Westbrew Ginger Beer

[dragonphoenix73]

Hi all,

Just picked up Westbrew's Old Fashioned Ginger Beer "kit" from G&G today.

Has anyone used it before? Anything I might need to know before I make it up?

The "kit" is basically yeast, nutrient, sweetner (which I wont use) and a small bottle of ginger essence.

At this point, I'm adding the 1kg Dextrose (fermentables), and 250gm Lactose (as the sweetener).

Any other additions? We're trying for a sweet GB.... oh, and I can't put malt because of my Gluten-free partner.... so please stop rubbing it in (at least I get to make beer however I want to...

[KEG]

waaay more lactose if you want something that would generally be described as sweet IMO

[dragonphoenix73]

Any suggestions, Kegster?

How does a kilo (1kg) sound?

[dragonphoenix73]

Hi all,

I put this batch in the barrel a couple of days ago and there does not appear to be any bubbling. The lid is on reeeeaaaalll tight, and there is a little condensation on the lid. My fear is that the yeast was crap!

There was some bubbling action a few hours and the next morning - but very slow - the mead which i made up 2 weeks ago is still bubbling away nicely and vigourously in comprison.

I put in the nutrient that came with this kit, but I also put in the leftover nutrient that I bought for my mead (about 4-5gm), so a total of 10gm.

I have some leftover yeast from a previous kit (Muntons ale yeast) - is there anything I should know before pitching this yeast in? Any other suggestions?

[DavidP]

if there is condensation it could well be fermenting.
any other signs?
maybe do a gravity reading and see if its moving down?
you might just have a leak somewhere?

[dragonphoenix73]

Like I said, the lid was on reeeeaaaalll tight - so tight it took 2 of us to get it open!

Pitched some more ale yeast... still no action, but don't expect to see anything until at least tomorrow morning. There does appear to be more condensation on the lid tonight however - although my partner disagrees with me on this.

Would there be an issue that the yeast nutrient was put in the other day (ie, 2 days before re-pitching this batch of yeast)?

[rwh]

I don't think it was anything you did, may have just been dead yeast. The other option of course is that you have a leak around the airlock grommet. You can try spraying it with soapy water if you want.

[dragonphoenix73]

GOOD NEWS!!!!

Its bubbling.... slowly but surely.

Must have been the yeast!


My partner is soooo happy! I've been grumbling about the damned ginger beer for 3 days now.... "could've made a beer", that kind of thing....

LOL