Here are some of the more common questions about Casey’s fresh wort kits.
- How long does a wort kit take to ferment?
About the same time as any other beer. Fermentation times will depend on wort gravity, amount of yeast, yeast strain, and temperature. Expect 5 to 10 days for the primary fermentation depending on the above factors.
- What are the start and finish gravities?
For our standard wort kits the undiluted gravity is 1056, maybe a little more. At 20 litres the gravity will be about 1046. Expect a finishing gravity of 1010 +/- 2
- How long will a fresh wort kit keep for?
Our fresh wort kits have a recommended shelf life of 12 months. On the lid is a sticker with the production date.
- The drum is stamped 15 litres, but the label says 16 litres. Why?
We fill the drums to have little or no headspace. The 15 litre mark is just shy of the top of the raised band.
- What is the sediment in the bottom of the drum?
It is a mixture of hop fallout and cold break. Cold break is composed of proteins which have precipitated out of the boiled wort as it cools. The sediment won’t have any effect on your brew. Pour everything into the fermenter.
- Are dry hops/extra hops necessary?
No. All Casey’s fresh wort kits will brew up well, and true to style without needing extra hops. The recommendations for dry hops are purely optional and only to help with variety selection.
- Can I change the volume of the brew?
Yes, you can vary the volume of the brew. Although the wort kits are designed to be done to 20 litres you can add less water down to zero to make a stronger and more bitter beer. Make sure you use an attenuative (dry finishing) yeast to do this.
You can also add more than four litres of water, up to about seven to make a lighter bodied beer with a little less alcohol.
- If I make double brews, can I mix and match work kits?
Definitely. I do this quite often in the brewery. Be clear about what you want to achieve. Check the hopping to avoid any possible clashes.
- What do I do with the empty drums?
Clean them! To be re-used or recycled the drums must be clean. I will take them back at the brewery only if they are clean, spotlessly clean. You can giMove them away with a free ad on Gumtree or leave them out the front will a sign. The drums are made from high density polyethelene (HDPE) so they can be recycled. If you put them through your household recycling, mash the drums up with a sledgehammer to save space.