Beer enhancer versus sugar?

[mozr]

I just picked up the BrewBuddy lager kit for £7.96 instead of £31.99 in Tesco.

I was shocked at how dear the '1kg brew enhancer' is compared to sugar.

Does it make that much difference?

I know we have this debate in the distilling community, and I am happy with normal sugar over dextrose.

Any thought before I spend £4.30 instead of 72p?

Cheers lads.

[knobby]

Hi Mozr

I brewed beer and wine before I started destilling and still do with some great results.

With the brew buddy you got yourself a bargain because of all the items you get with the kit.

I generally use normal household sugar and would advise the same for the brew buddy and other "low cost" kit / tin beers. Occasionally I will use a dry malt in some of my stouts as this adds a little depth to the drink, again it's all about your own preference and taste. The 2 tin packs are good with no sugar required at all although these come in about £20 - £25 for a 40 pint kit.

Let me know how you get on

Knobby

[mozr]

Thanks Knobby.

So using beer enhancer on a cheap kit is overkill.

I will start it with good old tate & lyle tonight.

Cheers.

[knobby]

Very much overkill and Tate and lyle will do a great job.........

Remember to resist the temptation of trying the ale too soon it really does improve if left for a good few weeks......I barrel the majority of mine but from each batch I put 2 or 3 bottles away as bottled ale carbonates a lot better in a bottle than in a keg. But stouts and dark ales are suited better for kegs.....

Let me know how you get on.....

Cheers
Knobby

[mozr]

Right.

I am done with the first ferment, and now want to condition (second fermentation) the brew.

I have got a load of beer bottles (which I painstakingly emptied into my mouth), a bottle capper, loads of crown caps, and a 5 gallon pressure barrel.

So I am going to fill the bottles, and dump the rest in the pressure barrel.

Question. I have carbonation drops. The guide tells me to add sugar to each bottle, and so much to the barrel. I want to carbonate my booze.

Should I do both?

Should I do one?

Should I change the amount of sugar?

Am I increasing the problems with nuclear explosions?

Cheers.

[Normski]

Question. I have carbonation drops. The guide tells me to add sugar to each bottle, and so much to the barrel. I want to carbonate my booze.

Should I do both?

Should I do one?

Should I change the amount of sugar?

Am I increasing the problems with nuclear explosions?

Cheers.

Hi Mozr
I have been home brewing for 4 decades. Enhanser would have been better and well worth the extra cost, Even better would have been Spraymalt. Enhanser is useually 50/50 Glucose and spraymalt. Even with a Lager I would have used at least enhanser.
On to your question.
The total amount of priming sugar should not be exceeded or you will have bottle bombs.
A larger can useally take about 150g of sugar per 40 pints/23L(yes its fine to use sugar for priming, Carb drops are not worth the money)
Usually put 5g per 500ml bottle and dump the rest in the keg.
As you are going to use the carb drops, put one in each bottle. and use sugar for the keg, pro rata. eg. if half goes in the keg put 75g with it. Be careful not to splash the beer when transfering to the bottles and keg, you dont want to oxigenate the brew. Put it somewhere warm for a few days then chill until drinking.
Cheers Norm

[mozr]

Cheers Norm.

So the sugar is used to carbonate! Ta.

Right. I will fill you in with a few more details.

I did use beer enhancer. My local tesco shifted its stock and flogged all HB stuff half price, so I got a load of bits.

I made the brew about 9 days ago. The kraeusen was great, and has dissipated to the point where it is now just liquid with a few bits of scum floating about. it's been like that for about three days.

I took a hydrometer reading of 1020 yesterday though, when it should be 1004.

So obviously it has not finished or stalled. The temp has been a nice regular 20 degrees. So I don't know why it's like this. I will take another reading tonight, and one tomorrow. If it's not moved I will look into restarting the ferment.

Cheers all.

[Normski]

Hi Mozr
If it’s still @ 1020 then it may well have stalled. I would sanitize a spoon or paddle and rouse the trub at the bottom gently. Just lift it and stir a tiny bit very gently. Being careful not to splash or introduce any air in to the brew. Maybe even put it somewhere a little warmer to help it get going again. I usually ferment @ 18c. But it should be ok up to about 22c or a little above.
Cheers Norm

[mozr]

Ok.

I roused the trub. Left it for a few days and it is now at 1014, and has been for two days.

The temp is a solid 20c

Should I attempt to restart it?

I used Coopers brew enhancer 2 by the way.

[billmcc]

hi mozr rouse it again if it gets below 1.010 its done yours is very near.
Cheers billmcc
1.014 could be done

[Normski]

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Ok.

I roused the trub. Left it for a few days and it is now at 1014, and has been for two days.

The temp is a solid 20c

Should I attempt to restart it?

I used Coopers brew enhancer 2 by the way.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Mozr
Its just about finished fermenting, Dont rouse it again, you will risk oxidising it.
Enhanser is slightly less fermentable than sugar and therfore will not go down to the 1004 that you quoted earlier. It should finish around 1012-1014.
As you have measured the same 1014 for a few days, its quite safe to either bottle or keg (my preference).
You can also just leave it in the Fv for a few days longer if you do not have time to transfer it. It will give the yeast some time to clean up after its self. Not too long tho.
Cheers Norm

[mozr]

Well it's been a couple of weeks after bottling (well half bottles, half barrel).

I used 1 carbonation drop per 660ml bottle, and I have definitely under carbonated.

I used a similar ration for the barrel too, so I can only assume that is the same. I've not tried it yet.

The lager is a bit weak (I drink 5% premium beer/lager on a daily basis). It tastes a bit like the watered down Fosters you get at festivals, but at least I am not paying £5 a pint.

It's drinkable, but not a runaway success. I will have to do some more reading and start trying to make some premium stuff properly carbonated.

Thanks guys.

Mozr.