Ricardo's Brewing Blog

The internet is awash with brewing advice these instructions are just how I did it and it worked , I have since been advised to use a hydrometer which i will try in the future . If you wish to use a hydrometer straight away seek advice or look later in the blog when I have sussed it out . The strength of all my first brews was around the 5% mark , they had a bit of a kick but manageable. My later brews have improved but the idea of the blog is my brewing journey to see where it ends up as I rather like a beer . Ricardo.

   Hi I am a brewing novice . I started to save money as I like a can or two but was immediately hooked by the quality of the product , and how satisfying it was . I am now on my 11th brew and have still not read a single instruction booklet but guess I will have to soon if I want to progress . My equipment is a 25 litre  fermentation bucket with lid and tap already fitted . This is TIP 1 THE FITTED TAP MEANS NO SYPHONING IS NECESSARY.An LCD thermometer strip which sticks to the fermentation bucket( about half way up) and a plastic stirring spoon . I purchased a hydrometer but have not used it yet . Finally I got 48 brown plastic reusable bottles. I am still using the bottles 12 months later .TIP 2 IF YOU GIVE BEER AWAY MAKE SURE YOU GET THE BOTTLES BACK . All that's needed now is the beer kit and the sugar and the sterilizing solution .  TIP 3 STERILIZING IS IMPORTANT DO IT PROPERLY EVEN IF IT FEELS A PAIN IN THE ARSE.
        For my first 8 brews I followed the same procedure and the results were always good.

YOU WILL NEED 

A  25 LITRE FERMENTATION BUCKET WITH TAP AND LID

A PLASTIC SPOON

STERILIZING SOLUTION

48 REUSABLE PLASTIC BOTTLES

THERMOMETER STRIP

HYDROMETER 

A HOME BREW KIT WHICH WILL INCLUDE YEAST

1KG BREWING SUGAR

125 GRAMMES PRIMING SUGAR    

1) Sterilize and rinse all equipment including taps that may come into contact with the equipment.
2) With the fermentation bucket in the bath add 1kg of brewing sugar then a full kettle of boiling water and  mix till it dissolves .
3) Open the home brew kit . I soak it in hot water beforehand to make it more runny.
4)Add the contents to the fermentation bucket followed by another kettle of boiling water and stir.
5) Rinse out the tin with a little of the boiling water to reduce waste.
6) Add cold water up to 23 litres stirring all the time . The final temperature should be around  23 degrees C. It doesn't want to be below 20 or above 26 . How cold the water is can effect this so keep an eye on your temperature strip and adjust as necessary .In summer you could reduce the boiling water just a little to avoid having to let the mixture cool down before adding the yeast . Boiling water can be added if you over do it or if the water is very very cold  but judge it so you don't go over the 23 litres.
7) Sprinkle the yeast on top and leave for ten minutes before stirring .
8) Put on lid and remove to a warm place . I use an airing cupboard which maintains a temperature of 20 to 24 degrees C .which seems ideal .
9) Click the lid down and then ease up a 2 to 3 inch section to relieve pressure if fermentation gets a bit much
10) If the temperature is right fermentation should start within 24hrs . Fermentation should be complete within 10 to 14 days . My first 10 brews I left for 12 days and then bottled and had no problems . I did not use a hydrometer even though I have one but will cover its use later .
11) When fermentation is judged to be finished (no activity on surface and a sediment forming in the fermentation bucket ) add 120 grammes of priming sugar to a cup and dissolve in boiling water . Leave a few minutes to cool and add to fermentation bucket .Stir in with sterilized spoon taking care not to disturb the sediment . The priming sugar acts to give the beer some fiz .
12) Now the hard bit . Sterilize and rinse 48 bottles (time consuming ) and then fill the bottles using the tap on the fermentation bucket and fasten tops tightly .
13)Leave in the warmth for a few days before moving to a place at room temperature. In no time at all a sediment will form in the bottom of the bottle and the brew will clear .
14) Drink ! I have opened my beer within 5 days of bottling and its been fine(SEE LATER !) . I prefer it at room temperature or sometimes I transfer to the fridge for a couple of hours before drinking . My first brew I left in the fridge and it went cloudy . This is apparently due to proteins which are chemically controlled in commercial beer but not in home brew though it did not happen with every brew kit  . The cloudiness did not appear to effect the brew but I prefer mine clear .

TO FOLLOW WILL BE MY BREWS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.

RICARDO N0 17 SAINT PETERS STOUT 3 KG 5% 17/05/2015

RICARDO N0 17 SAINT PETERS STOUT  3 KG 5% 17/05/2015

A mistake I made with Woodforde's Admiral was not realizing it was a 32 pint kit not 40 , so it could end up watery but we will see. This is a 36 pint kit and I got it right . I was excited to try something new as with this kit you can use the cream flow chargers as well as the C02. The advice given was to use 2 cream  chargers immediately after barreling the stout and then agitate the barrel before using 1 CO2 charger . 3 injections of gas I was expecting the thing to explode and it did initially drip from the tap but soon stopped . My wife banned me from putting it in the airing cupboard so I put a heater in the utility room to keep the temperature up and we will see how it goes .  

If you like stout you will like this and the cream flow worked really well . Its my Wife's best yet . I find one  glass is enough for me , so it should last a fair while . Score 8 out of 10 Brew again . Yes .




 

RICARDO N0 16 WOODFORDE'S ADMIRAL'S RESERVE 5.5% 08/05/2015

  RICARDO N0 16 WOODFORDE'S ADMIRAL'S RESERVE 5.5% 08/05/2015

Another problem . I got this barrel of E -Bay for £12.50 so was feeling pretty smug . It was advertised as never been used and it looked that way . Everything seemed ok but it started leaking from the tap . I tightened it up but could not prevent a slow drip . Luckily I had left it in the kitchen for a while  ( A procedure I will follow in future ) and no damage was done . I left it overnight to see if it would stop but it wouldn't . To save the beer I transferred it into bottles, and though not ready to drink yet I am hoping it will be ok . Once the barrel was empty I discovered that the thread of the tap had a crack in it . Relieved to find the reason I got a new tap for £5.99 so hopefully that will fix the problem . Score ???. Brew again Yes . It would be unfair to score it as it ended up being transferred to bottles and I made 40 pints instead of  32 . It was ok to drink but I had it in my mind that it wasn't quiet right .

RICARDO N0 15 WOODFORDE'S NOG 3KG 4.5% 10/04/2015

 RICARDO N0 15 WOODFORDE'S NOG  3KG 4.5% 10/04/2015

Then there were 3

This is the brew I have made before . The same procedure was followed and so far there have been no miss haps score to follow brew again to follow .

My best to date you have to try this . So much quality from a home brew beer kit . Remember the name NOG . I  had no problems with this brew (unlike some of the others ) I followed these simple instructions.

  1) In a fermentation bucket mix the 2 cans of malt with 2 kettles of boiling water stirring well . Fill to 23 litres with cold water adjusting with more boiling water  if the temperature falls below 22 degrees C   .

2) Sprinkle yeast on top, cover  and leave for 10 minutes .

3) Stir in the yeast and transfer to warm place . Snap down lid and then loosen a couple of inches in case of excessive fermentation .( mine is in the airing cupboard aprox 23 degrees )

4) After aprox 10 days mix 100 to 120 grams of priming sugar in a cup of boiling water and add to a sterilized barrel . Transfer beer from bucket to barrel . Fix cap securely and inject with 1 capsule of CO2. Leave in warm place for a few days before transferring to a cooler place for 6 weeks.(Against the warning on the barrel I left it in the airing cupboard for secondary fermentation with no problems , but please see other posts as I have had a few teething errors .)

Score 9.5 out of 10 . Brew again? err dumb question .

RICARDO N0 14 WOODFORDE'S WHERRY 3KG 4.5% 28/03/2015

 RICARDO N0 14 WOODFORDE'S WHERRY 3KG 4.5% 28/03/2015

There is always a tale . I got a new barrel , everything went  well . I primed it in exactly the same way gave it an injection of Co2 to get rid of any air and left it for the 3 days in the airing cupboard. After its first night I got up to make a brew as normal and I could smell beer . It had started leaking from the tap . Reason : It needed tightening as soon as I tightened it the leak stopped . Unfortunately it had been dripping all night I lost over 1 ltr and it had leaked through to the ceiling down stairs leaving a large stain . Oops  . Now repainted and the beer is in the garage maturing . score to follow brew again to follow . 

 The leak was my fault . I had not checked if the tap was tight after buying from the shop . Hassle with the leak as it did make a mess but the beer was excellent a lovely colour and a distinctive taste not too bitter and not too hoppy . Score 8.5 out of ten . Brew again . yes!

RICARDO N0 13 WOODFORDE'S SUNDEW 3KG 4.2% 17/03/2015

RICARDO N0 13 WOODFORDE'S SUNDEW 3KG 4.2% 17/03/2015

Woodforde's Nog had so far been my best brew by far . On a trip to Norwich I had also visited the brewery with pub attached so I had a connection . A decision was made . I would try all Woodforde's Ales, I would invest in 4 x barrels and I would leave my brew's to mature . I think my expectation's had risen , I was looking for quality beer and I was willing to pay a bit more for it and I was willing to  wait longer for it . The last few brews I had lost my way and I needed to get back on track . The fermentation went well with this brew and after 3 weeks in the barrel I tasted it to find it tasted and smelt fine but it was flat . Something had gone wrong with the priming . I had mixed 120gm of priming sugar with just over half a pint of boiling water added it to the fermentation bucket , given it a stir and them transferred it to the barrel. I then left it in a warm place for 3 days before transferring it to somewhere cooler for maturing . In my case this was the garage, though in winter I will use the kitchen . This was the same procedure I had used with Ricardo N0 9 and it worked fine , a beautiful head and I only used the Co2 cartridges when it was half empty  to liven it up. Something had gone wrong . I was told to re-prime it leaving it in the warm for a couple of days . On removing the cap I noticed the washer was damaged . Could this have made it flat ? I replaced the washer and returned it to the garage after 3 days  . Despite the re -priming the beer remained flat but tasted fine . I do not 100% know the reason , was it the washer or did I transfer it to the garage to soon and was the garage too cold. Trial and error I think . score 6 out of 10 . brew again yes. need to get it right .

Lighter in colour than the Wherry but nice to drink . It was flat but  I already have another brew on so I will update later .Don't really know what went wrong but I am going to change the seals on this barrel just in case .

RICARDO N0 12 FESTIVAL PREMIUM ALE PRIDE OF LONDON PORTER 3.6 KG 27/01/2015

  RICARDO N0 12 FESTIVAL PREMIUM ALE PRIDE OF LONDON PORTER  3.6 KG 27/01/2015

I didn't buy 1 Festival Ale I got 2 . I chose this as my Wife had been asking for a Chocolate beer and this was Chocolate and Coffee . It sounded delicious . Again I bottled it rather than using the keg . Again I drank it too early . I preferred it to Ricardo N0 11 but I struggled to get a flavor of either Chocolate or Coffee. I think I should have left it longer . I was now in a position were my last three brews were disappointing . I had to do better . I must leave them longer a minimum of 4 weeks in a bottle and 6 weeks in a keg . This would mean a period of bought beer . My beer had to improve . Score 6 out of 10 , brew again I will give it another go .

RICARDO N0 11 FESTIVAL PREMIUM ALE RAZORBACK IPA 3.6 KG 01/012015

 RICARDO N0 11 FESTIVAL PREMIUM ALE RAZORBACK IPA  3.6 KG 01/012015 

After the disappointment of Ricardo N0 10 I was desperate for success . I decided against Lager and wanted to get back to the quality of Ricardo N0 9 . I asked the shop owner for a recommendation and he suggested the Festival Ale kits . I wanted to try Woodforde's but  I took his advice and bought the Razorback IPA . It was  expensive but came with the sugar and extra hops included .I decided to bottle this even though I had a keg. In the end it was disappointing.  For a start it was a little too strong for me, also I drank it too quick . score 5 out of 10, brew again no 5% is plenty for me .