Hi guys, another newbie here so please be gentle.
I've started off with a Woodfordes Wherry (standard), had it in the FV for 2 weeks (everything I've read that should happen did) and transferred to a pressure barrel on Friday afternoon (3 days ago). I made-up a priming solution of 100g sugar and poured that in before the brew. My concern is that I cannot see any head/foam forming inside the PB. The barrel is quite difficult to see through (especially as I'm expecting the foam to be white, and the barrel is white). Is it too early for the foam to have formed? I've stored the PB in my garage at the moment, a bit cooler than my dining room where I had the FV for 2 weeks. Any comments or recommendations would be appreciated.
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After a couple of weeks you can then try to draw a little beer from the tap, it should begin to develop some pressure so pour Ok and start to clear. If it is still cloudy then leave it longer, and also the longer you then leave to the better it will taste - they are often OK after a few weeks but if left to condition longer will much improve. It can also help to store away from UV light or cover the barrel to keep light out.
Let us know how you get on....
Thanks again, much appreciated.
Froth or foam is gas that is being released from the top of the liquid, but as the beer should be pressurised, it cannot escape and therefore stays inside the liquid. This is why your beer gets fizzy (carbonates) in fact if you do see foam in secondary fermentation it could indicate you get an air leek.
There is no foam at all in the barrel and I understand your reasoning, seems perfectly plausible to me. I tried a sneaky 'first pull' last night and there was certainly enough pressure behind it so I'm happy that there is no air leak. Still a bit cloudy (as to be expected at this stage) but the few sips I had were very encouraging. Learning all the time, cheers.
If you can wait 3 weeks should be pretty good, if you can leave longer better, but I understand your keen.
3 weeks in experience is a good minimum, if you can possibly wait that long it'll nearly be as good as it will be in 6 months.
Montons kits also take ages, at least the ones I've tried but I don't recommend the muntons ones anyway.
Obviously temperature and a whole load of other factors effect everything so there is no exact science to it.