A Cold Blast is Coming - Read our Email Sent 6th Feb 2025

A Cold Blast is Coming - Read our Email Sent 6th Feb 2025

If you missed this weeks Brewbitz email, than you can read it online here

A cold snap is coming ¦ Is this normal? ¦ Product Of The Week

Brewing Tips & £2 Off Tom Caxton Beer Kits

Email Sent 30/01/2025 Reading A Cold Blast is Coming - Read our Email Sent 6th Feb 2025 5 minutes Next Let's All Do A Sun Dance - Read our Email Sent 13th Feb 2025
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- A Cold Blast Is Coming -

There is a wind from the east coming, meaning it's gonna be a cold 2 weeks coming, so if you are brewing, make sure your fermenter is in the ideal range. We have some simple ideas to keep your fermentation at the right temperature and some key reasons too, so read on...
Is this Normal? 
One of the common questions we are asked, is "is my fermentation normal?". So here are a few tips to get a good fermentation.

1 - Just because you have not seen anything happening with your brew, that does not mean it has not been fermenting - Take a hydrometer reading and compare this to the one you took before you added the yeast.
2 - Temperature is key. Just because your room thermostat says its 20°C, it doesn’t mean your fermentation is - Stick an LCD thermometer to the side of your brewing vessel and keep an eye on the temperature.
3 - Your airlock isn't bubbling - check: a) the seal, b)if the fermentation has finished (see #1)
4 - It has a funky smell - it is probably NOT infected! It’s likely that the yeast are turning phenols and acids in your brew to new compounds - Be patient and give it time for the yeast to finish their work
Read the full article on common concerns when brewing and how to check if everything is normal
Is it Fermenting, Is it Stuck, Is it Normal?
Read Our Article For Common Concerns When Brewing
Product Of The Week 
This Weeks Product Of The Week are Tom Caxton Beer Kits.
We are giving you £2 off per kit when you use the code POTW.
Product Of The Week - Tom Caxton Kits
Product Of The Week - Tom Caxton Kits
Keeping a Fermentation Warm 
Keeping your fermentation at the ideal temperature for the yeast to do their job can be a little tricky, so here are some products that will help you keep a good temperature.
Mini Immersion Heater
Now it might look small, but this 10 watt mini immersion heater can really help give your brew that boost it needs. It has a built in thermometer and a thermostat you can set, to keep it at the right temperature. It plugs into a normal USB plug, but make sure it's rated for 2A.
Mini Immersion Heater
Liquid Crystal Thermometer
You might think what is the point, but this is a really quick and easy way to see if your brew is at the right temperature. Simply stick it to the outside of your fermenter about 1/2 way up, so there is liquid inside above the thermometer's level.
Liquid Crystal Thermometer
Brew Belt
A Brew belt is really simple to use. Place it lower down on your fermenter and it will heat up more of the liquid and raise the temperature higher, if you want just a little warmth, then place it towards the top of your fermenter.
Brew Belt Fermenter Heater
Heat Pad
A heat pad gives out a constant heat temperature and you simply place your fermenter on top of the pad and the heat rises through your fermenter. Very easy to use. Great for Fermenting Buckets (up to 33l) and Demi-Johns.
Heat Pad
Shop All Our Heating Equipment
This Months Recipe
Ginger Cider
A really refreshing drink with the scrumpyness of cider married to the spicy heat of ginger, great chilled, but also great warmed and drank like a mulled cider.
It's easy to make and we've even made a quick vid to show how easy it is.
Making a Ginger Cider
Lets Get Brewing!
To make 23 litres of Ginger Cider you will need...
Ingredients
1 Pouch Simply Ginger Beer
1 tin John Bull Country Cider
Wine Sweetener
3 litres boiling water
Cold tap water to top upto 23 litres
Equipment:
Brewing Bucket
Siphon
Steriliser
Hydrometer
Thermometer
Bottles
Jug.
 
Method:
1 - Empty the contents of both kits into a fermenter
2 - Pour on 3 litres of Boiling water and stir
3 - Top up to 23 litres with cold tap water.
4 - Add the nutrient and yeast from the John Bull kit (don't use the Simply yeast)
5 - Put in a warm place for 7-14 days to allow the fermentation to finish
6 - Rack off the sediment and add sweetener to taste, approx 50ml wine sweetener.
7 - Dissolve 150g sugar in 100ml Boiling water and add to ginger cider
8 - Bottle and put in warm place for 1-2 weeks for secondary fermentation
9 - Transfer bottles somewhere cool to clear for 2-6 weeks
10 - Pop open a bottle and enjoy, chilled or mulled.

Watch the full method on our YouTube channel
Making Ginger Cider - Watch the Quick Video
Making Ginger Cider - Watch The Full Video
That’s all from us for now.
We'll be bringing you some new recipes and videos for beer and wine in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled.
In the meantime, if you have any suggestions or questions about brewing, feel free to get in touch.

Until next time - Happy Brewing
Stay Safe.
Brew!
& Drink Responsibly.

Happy Brewing!

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Let's All Do A Sun Dance

Let's All Do A Sun Dance - Read our Email Sent 13th Feb 2025

Email Sent 30/01/2025

Email Sent 30/01/2025

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