View Full Version : home brewing anyone into it
jans1971
20-01-09, 01:07 PM
im getting my first wine home brew kit today, iv seen alot about the latest kits and there meant to be quite good now , im going to get a coopers microbrew kit next with does larger , bitter , cider. any one else do it and got any tips
Dappa D
20-01-09, 01:23 PM
no tips but would be interested in the outcome!
jimmy__riddle
20-01-09, 01:24 PM
Ive been doing quite a lot over the last 12 months.
the kits can be good, try a few different ones.
Then try starting from scratch, its even more satisfying, and worked out about 50p a bottle of wine for me!
just make sure everything, absolutely everything is sterilised and also dont be tempted to keep opening and smell/tasting mid brew, you want as little air to get in as possible.
captainsmelly
20-01-09, 01:25 PM
A mate makes a lot of cider, tastes a lot like rotten urine tbh.
jimmy__riddle
20-01-09, 01:27 PM
it will only taste bad if done badly
you get out what you put in.
but being a chemist helps!
Ceri JC
20-01-09, 01:35 PM
but being a chemist helps!
Yes, there appears to be a definate correlation between chemists and homebrew. :D
Dappa D
20-01-09, 01:35 PM
, and worked out about 50p a bottle of wine for me!
id save a fortune with my mrs!:cheers:
jimmy__riddle
20-01-09, 01:43 PM
Yes, there appears to be a definate correlation between chemists and homebrew. :D
haha, used to following precedures to the letter and working with sterile inert environments.
Cooking and stuff like that is chemistry anyway!
Dave20046
20-01-09, 01:52 PM
im getting my first wine home brew kit today, iv seen alot about the latest kits and there meant to be quite good now , im going to get a coopers microbrew kit next with does larger , bitter , cider. any one else do it and got any tips
I really want to get into it but I can't afford the beer belly at the moment :(
Bluepete
20-01-09, 01:53 PM
I've just had a look around t'interweb and that Coopers kit does look good! My Grandpa used to turn just about everything into beer or wine. Tips to his house became a real test of your stomachs ability to cope!
I may be tempted by that kit myself.....
Pete
Used to do it, got bored. Easier (and arguably cheaper when you've factored everything in) to buy a crate of Pedigree from the local Majestic and be done with it.
gettin2dizzy
20-01-09, 04:11 PM
Yup! Send any questions my way. Was making (and drinking) a batch a week before I came over here :thumbsup: All from kits though, my first venture in to ingredients will be very soon ;)
http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=114120&highlight=homebrew
Got given a bottle of Carrot wine once...
"See what you think of this"
They said enthusiastically...
:smt078
DarrenSV650S
20-01-09, 09:01 PM
If someone makes some cider can I get a tester please :smt030
jans1971
21-01-09, 06:18 PM
this is how easy the coopers microbrew kit is and its everything you need for about £65 and then about £10 for the next brew.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NWRlzl_bv84
gettin2dizzy
21-01-09, 06:23 PM
Woah. £65?! You can do it for £25! What the hell is in the kit? (no-can-do youtube I'm afraid).
Sounds a bit steep.
All you need is a fermenting bin, some sterilising powder, a funnel and a load of 2-litre fizzy drink bottles (19p each full of fizzy water at Asda last time I did it). Total setup cost: about a tenner. Then get a beer kit and a bag of glucose (15 quid or so) and you're away.
I can recommend these guys, their shop in Farnborough is an aladdin's cave of brewing gear and they deal online: http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/
Only other thing that's useful is a very large (10 litre) stockpot for boiling up the wort. It's a right PITA with smaller vessels.
jans1971
21-01-09, 08:54 PM
Sounds a bit steep.
All you need is a fermenting bin, some sterilising powder, a funnel and a load of 2-litre fizzy drink bottles (19p each full of fizzy water at Asda last time I did it). Total setup cost: about a tenner. Then get a beer kit and a bag of glucose (15 quid or so) and you're away.
I can recommend these guys, their shop in Farnborough is an aladdin's cave of brewing gear and they deal online: http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/
Only other thing that's useful is a very large (10 litre) stockpot for boiling up the wort. It's a right PITA with smaller vessels.
Only other thing that's useful is a very large (10 litre) stockpot for boiling up the wort. ??????????????????????????
gettin2dizzy
21-01-09, 08:59 PM
Ignore it if you're using kits. You don't need it at all ;)
Ignore it if you're using kits. You don't need it at all ;)
Even with a kit, you still generally need to bring the wort up to temperature, then put it in the fermenting bin with cold water.
gettin2dizzy
21-01-09, 11:35 PM
Even with a kit, you still generally need to bring the wort up to temperature, then put it in the fermenting bin with cold water.
Ah yeah. I tend to put the tin in boiling water first as it softens it up, then add a little hot water to dissolve it, and then top up with cold.
Bluepete
12-03-09, 04:22 PM
So today, I finally bit the bullet and have made some beer! I went to The Dunham Massey Brewery (http://www.dunhammasseybrewing.co.uk/) and spent a day with John, learning about making proper beer. He's a very, very helpfull and friendly bloke, happy to teach a novice the basics. I went away with a shopping list of equipment as follows.
Burco tea urn - Really! it's for boiling the wort
Two 25 litre barrels
Microbore copper pipe - for a cooling coil, I already had plenty 'cos I'm a plumber
Hydrometer
Irish Moss - which is seaweed for clearing the beer
Digital thermometer - Maplins
I bought the Hydrometer and Moss from a brew shop, made the cooling coil myself and the tea urn from a local school for free! It was being chucked out and I happened to be passing. Lucky 'cos they go for £30 on Ebay.
The Malt and hops came from John at the brewery as well as some lovely fresh yeast. (see here (http://www.tuckersmaltings.co.uk/) if you don't know what malt is) He also worked out the recipe I used based on my favourite beer he brews.
The method is simple and a real bit of hands on fun. One barrel has hundreds of 2mm holes drilled in the base and that sits inside the other barrel. The Malt goes in with 2.5 times it's own volume of water at 65 celsius and left for an hour. It's wrapped in insulation to maintain the temp.
Mine looked like this;
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/DSC_0003-1.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/DSC_0002-1.jpg
After the hour, the Wort is drained into the Tea Urn and enough water at 77 celsius washed through the malt to make up 25 litres. (I only have an 18 litre urn, but luckilly, my biggest pan is 8 litres so I used that too)
This is then boiled for an hour with 60 grammes of Fuggles hops in. Another 40 grammes is added at 50 minutes. The first lot if to give the bitter taste, the second is to give a good aroma. The Irish moss goes in too.
Looks like this;
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/DSC_0005-1.jpg
The used malt'n'hops is often used as cattle feed, but I'm using it as a mulch on the veg patch (which was a flower bed until a few weeks ago) and I don't have any cows!
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/DSC_0004.jpg
The hopped wort is then cooled with the microbore coil to 20 celsius and the yeast added.
It's now sitting quietly with a seed propergator under it to keep it at around 20 celsius where it will stay for three days. On Saturday, I'll scoop some yeast off the top for the next brew, bottle it on Sunday and leave it for one or two weeks.
If it went well, I should have a pale, golden summer style beer, much like an IPA (http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=180676) at around 4.6%.
Now, who fancys a BBQ and a pint?
Pete the plumber ;)
timwilky
12-03-09, 04:35 PM
Pete put me down for the tasting. I will brutally honest with my opinion and if any good, leave you with empty bottles for your next brew;)
Good luck with it mate, Ive done wine a few times and its too know you produced it yourself.
yorkie_chris
12-03-09, 06:49 PM
I've done it from kits before, it's worth getting decent all-malt kits IMO.
gettin2dizzy
12-03-09, 07:06 PM
I blew up 15 litres worth at the weekend! Glass bloody everywhere!
Think i need to drink less whilst bottling in future :lol:
yorkie_chris
12-03-09, 07:10 PM
What causes the explosions? Adding too much sugar for secondary ferment? Or is it just something that happens occasionally?
gettin2dizzy
12-03-09, 07:28 PM
What causes the explosions? Adding too much sugar for secondary ferment? Or is it just something that happens occasionally?
Both! I didn't consciously add extra sugar when priming them, but I'd imagine I arsed up somewhere down the line. Never had it happen to me before :( But judging by the destruction - I don't want to be anywhere frickin' near to any exploding bottles!
I had that happen when I was doing the secondary fermentation the only place I could think of that was always around 20 degrees: under my desk in the office.
Oops.
jimmy__riddle
12-03-09, 10:06 PM
haha, they can go with quite a bang!
usually due to too much sugar added for secondary fermentation or incorrect specific gravity measurement leading to excess sugar when bottled. same effect different reasons.
keith_d
12-03-09, 11:35 PM
Years ago when lemonade came in glass bottles a mate and I made some homebrew sparkling wine. We added a spot of sugar and screwed the lids on tight and left them to ferment.
His exploded in the middle of the night, mine built up so much pressure the lid domed out completely and couldn't be unscrewed. Eventually I used a centre punch to make a hole and let the pressure out. When it finished spraying everything in sight I was left with an inch of nasty yeasty mess in the bottom of the bottle.
Motto of this tale - measure the SG when you bottle it, don't just add half a teaspoon of sugar and hope.
Keith.
While we're on the subject of booze spraying everywhere...
A few years ago my gf of the time had a thing for Laurent Perrier pink champagne. So I bought her a few bottles and to fast-chill one, she popped it in the freezer. And promptly forgot about it. For a couple of weeks.
Those bottles are tough. Really tough. Despite all the gas coming out of solution, and the liquid expanding as it solidified, both the glass bottle and the cork held fast. Until I found it in the freezer, took it out and wondered what'd happen if I opened it.
Gingerly I untwisted the wire retainer and started to ease the cork out. Nothing, nothing, nothing, WHOOOOOOOOOOSH! A five foot high jet of what can only be described as pink champagne slush puppy shooting out of the bottle, ricocheting off the ceiling and drenching everything in sight.
All I really remember is the smell. Champagne does honk rather, especially when you're covered in the sodding stuff.
Ugh.
gettin2dizzy
22-03-09, 10:56 PM
Pete,
How is that batch going? I'm going to pick up some ingredients for my first non-kit brew tomorrow, I'll try that brewery you mentioned. Bloody complicated stuff. I bought a book and all the measurements are in US gallons - dammit!
Bluepete
23-03-09, 07:48 AM
I'll tell you tomorow! Should be ready by then.
Pete
gettin2dizzy
26-03-09, 01:02 PM
http://www.bumpmag.com.au/images/bump_cover2.gif
Bluepete
26-03-09, 01:14 PM
Ok ok! I'll take the hint.
In all honesty, it's a bitter dissapointment. There is not enough flavour and the secondary fermentation was poor, so the beer is a bit flat.
Having said that, it's my first ever attempt, the materials only cost £7 and I have learned a lot. The next batch will be brewed very soon, much more dark malt to be used and prime the bottles with sugar instead of relying on the sugars left in the wort.
Have you been to Dunham yet?
Pete
jimmy__riddle
26-03-09, 01:15 PM
Ok ok! I'll take the hint.
In all honesty, it's a bitter dissapointment. There is not enough flavour and the secondary fermentation was poor, so the beer is a bit flat.
Having said that, it's my first ever attempt, the materials only cost £7 and I have learned a lot. The next batch will be brewed very soon, much more dark malt to be used and prime the bottles with sugar instead of relying on the sugars left in the wort.
Have you been to Dunham yet?
Pete
that the thing with homebrew, once you get it right you can beat it!
gettin2dizzy
26-03-09, 01:29 PM
Ok ok! I'll take the hint.
In all honesty, it's a bitter dissapointment. There is not enough flavour and the secondary fermentation was poor, so the beer is a bit flat.
Having said that, it's my first ever attempt, the materials only cost £7 and I have learned a lot. The next batch will be brewed very soon, much more dark malt to be used and prime the bottles with sugar instead of relying on the sugars left in the wort.
Have you been to Dunham yet?
Pete
Bummer! Ah well. Without the little hiccups it wouldn't make the success quite what they are. I bought 'how to brew' the other day. Great book, but all the measurements are american (fathoms & dubloons) :rolleyes:
Going next week I think as the girlfriend is coming up. I'm also going to Hydes in April (I think) for a tour.
timwilky
26-03-09, 01:31 PM
Ok ok! I'll take the hint.
In all honesty, it's a bitter dissapointment. There is not enough flavour and the secondary fermentation was poor, so the beer is a bit flat.
Having said that, it's my first ever attempt, the materials only cost £7 and I have learned a lot. The next batch will be brewed very soon, much more dark malt to be used and prime the bottles with sugar instead of relying on the sugars left in the wort.
Have you been to Dunham yet?
Pete
Well practice makes perfect. Get it right and host a tasting (read session).
Bluepete
26-03-09, 01:31 PM
I want free beer
Yes Grandad!
yorkie_chris
26-03-09, 01:44 PM
Have you done homebrew from a kit before or did you get stuck right into the deep end?
Bluepete
26-03-09, 01:46 PM
Both feet, straight in!
I know kits are easy, but that's not what I wanted. It's as much about the process as the result for me.
Pete
gettin2dizzy
26-03-09, 01:51 PM
Both feet, straight in!
I know kits are easy, but that's not what I wanted. It's as much about the process as the result for me.
Pete
Kits are good for making sure you know how to brew & bottle well. Mind you, I've made loads of kits and still get it wrong sometimes!
There's a middle ground, a half-kit if you like. That might be a good place to start.
yorkie_chris
26-03-09, 01:55 PM
Still sounds pretty drinkable anyway...
timwilky
26-03-09, 02:13 PM
I want free beer
Yes Grandad!
Am I so transparent? I was offering to give an impartial appraisal on your home brewery and the skills you have learned from your one day masterclass.
Free beer is only fair as you get it wrong, I spend a week weeing out my bum.
I'm loving this thread. V inspiring. Been reading "Brew classic european beers at home" and now thinking about buying some hops (to grow)...
Bluepete
27-03-09, 07:44 AM
Sarah, I bought one from here; http://www.aplus-hops.co.uk/ Don't forget, they can reach five meters and more!
Pete
Sarah, I bought one from here; http://www.aplus-hops.co.uk/ Don't forget, they can reach five meters and more!
Pete
I've been having a look there too :-D
I already have an ornamental hop in the back garden and that gets pretty huge so I know roughly what to expect. Thinking that it would look nice growing up the front of the house.
gettin2dizzy
27-03-09, 01:26 PM
I'm loving this thread. V inspiring. Been reading "Brew classic european beers at home" and now thinking about buying some hops (to grow)...
Oh dear... i think you've really got the wrong end of the stick ;)
As a derail, spent 3 nights till 3am in George Begg. Argh. Need sleep....:smt103 ... or beer.
jamesterror
27-03-09, 01:37 PM
friend has just done some home brewing, really nice.
He already had a barrell but bought the brewing kit from Boots and some stuff from a Health Shop.
Worked out about £12.70 for 40 pints (approx)
As a derail, spent 3 nights till 3am in George Begg. Argh. Need sleep....:smt103 ... or beer.
Those were the days...
xXBADGERXx
28-03-09, 06:30 AM
As a derail, spent 3 nights till 3am in George Begg. Argh. Need sleep....:smt103 ... or beer.
Lucky George .
My old man used to make Home Brew years ago and after many many attempts it just wasn`t that great . I gave it a go when I was 16 (under his advice) and produced a beer for the end of our school leaving bash . The party was held in a massive field in some farm buildings at a friends gaff . I had decided to add loads of sugar as I remember that advert "where all the sugar turns to alcohol" ....... I now realise that meant all the sugar they put in , NOT , put Shat loads of sugar in it :( . Anyhoo , by luck it was actually drinkable and we transported it to the farm where it had been jostled about in the back of a Subaru Forester . My mates mum was a bit of a lush and wanted to try it , "be my guest/guinea pig" I thought to myself
She fetched herself a pint glass and placed it under the tap and opened it ......... I will never forget this LOL , it jetted out like a firemans hose , pinned the pint glass to the floor and I was surrounded by people yelling "Turn it off , turn it off" , there was foam everywhere . The glass was picked up and the bottom fell out of it in an almost perfect circle . A couple of hours later , the phone lines had died down with talk of an aggresive Beer that has the potential to blow an arm off when pouring , and my mates mum tried it again . The Dark Malty death slithered down the edge of the glass like the Black Plague coming to town , in the background I was sure I could hear somebody playing the "Jaws" tune on a Cello . The glass was offered to her lips and she took a sip , then another and proclaimed "I think it`s not bad" .... that`s all we needed to hear .
The brew was named "Badger Brew" and was absolutely Gurn-Worthy when you drank it , like your lower teeth in your forehead type gurning , but it was consumed and garnered a legendary status amongst those that drank it . Some people congratulated me for making something that set socks on fire , blew sheep out of fields and made hair fall out of your eyebrows ...... I myself wouldn`t go near it as I knew that these things can sometimes turn on their masters .
A couple of days later , some stories came back , one lad was found wandering the wilderness , very severely lost after drinking it and another had to be rescued from his bedroom window ....... he had one leg out , the other leg was just about inside , clamping him to the window sill , one arm holding on for dear life and he was screaming that he was going to fall to his death , his mum came outside and told him off and pushed him back inside and told him to stop being a "silly Twt" ....... he lived in a Bungalow but still swears to this day it was a life ending fall of thousands of feet ...... I`ve been past the Bungalow , it`s more like 4 feet .
Rumour has it there is still a bottle in existance , I hope it doesn`t hunt me down , I lay awake at night thinking about it .
gettin2dizzy
28-03-09, 09:02 AM
I can give you 40 reasons why homebrew is ace ;)
gettin2dizzy
28-03-09, 09:03 AM
Those were the days...
Yeah, it's taking a little adjusting to, after almost 2 years away! I don't even get paid for it, in fact, I need to pay! What's that all about! :rolleyes:
yorkie_chris
28-03-09, 11:08 AM
Epic post
:smt003:smt044:smt044
I just tried to order some hops (from aplus) and the payment part on the website didn' t work :-(
Seggons
28-03-09, 05:38 PM
xXBADGERXx my friend, another of your truly great posts. :mrgreen:
Bluepete
29-04-09, 07:49 PM
Hallelujah!
Beer making works!
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/Beer.jpg
I stuck to the same recipe, ironed out some faults in my process and now have 25 litres of very good, clear, bright and tasty beer! I love it when a plan comes together.
Pete
Bluepete
29-04-09, 08:50 PM
Go get a glass Sarah, the beer's just outside by the garage door.
Pull up a chair.
Relax.
Pete
gettin2dizzy
29-04-09, 09:17 PM
Good work :thumbsup: Done a stout and an ale since this thread. Guinness at 20p a pint.... perfect! :D
Good work :thumbsup: Done a stout and an ale since this thread. Guinness at 20p a pint.... perfect! :D
Since this thread I've bought 3 bare-root hops and planted them. They are currently slowly coming to life.
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.