HomebrewandBeer.com forum

bullfrog wrote:Vegemite is just autolysed yeast with some additives.

As well as the world's richest known source of vitamin B. It puts a rose in every cheek too.

Apparently.

drsmurto wrote:
Is it possible your hydro is out of whack?

How does it taste? Does it have a slight sweetness or is it bone dry?

Dicky hydrometer.... I thought of this once, but it must have been fleeting, because I could pretty easily check it in a glass of water.... and I didn't! The whole kit belongs to a mate who churned out a heap of brews about 10 years ago, and hasn't brewed for ages. So the gear has sat about for ages, until I 'borrowed' it acouple of months ago. The mate is a good bloke, and says to hang onto it while I am using it, and every so often he will take a sample or two. Fair deal.

The cider was very dry. Without even measuring gravity, I should have realised from the drying taste that it was fermenting. Anyways, it's in the bottles now, lets see how it goes.

I did add a nutrient. Possibly too much; after I had pitched the entire sachet and the dry yeast, I read the instructions - add about 20% of the sachet.... And there is no way I am putting vegemite into a brew

While we are on about marginal additions to a brew, did I read here somewhere that Milo was a goer for adding to an ale?

Some people have experimented adding Milo to brews, but the problem is that it contains oils and milk solids, so it can hinder your head retention. Its desirable ingredients (from a brewing perspective) are malt and cocoa powder, so you'd do better to just be using those ingredients (should already have malt in there...it is beer, after all) or, for a better chocolate flavour, throw in some ground cacao nibs. I've tasted a stout that had the nibs thrown in and it was the best chocolate flavour that I've ever tasted in a beer. I'm told that you want to agitate the fermenter daily, when using the nibs, just to keep them in suspension, so it's a little more effort but my taste-buds definitely think it's worth it!

Was cleaning out the cupboard and found a half tin of milo, somewhat solidified. I thought that instead of ditching it with the inedible green tomato pickles from 2004, I might whack it into a brew.... or not! The dogs will love it

Having a rough trot at the moment. First the loss of a good brew onto the shed floor. Now I open a cider, and it has a decided vinegar twang to it

Opened a second.... same deal. Bum!

Is this at all redeemable? Should I pour it over the compost heap? What is the best place to dispose of it?

Let it do it's thing and you'll have great cider vinegar- good for cooking/
marinading meat.

Cheers Chris

I might hang onto a couple of bottles for cooking and all that, but I reckon I will just empty most of it so I can re-fill the bottles with beer. They will need a good sterilising after this I imagine.

BD

Yeah- clean them THOROUGHLY.