aged cider with view to bottling it this afternoon - and found this:
Logon or register to see this image


Given that the spout is isolated from the contents of the FV, will it be ok if I siphon it to another bucket for bottling? Or will it have infected the lot?

@Wilfy @DoctorMick
Clean clean and clean again. I'm in the chuck camp I'm afraid.
 
I was going to bottle straight from FV since I wasn't adding sugar. But yeh, that sounds like a better idea. I can sample a bit - I've never had an infected batch before, so not sure exactly what to taste for? Tips?
If it's infected you'll know, it'll be dry and taste like shit!

I've got a citra apa going in the bottles on Wednesday, initial tasting suggests it's going to be my best brew so far, by quite a distance!
 
Had a little taste of the cider - seemed pretty decent, so I'm hoping the rubber seal on the spigot has been enough of a barrier to protect the liquid.
So siphoned it to my bottling bucket - and the f***ing autosiphon has given up, the rubber seal has gone, so it pushed a shit ton of air bubbles through with it. Didn't have anything else I could use, so had to put up with it.
So that's a black/green spigot, and a ton of air - If it turns out well, it'll be a f***ing miracle.

Speaking of miracles. Remember that Punk IPA that I made far far too strong by accident? Came out at 8.5%. Having a bottle now, and its really really great. Only a tiny sour note. Hops clearly there but masked as you would expect for a drink with 50% more malt that it should have. But its clean, lovely head and you'd never actually know it was so strong. Once again, I'm shocked at how good these beers are turning out.

Got a new autosiphon on route from Brekuk (the Young's one), and got 80 pints of proper strength Punk IPA ready to bottle. Will be a good winter - 80 standard 6.5% Punks and 30 more 8.5% ones :-D
 
Had a little taste of the cider - seemed pretty decent, so I'm hoping the rubber seal on the spigot has been enough of a barrier to protect the liquid.
So siphoned it to my bottling bucket - and the f***ing autosiphon has given up, the rubber seal has gone, so it pushed a shit ton of air bubbles through with it. Didn't have anything else I could use, so had to put up with it.
So that's a black/green spigot, and a ton of air - If it turns out well, it'll be a f***ing miracle.

Speaking of miracles. Remember that Punk IPA that I made far far too strong by accident? Came out at 8.5%. Having a bottle now, and its really really great. Only a tiny sour note. Hops clearly there but masked as you would expect for a drink with 50% more malt that it should have. But its clean, lovely head and you'd never actually know it was so strong. Once again, I'm shocked at how good these beers are turning out.

Got a new autosiphon on route from Brekuk (the Young's one), and got 80 pints of proper strength Punk IPA ready to bottle. Will be a good winter - 80 standard 6.5% Punks and 30 more 8.5% ones :-D
Apparently, if you put some of the brew down the syphon tube with a sterilised turkey baster, it helps if the seal is knackered.
 
I hear the winner of the home brew forum competition this month is a cracking lad! :lol:
How does that work then?

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Just bottled the last of my 2016 beers. 2 x batches of Punk IPA. Smells lovely, fermented out well despite the cold temps.
Still got most of the Double IPA one I made left, and also 20 bottles of very strong cider. Going to be a boozy Xmas!
Ended up making 9 batches, which doesn't sound like much, but with the free time I had, I'm ok with it - still, 300+bottles, which is a canny wedge really.

Packed up for the year now though, full spring clean and replace a few bits next year - before deciding which direction to go.

I think I'll switch from Dry Malt Extract to liquid - yes, it'll be a couple of quid a batch more expensive, but stirring the DME in, and preventing the explosive boil over is a faff on that I can do without. Plus, since everything I make as a Light Malt base + additions, 2 cans of LME gives me the perfect start without needing to measure out arseloads of stuff.
I might try pellets rather than fresh hops - just to see if its any difference. I didn't mind working with the fresh hops though - any thoughts anyone?

But I think on top of the LME base, I'll start with speciality grains - something to learn about. I like the idea of going all grain, but that's another 2 hours on the brew time, that I just don't have right now.

I think I struck on one amazing recipie, and if I keep the hops and the LME base, I can tweak the malt profile with grain rather than just a bit of amber and dark ME - should improve it, I'd have thought. That's going to be my main beer next year, the one I want to perfect.

Funnily enough, I'm going off hoppy beer. I find it hard to drink too much of it. Whereas a good bitter just flies down.
 
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Different category each month, bottles are sent by post to one of the forum members to judge. No prizes or anything, the idea is just really to allow people to get feedback on their brews.
Sounds like a cracking idea.

I did mean to join that forum as myself, but never got round to it
 

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