Home Brew

[wormburner]

illmonkey said:

Ok, I want in. What do I need to do my first batch and how much space do I need (My house is small )

Go to brewuk.co.uk (or another quality supplier!) and buy a starter kit. You need access to the kitchen or utility room for starting and finishing, and a cabinet, cupboard, old fridge or any space out of the way (ideally in the warm and dark) to do the middle bit.

Keeping your brew at c.18-21C with minimal fluctuations is important, so think/read about the various ways to do that. The concrete floor of the garage and a grubby blanket won't be sufficient.

The forum at brewuk.co.uk is an excellent source of keen friendly advice.

Edited by wormburner on Thursday 26th April 10:31

[illmonkey]

wormburner said:

illmonkey said:

Ok, I want in. What do I need to do my first batch and how much space do I need (My house is small )

Go to brewuk.co.uk (or another quality supplier!) and buy a starter kit. You need access to the kitchen or utility room for starting and finishing, and a cabinet, cupboard, old fridge or any space out of the way (ideally in the warm and dark) to do the middle bit.

Keeping your brew at c.18-21C with minimal fluctuations is important, so think/read about the various ways to do that. The concrete floor of the garage and a grubby blanket won't be sufficient.

The forum at brewuk.co.uk is an excellent source of keen friendly advice.

Edited by wormburner on Thursday 26th April 10:31

So are you saying I need an old fridge to store it in for a long time? Because I don't have any space for an other fridge!

I have a kitchen, so Check.

I can store it for the middle bit in a corner of the house I'm sure.

[wormburner]

illmonkey said:

wormburner said:

illmonkey said:

Ok, I want in. What do I need to do my first batch and how much space do I need (My house is small )

Go to brewuk.co.uk (or another quality supplier!) and buy a starter kit. You need access to the kitchen or utility room for starting and finishing, and a cabinet, cupboard, old fridge or any space out of the way (ideally in the warm and dark) to do the middle bit.

Keeping your brew at c.18-21C with minimal fluctuations is important, so think/read about the various ways to do that. The concrete floor of the garage and a grubby blanket won't be sufficient.

The forum at brewuk.co.uk is an excellent source of keen friendly advice.

Edited by wormburner on Thursday 26th April 10:31

So are you saying I need an old fridge to store it in for a long time? Because I don't have any space for an other fridge!

I have a kitchen, so Check.

I can store it for the middle bit in a corner of the house I'm sure.

No, the old fridge is not at all necessary. If you really get into home brewing you might want to make a 'brewfridge' which employs an old fridge and some gadgety clobber from maplins to create an ideal temperature-controlled, insulated, dark and clean (!) brew environment.

I'm getting revved up to build one, but I haven't yet.

Make sure it'll be warm enough. This is REALLY important. But not too warm. This is EVEN MORE REALLY IMPORTANT.

[big_treacle]

illmonkey said:

So are you saying I need an old fridge to store it in for a long time? Because I don't have any space for an other fridge!

I have a kitchen, so Check.

I can store it for the middle bit in a corner of the house I'm sure.

I do the setting up of the brew in the kitchen; bucket fermentation bit in a cupboard (under the stairs type thing where the temperature is roughly constant at 20c ish & it's dark); bottling in the kitchen; then a week under blankets in a spare room for secondary fermentation in the warm/dark; followed by 4 weeks in the dark and cool of a garage.
You don't need loads of space but you do need to focus on being clean, darkness & temperature. But think of the beer, THE BEEEER!!!!

[illmonkey]

wormburner said:

illmonkey said:

wormburner said:

illmonkey said:

Ok, I want in. What do I need to do my first batch and how much space do I need (My house is small )

Go to brewuk.co.uk (or another quality supplier!) and buy a starter kit. You need access to the kitchen or utility room for starting and finishing, and a cabinet, cupboard, old fridge or any space out of the way (ideally in the warm and dark) to do the middle bit.

Keeping your brew at c.18-21C with minimal fluctuations is important, so think/read about the various ways to do that. The concrete floor of the garage and a grubby blanket won't be sufficient.

The forum at brewuk.co.uk is an excellent source of keen friendly advice.

Edited by wormburner on Thursday 26th April 10:31

So are you saying I need an old fridge to store it in for a long time? Because I don't have any space for an other fridge!

I have a kitchen, so Check.

I can store it for the middle bit in a corner of the house I'm sure.

No, the old fridge is not at all necessary. If you really get into home brewing you might want to make a 'brewfridge' which employs an old fridge and some gadgety clobber from maplins to create an ideal temperature-controlled, insulated, dark and clean (!) brew environment.

I'm getting revved up to build one, but I haven't yet.

Make sure it'll be warm enough. This is REALLY important. But not too warm. This is EVEN MORE REALLY IMPORTANT.

Dagnabbit. Ok, I'll do some tests with temperatures over the next few days.

Someone mentioned Coopers, so I think their English Bitter (http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/beginners-kits/beer/coopers-beer-starter-kit.html) is what I'll go for.

[wormburner]

illmonkey said:

wormburner said:

illmonkey said:

wormburner said:

illmonkey said:

Ok, I want in. What do I need to do my first batch and how much space do I need (My house is small )

Go to brewuk.co.uk (or another quality supplier!) and buy a starter kit. You need access to the kitchen or utility room for starting and finishing, and a cabinet, cupboard, old fridge or any space out of the way (ideally in the warm and dark) to do the middle bit.

Keeping your brew at c.18-21C with minimal fluctuations is important, so think/read about the various ways to do that. The concrete floor of the garage and a grubby blanket won't be sufficient.

The forum at brewuk.co.uk is an excellent source of keen friendly advice.

Edited by wormburner on Thursday 26th April 10:31

So are you saying I need an old fridge to store it in for a long time? Because I don't have any space for an other fridge!

I have a kitchen, so Check.

I can store it for the middle bit in a corner of the house I'm sure.

No, the old fridge is not at all necessary. If you really get into home brewing you might want to make a 'brewfridge' which employs an old fridge and some gadgety clobber from maplins to create an ideal temperature-controlled, insulated, dark and clean (!) brew environment.

I'm getting revved up to build one, but I haven't yet.

Make sure it'll be warm enough. This is REALLY important. But not too warm. This is EVEN MORE REALLY IMPORTANT.

Dagnabbit. Ok, I'll do some tests with temperatures over the next few days.

Someone mentioned Coopers, so I think their English Bitter (http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/beginners-kits/beer/coopers-beer-starter-kit.html) is what I'll go for.

Sounds good. The Woodforde's Wherry is oft-recommended as a first brew. Good luck.

[illmonkey]

wormburner said:

Sounds good. The Woodforde's Wherry is oft-recommended as a first brew. Good luck.

Hum, I'll have a think. What is it comparable to that I might have had in a pub etc?

[wormburner]

illmonkey said:

Hum, I'll have a think. What is it comparable to that I might have had in a pub etc?

Its a fairly standard (but very nice) medium session ale. I guess something like a Spitfire or Pedigree? Perhaps a smidge heavier. Bit less hop and more malt than a Tim Taylor's Landlord.

Any use?

[illmonkey]

wormburner said:

illmonkey said:

Hum, I'll have a think. What is it comparable to that I might have had in a pub etc?

Its a fairly standard (but very nice) medium session ale. I guess something like a Spitfire or Pedigree? Perhaps a smidge heavier. Bit less hop and more malt than a Tim Taylor's Landlord.

Any use?

Bang on, 2 I sample frequently.

[motco]

LordGrover said:

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.

Good ol' PH.

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

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?

It's inevitable that some of the yeasty gunk on the bottom gets carried over when you're kegging or bottling. Without that no secondary fermentation can occur. Mine clears, with the help of 'Kwik Clear' finings, in about a week but will definitely improve with a bit of time. The first pint out through the tap is cloudy because sediment accumulates in the tap, but thereafter it's pretty clear. My secondary fermentation is gentle because I don't add any priming sugar, though. Neither do I use a floating pick-up barrel because in my experience they're more trouble than they are worth. It's not a science really, it's an art developed over centuries with many paths to success. Keep on brewin'!

[AtticusFinch]

illmonkey said:

wormburner said:

Sounds good. The Woodforde's Wherry is oft-recommended as a first brew. Good luck.

Hum, I'll have a think. What is it comparable to that I might have had in a pub etc?

You can buy a Wherry (think IPA and other good bitters) starter kit with everything you need
I use a cupboard behind the airing cupboard (not in an airing cupboard) for the 1st ferment. Then unheatead spare room once in a barrel to clear.

[LordGrover]

A little off-topic, but beer related so what the heck: click.

[illmonkey]

pass on the unknown powerpoint thanks!

[Mobile Chicane]

wormburner said:

No, the old fridge is not at all necessary. If you really get into home brewing you might want to make a 'brewfridge' which employs an old fridge and some gadgety clobber from maplins to create an ideal temperature-controlled, insulated, dark and clean (!) brew environment.

I'm getting revved up to build one, but I haven't yet.

Make sure it'll be warm enough. This is REALLY important. But not too warm. This is EVEN MORE REALLY IMPORTANT.

Alternatively a heated propagator mat or terrarium mat from garden centres / pet shops.

The more expensive ones are thermostatically controlled, but you could do a bodge with spacers / padding on a cheap one.

I got one of these for making bread, since my house is too cold for the dough to rise properly.

[wormburner]

Mobile Chicane said:

wormburner said:

No, the old fridge is not at all necessary. If you really get into home brewing you might want to make a 'brewfridge' which employs an old fridge and some gadgety clobber from maplins to create an ideal temperature-controlled, insulated, dark and clean (!) brew environment.

I'm getting revved up to build one, but I haven't yet.

Make sure it'll be warm enough. This is REALLY important. But not too warm. This is EVEN MORE REALLY IMPORTANT.

Alternatively a heated propagator mat or terrarium mat from garden centres / pet shops.

The more expensive ones are thermostatically controlled, but you could do a bodge with spacers / padding on a cheap one.

I got one of these for making bread, since my house is too cold for the dough to rise properly.

I sat my first brew on an old electric blanket. You can also get brew-belts for about £15 which are elasticated heating bands that go around your primary fermenter, and you modify the heat by moving it up or down the side.

[dharte]

big_treacle said:

The thicker the better (glass, not mates)!

There's a Majestic Wine shop across the road from my office that has a good ale selection, it sounds like a good excuse to go and pick up a few cases. Having said that, XJSJohn's suggestion might be a good idea as I've only just been forgiven for "temporarily" keeping a set of alloy wheels in the lounge!

[wormburner]

Beers that have been 'bottle conditioned' will have been put in bottles strong enough to cope. Buy some of them. Or deal with the enormously dangerous, but potentially very funny consequences!

[XJSJohn]

funny world, where you guys are trying to figure out how to get your brew's warm enough, we have to ice the kegs down or leave them in the office with the aircon on all the time!!

mine is "chilled" to 24c and just kept out of direct sunlight, first ferment is quite a quick process but just have to show willpower when it is bottled down!

[wormburner]

Well, my first adventure in wine-making has just kicked-off.

a 23l kit of Californian Sauvignon Blanc. Never done wine before so may well have already cocked things up.

What happened:

Cleaning (a lot)
Empty concentrated grape juice (7.5l) into fermenter. Looks like apple juice. Smells great.
Resist temptation to drink some of it.
Slosh out bag with spring water, add to fermenter
Add a sachet of brown dusty stuff called Bentonite, give it a good stir. No idea what this is/does.
Top-up to 23l with spring water
Add packet of toasted oak chips. Smells great. Stir.
Measure specific gravity. 1.080 - spot on. (This is a fluke).
Add yeast. Don't stir. Now looks bloody awful, but still smells great.
Put lid on. Stick airlock into lid, fill with water.
Put fermenter into big floppy plasterer's bucket.
Fill bucket with warmish water until fermenter is just about floating.
Stick aquarium heater to outside of fermenter with suction cup thingy. Set to 22 degrees.

Nothing more to do now for 7 days (4 weeks total process) so I'll keep you posted...

[pokethepope]

I've just had one of these delivered, along with a Woodforde's Wherry kit. I started collecting glass bottles but wanted to get on and do it so went for the kit with the PET bottles, from googling them they are not universally liked but most people seem to think they do the job well enough.



A question though, the Wherry kit says to put a bit of sugar in each bottle, can I just use normal sugar or does 'Brewing Sugar' actually make a difference?