Home brew

[Rude Girl]

I know from mentions in other threads that there are some home-brewers here. We've never tried anything before but wouldn't mind a try.

We've got no gear (and no idea!) but don't want to make a massive capital outlay until we've had a go, so what simple project would you suggest we did as a taster-session?

I'd veer towards a wine rather than a beer for our first go. A friend found some bottles marked 'sherry-type' in his old house and they were the centre of many a good party for several years. Any chance a novice might make a sherry-type?

[stackmonkey]

Rude girl,

In the east midlands; bob the planner, madbadger, vixta and myself all make homebrew wines of various descriptions.
if you've not made any before, the safest option is to buy a full kit (which ncludes the hardware) and go from there.
come to the next meeting on a tuesday and at least one of us can help yu out with advice

[Furyous]

Been brewing my own cider for a few years now.

Tend to use this place for bits and bobos :

http://www.hopshopuk.com/

[Bob the Planner]

I will have some equipment going spare some time in the next couple of weeks if you want to come and collect - some may still have wine in that I have not yet managed to bottle ! Let me know if you want to pick some up.

[Rude Girl]

Blimey, that's generous. Thanks Bob.

[Podie]

Do we need to bring the Griff, the Skoda or the Mondy to collect? (working out where the hell we're going to store this illicit hooch making kit )

[Rude Girl]

Simple. We'll get the collective finger out and sort the spare room.

[Podie]

Rude Girl said:

Simple. We'll get the collective finger out and sort the spare room.

So we'll refer to it as the "still room" rather than the "back bedroom" in future..?

[scruffy]

Bob the Planner said:

I will have some equipment going spare some time in the next couple of weeks if you want to come and collect - some may still have wine in that I have not yet managed to bottle ! Let me know if you want to pick some up.

You not here yet Bob?

I've just spent this months rent on a Keg system like I had in Blighty. Got three brews on right now.

Looking at wine in the future (when we find somewhere...) - but have experience of (red) wine, if you have specific questions... hell, where wine's concerned, I'm really good at vinegar!

[madbadger]

Have you had a go yet Rudes / Podie?

I wouldn't have said the spare room is easiest as you do need quite a bit of water and there is a bit of an aroma to the brewing. Don't let that put you off sorting thespare room, though.

scruffy said:

Looking at wine in the future (when we find somewhere...) - but have experience of (red) wine, if you have specific questions... hell, where wine's concerned, I'm really good at vinegar!

Quality of the wine kit seems to make a big difference. The ones I tend to use make 30 bottles (ish) for about £50. The wine is great and you really just need to follow the instructions. Might try one of the £30 kits next time to see if there is much difference.

Making booze for spirits is easier as you don't need to bother with any secondary fermentation. It's just yeast and sugary water in a bucket.

[Podie]

madbadger said:

Have you had a go yet Rudes / Podie?

No, not yet... we're just finishing off the flavoured vodkas before we embark on the next phase!

[Bob the Planner]

Podie said:

Do we need to bring the Griff, the Skoda or the Mondy to collect? (working out where the hell we're going to store this illicit hooch making kit )

Mondy would be good as there is a fair volume may fit in the Skoda but I don't think the Griff would suit. Will have to be before Monday next week otherwise it will be skipped ! Some pipe, bottle cleaner, demijohns and 5 gallon vessels are available with a few things like acid, tannin, pectin etc.

[Bob the Planner]

scruffy said:

Bob the Planner said:

I will have some equipment going spare some time in the next couple of weeks if you want to come and collect - some may still have wine in that I have not yet managed to bottle ! Let me know if you want to pick some up.

You not here yet Bob?

I've just spent this months rent on a Keg system like I had in Blighty. Got three brews on right now.

Looking at wine in the future (when we find somewhere...) - but have experience of (red) wine, if you have specific questions... hell, where wine's concerned, I'm really good at vinegar!

I fly next week so not quite there yet. Will be looking to restart making wines when I get there but if its a case of getting the car over or the wine equipment, then the car wins out !

[scruffy]

Slightly off topic, there's an offer in the home brew shops over here, a complete home distilling kit for around £400... now at a rate of over 2 litres per hour of 90%ABV, i won't be using it all the time and am talking a couple of mates into sharing the gear...

There's a thought for you - timeshare!

[Bob the Planner]

scruffy said:

...There's a thought for you - timeshare!

Or should that be boozeshare !

[Podie]

Bob the Planner said:

Podie said:

Do we need to bring the Griff, the Skoda or the Mondy to collect? (working out where the hell we're going to store this illicit hooch making kit )

Mondy would be good as there is a fair volume may fit in the Skoda but I don't think the Griff would suit. Will have to be before Monday next week otherwise it will be skipped ! Some pipe, bottle cleaner, demijohns and 5 gallon vessels are available with a few things like acid, tannin, pectin etc.

Will mail you.

[Bob the Planner]

Just bought some equipment again. first brew of aussie beer is now on the go.

Wine will begin next month - should manage a lower hunter valley red.