Craft Beer * Pale ale, Stout, Pilsner, Draught. Other kits available by in store order.
Frequently Asked Questions About At Home Beer Brewing:
1. What do I need to start brewing besides the ingredient kit?
See starter kit under Accessories.
2.How do I know if my beer is ready to be bottled?
The proper specific gravity as per your instructions in the kit must be reached.
3. How do I carbonate my beer?
The easiest way is once the proper specific gravity has been reached, transfer the wort from your glass carboy back into your bucket and stir in 1 1/3 cups of corn sugar until dissolved. Bottle immediately. Store in a warm place ( 20-25 degrees Celsius) for two weeks.
4. I added yeast 24 hours ago and there is no sign of fermentation. What should I do?
First make sure that your fermentation has not started. If you are using a plastic bucket with a sealed lid and are looking for signs of bubbling in the air lock you could be mislead. The gas may be escaping out through the rim of the bucket. This is a very common occurrence. Remove the cover and make a visual check to see if the fermentation has begun. If it hasn't begun check the temperature and make sure that it is in the recommended range of 20º to 25º degrees Celsius. If it is too cold the fermentation may be slow starting. Move the bucket to a warmer spot and add another package of beer yeast as soon as possible. Your fermentation should begin in the next 12 hours.
5. Can I make my wine and beer in the same equipment?
No. The glass carboy presents no problem, the plastic primary fermenter and plastic secondary carboy should be restricted to one or the other since the plastic does have the tendency to take on a wine or beer taste and odor after even a single use.
6.My beer has been in a bottle for a week in the refrigerator and still isn't carbonated. Why?
Perhaps you are storing your beer in an area that is too cold or has wide temperature fluctuations. Move it to an area where the ambient temperature is consistently around 70° F. If temperature isn't the problem then maybe you didn't add enough priming sugar. If you used bleach or some other sanitizer that needs rinsing and you didn't rinse well enough your yeast, that is necessary to enable carbonation may have been killed off
7. What is the shelf life of homemade beer?
Beer that is stored and aged in glass bottles will last up to 5 years. If the beer is stored in plastic bottles it is best to use it up within 1 year.
8. What is the best sanitizer for beer making?
A chlorine based sanitizer such as Chloroclean or Stericlean is best. Metabisulphite (which is often used as a sterilant in wine making) is not adequate.
1. What do I need to start brewing besides the ingredient kit?
See starter kit under Accessories.
2.How do I know if my beer is ready to be bottled?
The proper specific gravity as per your instructions in the kit must be reached.
3. How do I carbonate my beer?
The easiest way is once the proper specific gravity has been reached, transfer the wort from your glass carboy back into your bucket and stir in 1 1/3 cups of corn sugar until dissolved. Bottle immediately. Store in a warm place ( 20-25 degrees Celsius) for two weeks.
4. I added yeast 24 hours ago and there is no sign of fermentation. What should I do?
First make sure that your fermentation has not started. If you are using a plastic bucket with a sealed lid and are looking for signs of bubbling in the air lock you could be mislead. The gas may be escaping out through the rim of the bucket. This is a very common occurrence. Remove the cover and make a visual check to see if the fermentation has begun. If it hasn't begun check the temperature and make sure that it is in the recommended range of 20º to 25º degrees Celsius. If it is too cold the fermentation may be slow starting. Move the bucket to a warmer spot and add another package of beer yeast as soon as possible. Your fermentation should begin in the next 12 hours.
5. Can I make my wine and beer in the same equipment?
No. The glass carboy presents no problem, the plastic primary fermenter and plastic secondary carboy should be restricted to one or the other since the plastic does have the tendency to take on a wine or beer taste and odor after even a single use.
6.My beer has been in a bottle for a week in the refrigerator and still isn't carbonated. Why?
Perhaps you are storing your beer in an area that is too cold or has wide temperature fluctuations. Move it to an area where the ambient temperature is consistently around 70° F. If temperature isn't the problem then maybe you didn't add enough priming sugar. If you used bleach or some other sanitizer that needs rinsing and you didn't rinse well enough your yeast, that is necessary to enable carbonation may have been killed off
7. What is the shelf life of homemade beer?
Beer that is stored and aged in glass bottles will last up to 5 years. If the beer is stored in plastic bottles it is best to use it up within 1 year.
8. What is the best sanitizer for beer making?
A chlorine based sanitizer such as Chloroclean or Stericlean is best. Metabisulphite (which is often used as a sterilant in wine making) is not adequate.
