Home Brew

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anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
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LordGrover said:
Chatting to a few chaps in the boozer yesterday, they say wine making is rather more time consuming and takes more effort/skill/experience than beer. Maybe I should know my limits and start with an off-the-shelf beer kit and see how I progress.
If you follow the instructions and keep everything clean you will have great success! might be worth picking up a good quality yeast as the kits often supply a cheap yeast.

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
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dtmpower said:
I've been to the last couple of local beer festivals, and despite not being a heavy drinker have enjoyed several halves of the local ale.

I'd like to start a home brew. Either ale or ginger beer, but need some pointers or recipes.
Sorry OP. I seem to have stolen your thread. redface
I'll leave you to it. getmecoat

Bob the Planner

4,695 posts

268 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
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LordGrover said:
Chatting to a few chaps in the boozer yesterday, they say wine making is rather more time consuming and takes more effort/skill/experience than beer. Maybe I should know my limits and start with an off-the-shelf beer kit and see how I progress.
Same principles apply, the equipment is slightly different but a wine kit is just as good a starting place if you are heading towards hedgerow wines. There is still 5 gallons of blackberry and elderberry in may garage in the UK awaiting my return !

stackmonkey

5,077 posts

248 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
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Bob the Planner said:
Same principles apply, the equipment is slightly different but a wine kit is just as good a starting place if you are heading towards hedgerow wines. There is still 5 gallons of blackberry and elderberry in may garage in the UK awaiting my return !
2 gallons left! yumdrunk

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Tuesday 24th April 2012
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My first brew is under way...


motco

15,919 posts

245 months

Tuesday 24th April 2012
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My latest brew is gurgling its way into the keg as I type! beer

dharte

104 posts

150 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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I've been brewing beer for a few months now. I did try a couple of lagers at first but they weren't great, I've had a lot more luck with Ale.

My latest one is Woodforde's Wherry (as mentioned above) and it's definetly the best one yet. Prior to that I have tried Nelson's Revenge (also Woodforde's) and Munton's Highland Heavy Ale which was quite similar to Guinnes.

I've been using a pressure barrel rather than bottles. I might try putting half in bottles next time to see if if makes a difference.

big_treacle

1,727 posts

259 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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dharte said:
I did try a couple of lagers at first but they weren't great
I made a load of lager from a kit and it was OK. 6 months later I found a bottle in my girlfriends fridge that she hadn't drunk. It was amazing. The accidental ageing improved it no end. Unfortunately it's difficult to not drink beer you've made!

dharte

104 posts

150 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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big_treacle said:
The accidental ageing improved it no end. Unfortunately it's difficult to not drink beer you've made!
Interesting, I was obviously too impatient! Can you remember which kit it was? Maybe I'll make a batch and put it at the back of the shed - out of sight, out of mind!

mike325112

1,070 posts

183 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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My first batch of Lager was rather yuk when I first tried it. My father mentioned that it would improve. Left another month and it was lovely. The last bottles were around 4 months old when i finished them, they were really nice.

AtticusFinch

26,957 posts

182 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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I brew the Woodefords stuff. Leave it 2 weeks in the fermenter and 4 in the barrel (I don't get on with bottles) once the brew went wrong but don't give up after 4 months it was quite good. beer

You just need a lot of barrels.

dharte

104 posts

150 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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What sort of bottles do people use? Is it worth investing in some swing top ones or is it best to save a few beer bottles and buy some new caps?

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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I've lost me instructions... redface

Edme traditional bitter: It was started on Saturday in the fermentation bin and is to work for four to six days then transfer to the barrel. I can't remember if there was owt else; do I add any more sugar? I vaguely remember it saying to add sugar if bottling but fairly confidentish nothing for the barrel. Can anyone confirm please?

AtticusFinch

26,957 posts

182 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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LordGrover said:
I've lost me instructions... redface

Edme traditional bitter: It was started on Saturday in the fermentation bin and is to work for four to six days then transfer to the barrel. I can't remember if there was owt else; do I add any more sugar? I vaguely remember it saying to add sugar if bottling but fairly confidentish nothing for the barrel. Can anyone confirm please?
You need the sugar to kick off the secondary fermentation. I use 2 1/2 oz for a 40 pint barrel+ your yeast of course.

motco

15,919 posts

245 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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I never prime my barrels and the fermentation will have been going on the top of my boiler for up to two weeks. I do allow a little yeast sediment to cross into the barrel though, and the beer is usually well conditioned by the time it's drunk.

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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AtticusFinch said:
You need the sugar to kick off the secondary fermentation. I use 2 1/2 oz for a 40 pint barrel+ your yeast of course.
motco said:
I never prime my barrels and the fermentation will have been going on the top of my boiler for up to two weeks. I do allow a little yeast sediment to cross into the barrel though, and the beer is usually well conditioned by the time it's drunk.
hehe Good ol' PH.

Looks like it doesn't matter a great deal as both methods work. thumbup

The kit came with only one sachet of yeast and no instructions to retain any for later. I don't remember anything about 'priming' the barrel with sediment - is that something you've picked up as a wise tip or general practice?

big_treacle

1,727 posts

259 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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dharte said:
What sort of bottles do people use? Is it worth investing in some swing top ones or is it best to save a few beer bottles and buy some new caps?
I just collected a load of 500ml ale bottles over a weekend with the help of some thirsty mates. The thicker the better (glass, not mates) in case you make some hand grenades by overpriming!
Caps are about a quid for a hundred or so and a capping thing is probably a tenner or less and a bottle filling attachment for your bucket is worth its weight in gold (or beer).
Takes about 2 hours to bottle 40 pints on your own. I also do a 3 or 4 small bottles as testers & I have a couple of clear bottles so I can see how well it's clearing.
After 4 weeks I tend to lose patience and drink it all

XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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LordGrover said:
motco said:
Cleanliness is paramount.
yes
I've read this before. Proper, rigorous sterilization is vital.
100% this, everything cleaned and sterilized thoroughly, that and good clean water (i use cheapo mineral water) and a constant temperature.

Get those basics and the rest tends to just do the job for you!!! Have 23 liters cooking away downstairs right now, should be good for bottling at the weekend then quaffing in a months time!



XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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dharte said:
What sort of bottles do people use? Is it worth investing in some swing top ones or is it best to save a few beer bottles and buy some new caps?
"grolsch" caps can be a bit dangerous if you get the sugar mix a bit wrong, the only place for the pressure to release is by exploding the glass ..... this usually seriously pisses SWMBO off.

Plastic bottles self destruct in a more gentle fashion!



illmonkey

18,111 posts

197 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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Ok, I want in. What do I need to do my first batch and how much space do I need (My house is small frown)