Anyone brew beer?
Discussion
Only from kits at the moment and have done for years. I'd love to do all grain one day and I'd probably be looking at getting an all in one system like the Grainfather. I'm hoping as my kids get older I'll have the time.
It's often said it's worth doing a kit or two first to get the basics sussed before venturing into grain brewing. Any equipment you buy for kit brew can be used for grain brewing too. Get yourself over here, they're a friendly and helpful bunch (mostly): http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/
Best thing I've done to improve the whole process is to build a couple of fermentation fridges similar to this: http://www.berrybrew.co.uk/fermentation-fridge-bui... though you don't need to build a temperature controller anymore as there's a company called Inkbird (on Amazon) that manufacture something similar.
Happy brewing.
It's often said it's worth doing a kit or two first to get the basics sussed before venturing into grain brewing. Any equipment you buy for kit brew can be used for grain brewing too. Get yourself over here, they're a friendly and helpful bunch (mostly): http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/
Best thing I've done to improve the whole process is to build a couple of fermentation fridges similar to this: http://www.berrybrew.co.uk/fermentation-fridge-bui... though you don't need to build a temperature controller anymore as there's a company called Inkbird (on Amazon) that manufacture something similar.
Happy brewing.
My Dad has just started this and he is obsessed.
Seen him last week and he now has gallons of Cider, Lager, Red & White wine. He has also properly bottled and made his own labels. All tasted very nice too.
For xmas he is getting some recipe books to keep him entertained. I think he enjoys going out picking the apples and whatever else he does. Gets him out with one of his little friends and gives the step mom a day off.
Enjoy!
Seen him last week and he now has gallons of Cider, Lager, Red & White wine. He has also properly bottled and made his own labels. All tasted very nice too.
For xmas he is getting some recipe books to keep him entertained. I think he enjoys going out picking the apples and whatever else he does. Gets him out with one of his little friends and gives the step mom a day off.
Enjoy!
C0ffin D0dger said:
Only from kits at the moment and have done for years. I'd love to do all grain one day and I'd probably be looking at getting an all in one system like the Grainfather. I'm hoping as my kids get older I'll have the time.
It's often said it's worth doing a kit or two first to get the basics sussed before venturing into grain brewing. Any equipment you buy for kit brew can be used for grain brewing too. Get yourself over here, they're a friendly and helpful bunch (mostly): http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/
Best thing I've done to improve the whole process is to build a couple of fermentation fridges similar to this: http://www.berrybrew.co.uk/fermentation-fridge-bui... though you don't need to build a temperature controller anymore as there's a company called Inkbird (on Amazon) that manufacture something similar.
Happy brewing.
Completely agree with this. Been doing kits about 6 months now (about 9 kits) as it seemed the easiest introduction into brewing beer and if you do some homework you should get a good few years of use out of the equipment even if you switch to all grain/BIAB. Learn the basics of cleaning routines, yeast temp ranges & rehydration, condition times etc before you dedicate a whole day to mash temp,weighing grains,sparging etc only to find out a basic mistake has infected your batch or allowed the yeast to stick It's often said it's worth doing a kit or two first to get the basics sussed before venturing into grain brewing. Any equipment you buy for kit brew can be used for grain brewing too. Get yourself over here, they're a friendly and helpful bunch (mostly): http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/
Best thing I've done to improve the whole process is to build a couple of fermentation fridges similar to this: http://www.berrybrew.co.uk/fermentation-fridge-bui... though you don't need to build a temperature controller anymore as there's a company called Inkbird (on Amazon) that manufacture something similar.
Happy brewing.
The above website is absolutely fantastic and well worth reading through the forums. If you really want to skip the kit stage then you could also look into extract brewing, something i will trying myself next year
I brew all grain, really enjoyable hobby, with a little practice you can make great beer! And by that I mean stuff you'd be happy to pay for.
I started with kits which as above are great for learning the basics, but I wish I made the switch much earlier, along with moving to decent liquid yeasts and temperature controlled fermentation. But it's all time, cash and space!
I've never tried BIAB but I do think it's well worth considering especially if you're short on space, as well as the cost savings.
Entry level kits which are one can of hopped extract which you add a kilo of sugar to will never produce a great result. If you replace the sugar with dried malt extract, brew it a few litres short and replace the yeast with something better, they can be almost acceptable. Brupaks make nice kits which use liquid extract plus dried extract and hop "teabags" and decent yeast which produce excellent beer with minimum time and skill.
Jimsbeerkit.co.uk is a friendly and helpful forum, not many PHers on there
I started with kits which as above are great for learning the basics, but I wish I made the switch much earlier, along with moving to decent liquid yeasts and temperature controlled fermentation. But it's all time, cash and space!
I've never tried BIAB but I do think it's well worth considering especially if you're short on space, as well as the cost savings.
Entry level kits which are one can of hopped extract which you add a kilo of sugar to will never produce a great result. If you replace the sugar with dried malt extract, brew it a few litres short and replace the yeast with something better, they can be almost acceptable. Brupaks make nice kits which use liquid extract plus dried extract and hop "teabags" and decent yeast which produce excellent beer with minimum time and skill.
Jimsbeerkit.co.uk is a friendly and helpful forum, not many PHers on there
I've been making my own beer for around 12 months now.
I started with extract brews, then moved to all grain. I have never tried kits or BIAB.
I use a 32 litre stock pot for boiling, a converted coolbox as a mash tun, and some buckets. They are the bones of my setup.
It's surprisingly easy to nail the basics, and make good, drinkable beer. The difficulty comes in tweaking recipes and trying to make excellent beer.
Whilst the cost of ingredients is nothing, it takes a while to make beer that is cheaper than anything you can buy in the shop.
I'm a cheapskate, and have spent around £300 on equipment. I have made 13 batches of beer, almost 500 bottles, and it is working out around £1.25 per bottle. Obviously the more I make the lower that gets.
As mentioned, thehomebrewforum is very good, and there are loads of good books. How to brew, by John Palmer, and Home Brew Beer by Greg Hughes being two of the best.
I started with extract brews, then moved to all grain. I have never tried kits or BIAB.
I use a 32 litre stock pot for boiling, a converted coolbox as a mash tun, and some buckets. They are the bones of my setup.
It's surprisingly easy to nail the basics, and make good, drinkable beer. The difficulty comes in tweaking recipes and trying to make excellent beer.
Whilst the cost of ingredients is nothing, it takes a while to make beer that is cheaper than anything you can buy in the shop.
I'm a cheapskate, and have spent around £300 on equipment. I have made 13 batches of beer, almost 500 bottles, and it is working out around £1.25 per bottle. Obviously the more I make the lower that gets.
As mentioned, thehomebrewforum is very good, and there are loads of good books. How to brew, by John Palmer, and Home Brew Beer by Greg Hughes being two of the best.
Edited by marksx on Thursday 7th December 21:47
overunder12g said:
Jambo,
I work in the malt/extract industry. Just out of interest, why do you use liquid and dry extract? Do they both have the same spec/profile?
Interested in your comments.
Interesting field to work in!I work in the malt/extract industry. Just out of interest, why do you use liquid and dry extract? Do they both have the same spec/profile?
Interested in your comments.
About dried/liquid... primarily because that's what the recipe usually said to do!
They're basically the same, but liquid is cheaper. On the other hand, dry has a longer shelf life, doesn't suffer from the same 'off' flavours, and it's more practical to keep a bag of it open and use it for making up odd weights than liquid would be.
Jambo85 said:
Yes both great, for different reasons. Palmer if you really want to know the ins and outs in great detail. Hughes if you don't care and want lots of nicely presented recipes!
Absolutely. I had little more than a passing interest in home brew. I was given Home Brew Beer as a Xmas present a few years ago and it flicked the switch. No nonsense simple instructions, and brilliant recipes! A great first book. overunder12g said:
Jambo,
Depends on the quality of the liquid extract . Some are actually barley extract so rather different in some aspects.
Could go on for ages but will probably send you to sleep quicker than a good beer!
Barley as in not malted barley? Never seen that for sale for brewing I don't think.Depends on the quality of the liquid extract . Some are actually barley extract so rather different in some aspects.
Could go on for ages but will probably send you to sleep quicker than a good beer!
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