Be Excellent To Each Other

And, you know, party on. Dude.

All times are UTC [ DST ]




Reply to topic  [ 569 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 12  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 23:19 

Joined: 30th Mar, 2008
Posts: 5318
Yeah, so I like ales and want to brew my own to save on cns and recycling and money and shit.

Must involve not too much of any of the following:

Space
Cost
Effort*

although time is fine. They do kits and such in Wilkinsons which claim I can make generic beer in a few weeks from a big pot of mixture and some H2O. I suspect shenanagins, but who knows? Maybe you do, in which case would you be good enough to tell me?


*Especially effort. I want to buy the stuff, set it up and drink it eventually. A degree of intermediate faff is acceptable but on so much I can't be arsed with it.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 23:23 
User avatar

Joined: 27th Mar, 2008
Posts: 25549
My Nan used to brew beer from one of those kits. I was too young to taste it but it looked disgusting.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 23:37 
User avatar
BETEO voice of unreason

Joined: 27th Mar, 2008
Posts: 332
Location: Beeston, Nottm
Some friends used to brew while I was at Uni - it looked dead easy, and tasted fine. Don't know any more details than that though.

_________________
If three and four were seven only, where would that leave one and two?

Townes.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 23:57 
Irresponsible member

Joined: 31st Mar, 2008
Posts: 225
Location: Northampton
My dad and my sister brewed some beer after I moved out. When I went back I had some. It tasted like red fizzy wine. They were so proud that I drank a pint then claimed I had work in the morning. I told them it was nice.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:53 
User avatar
INFINITE POWAH

Joined: 1st Apr, 2008
Posts: 30498
Brewing the ready made stuff in bags or whatever is easy, but it never tastes exactly brilliant. Ok, but not great. But then it works out at 25p a pint or something so who cares.

There's a fair amount of choice out there. There's the stuff that's all pre mixed in a bag with a tap on it, that you just pour water into, leave for a few weeks and then drink. Then there's packets of mixed malt/barley/yeast etc that you need a brewing barrel for, which you just add water to. Or you buy different bits and bobs, mix them together and chuck them in a barrel with some water.

There's even a special oojamaflip that you use to work out the specific gravity of the beer so you can tell when it's finished brewing.

My dad brews his own, and can rustle together pretty good copies of commercial ales. However, he does it with proper hops he's grown himself and yeast he's knitted from scratch out of random molecules and such like, so that's a bit more time, space and labour intensive. However, his stuff is quite fantastic, and better than a lot of commercial ones.

If you're short on space and time, you want to avoid anything that involves having to bottle the stuff - that takes aaaages. The sterilisation, then the filling, then the capping. Couple of days work for a barrel of the stuff. But then you can't really beat the home brew that's part brewed in the bottle.

But if you don't have the space for that sort of thing, and you're not buying the cheapy bagged stuff, get a brewing barrel that has a tap on it, and Robert's your mum's brother.

Best advice is to find a home brew shop - there are a surprising number of them around, and are usually run by excellently beardy be-slippered pipe smoking CAMRA members who will be very happy to give you some advice.

_________________
http://www.thehomeofawesome.com/
Eagles soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:45 
User avatar
Ticket to Ride World Champion

Joined: 18th Apr, 2008
Posts: 11843
I do this, it doesn't actually take up a huge amount of space. you need a brewing bucket and some bottles, but old coke bottles are just as good as glass ones. I prefer glass ones as I like to vary strength and flavours in the bottles, and you get more types if you use 1pint bottles, but coke bottles take up far less space and are cheaper.
You have to make sure everything is REALLY clean, otherwise it will fail.

Some Wilkinsons sell Woodforde Wherry kit, this is the one I tend to use as it is a nice round flavour and damn simple to make, you don't even need any sugar for the primary fermentation.

A basic kit would cost you less than £40 if you shop around. This will get you about 40 pints. And then you will have the bucket and such for any further brews.

_________________
No, it was a giant robot castle!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sat May 31, 2008 10:58 
User avatar
UltraMod

Joined: 27th Mar, 2008
Posts: 55715
Location: California
Bobby: Curio is bringing me to your house next time I'm in London!

_________________
I am currently under construction.
Thank you for your patience.


Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sat May 31, 2008 11:14 
SupaMod
User avatar
Commander-in-Cheese

Joined: 30th Mar, 2008
Posts: 49232
*Sells Curio some land mines*

_________________
GoddessJasmine wrote:
Drunk, pulled Craster's pork, waiting for brdyime story,reading nuts. Xz


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:35 
User avatar
Sitting balls-back folder

Joined: 30th Mar, 2008
Posts: 10065
My sister got me a kit-thing - a plastic sphere with valve/pump, then replacement sub-kits include the mix and a disposable bag; mount the bag in the sphere, pour in the mix and water, fit the lock/valve/pump thing, leave for some weeks.

The only time I've used it I fucked up the water content and got very flat, very stout stout. I've not gotten round to using it again yet. No idea where it is (my girlfriend tidied) or what it's called.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 14:44 
User avatar

Joined: 12th Apr, 2008
Posts: 17757
Location: Oxford
Just mixed up my first ever batch! It's now sitting in a barrel fermenting.

Some things I'll have to improve on when it comes to doing Batch 2:

- If using a canned kit, be sure to have an opener that doesn't jam.
- There's probably a better way to sanitise the bucket than swirling it around outside soaking myself with the concoction.
- Did I stir it enough?
- Did I sanitise everything?

Looking forward to the results, and even if it becomes undrinkable, at least I'll know what to do for the next one.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 14:57 
User avatar

Joined: 27th Mar, 2008
Posts: 25549
I have some ale to brew soon. But we never had any bottles and I thought it made more sense to buy and drink our way through 30 ales to later sterilise the bottles than to buy empty bottles.

Empty bottles rank 0 on the 0-1 fun scale.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 16:11 
User avatar

Joined: 12th Apr, 2008
Posts: 17757
Location: Oxford
I used about 12 bottles of Sainsbury's basic water to fill the barrel up, and I hope to use the 2L containers for the finished result.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 16:58 
User avatar
Ticket to Ride World Champion

Joined: 18th Apr, 2008
Posts: 11843
Are they proper pressure bottles, like coke bottles?

_________________
No, it was a giant robot castle!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 17:15 
User avatar

Joined: 12th Apr, 2008
Posts: 17757
Location: Oxford
Bobbyaro wrote:
Are they proper pressure bottles, like coke bottles?


Hmm... good point. I probably don't want them exploding over the kitchen if they can't take the pressure.

Might start saving those normal beer bottles!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 21:33 
User avatar
Ticket to Ride World Champion

Joined: 18th Apr, 2008
Posts: 11843
If they are shaped like coke bottles, they should be okay, if they are those wide neck water bottles, they probably won't be.

_________________
No, it was a giant robot castle!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 21:50 
User avatar
Gogmagog

Joined: 30th Mar, 2008
Posts: 48607
Location: Cheshire
The two litre water bottles I used worked well and sediment collected in the dimpled bottom.

_________________
Mr Chris wrote:
MaliA isn't just the best thing on the internet - he's the best thing ever.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 22:08 
Excellent Member

Joined: 5th Dec, 2010
Posts: 3353
I’ve been thinking for a while of making my own hard stuff

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Complete-2-Ga ... 3a7f52862b

Crazy amount of equipment on EBay. The amount of stupid rules that exist around the coin mech of a slot machine when sold on EBay, compared with freely available equipment to make illegal hard liquor surprised me.

Was planning to get one and put it to use in June, I have this month off as our first baby arrives so thought I would be able to keep an eye on the still temperature each day etc.

In the end I was put off by tales of this stuff making you blind or worse, also you need to be very careful with what you brew and do an don’t drink as well as testing the ABV all the time. All of this and the fact I should really be helping my wife with our first child put me off in the end.

At no point did the fact its illegal bother me at all :p


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 9:53 
User avatar

Joined: 12th Apr, 2008
Posts: 17757
Location: Oxford
Kitchen smelt suitably brewery-like this morning. Not sure leaving my washing on the clotheshorse in the same room was a wise move though.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 13:50 
User avatar
Heavy Metal Tough Guy

Joined: 31st Mar, 2008
Posts: 6496
BikNorton wrote:
My sister got me a kit-thing - a plastic sphere with valve/pump, then replacement sub-kits include the mix and a disposable bag; mount the bag in the sphere, pour in the mix and water, fit the lock/valve/pump thing, leave for some weeks.

The only time I've used it I fucked up the water content and got very flat, very stout stout. I've not gotten round to using it again yet. No idea where it is (my girlfriend tidied) or what it's called.

Is it a "BrewZer" microbrew kit? I had one, but they sadly seem to have discontinued them and I can't find the refills :(

However, my home made mead is bubbling along like something awesome. Also, ginger and chilli wine will soon be ready for bottling!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 13:57 
User avatar
Unpossible!

Joined: 27th Jun, 2008
Posts: 38439
My Dad used to make mead. It was luverly :)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 14:12 
User avatar
Heavy Metal Tough Guy

Joined: 31st Mar, 2008
Posts: 6496
If mine works the next step is metheglin - lovely, spicy honey wine!

Or, if I'm lazy, wine made from Aldi tinned peaches.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 16:35 
User avatar
Hibernating Druid

Joined: 27th Mar, 2008
Posts: 49104
Location: Standing on your mother's Porsche
Squirt wrote:
If mine works the next step is a meth lab.

_________________
SD&DG Illustrated! Behance Bleep Bloop

'Not without talent but dragged down by bass turgidity'


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 18:23 
Awesome
User avatar
Yes

Joined: 6th Apr, 2008
Posts: 12240
Sterilising stuff ordered for old bottles.

Soooooon.

_________________
Always proof read carefully in case you any words out


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 20:09 
User avatar

Joined: 12th Apr, 2008
Posts: 17757
Location: Oxford
All bottled. Now more waiting.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 8:47 
User avatar
Sitting balls-back folder

Joined: 30th Mar, 2008
Posts: 10065
brewzer sounds familiar.

Our mate Dave uses supermarket-value-brand 2l fizzy water bottles for storage. Buys them when a brew is ready, tips the water down the drain, refills with beer. works out cheaper than sterilising and doesn't take up space when there isn't any beer.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 9:13 
User avatar

Joined: 12th Apr, 2008
Posts: 17757
Location: Oxford
I used the water in the bottles for the brew. Far less chalky than what comes out of Oxfordshire's taps.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 9:58 
User avatar
Heavy Metal Tough Guy

Joined: 31st Mar, 2008
Posts: 6496
My missus like root beer, so I'm tempted to try making some of that. Tracking down the ingredients might be tricky, however.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 13:21 
User avatar
ugvm'er at heart...

Joined: 4th Mar, 2010
Posts: 22256
Oooh, I might make Ginger Beer this weekend.

http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/c ... eer-recipe

Hugh seems to have an extremely simple recipe, so i'll give that a go.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 13:33 
User avatar
Ticket to Ride World Champion

Joined: 18th Apr, 2008
Posts: 11843
Mimi has made that in the past.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 13:37 
User avatar
ugvm'er at heart...

Joined: 4th Mar, 2010
Posts: 22256
...and the result was. Don't leave me hangin' man.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 17:09 
User avatar
Ticket to Ride World Champion

Joined: 18th Apr, 2008
Posts: 11843
Ask her!

_________________
No, it was a giant robot castle!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 12:06 
User avatar
ugvm'er at heart...

Joined: 4th Mar, 2010
Posts: 22256
Ginger beer is brewing!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 12:14 
User avatar

Joined: 27th Mar, 2008
Posts: 25549
Hehe,

It was very nice. Very simple to make, but I'd recommend two things:

Firstly, use champagne yeast instead of brewers yeast (brews the alcohol quicker and stronger and gives more sparkle) and (secondly) open the bottles in the bath/shower, as they can be a bit fizztastic.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:48 
User avatar
ugvm'er at heart...

Joined: 4th Mar, 2010
Posts: 22256
Original ginger beer recipe says wait for 48 hours and it is ready to drink. Comments to the recipe says wait for a week, and then decant it, add sugar and wait for another week.

I'm planning to decant tonight (beer was made saturday morning), add sugar and then drink it at the weekend. It'll be fine, won't it?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 13:39 
User avatar

Joined: 27th Mar, 2008
Posts: 25549
Nope. 48 hours is not enough time. You want about 10 days.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 13:39 
User avatar

Joined: 27th Mar, 2008
Posts: 25549
What recipe are you using?

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 14:04 
User avatar
ugvm'er at heart...

Joined: 4th Mar, 2010
Posts: 22256
This'un

#comments-top">http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/c ... mments-top


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 14:22 
User avatar
ugvm'er at heart...

Joined: 4th Mar, 2010
Posts: 22256
I'm not too bothered about alcohol content, but I do have two bottles on the go. I'll decant one tonight and leave t'other and compare and contrast in a week or so.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 16:22 
User avatar

Joined: 27th Mar, 2008
Posts: 25549
Yeah, I thought so. That's the one I started with. It will be slightly fizzy and very sugary. It does need longer than two days.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 16:48 
User avatar
ugvm'er at heart...

Joined: 4th Mar, 2010
Posts: 22256
It will have had 3 and a half days so far tonight. I'll decant it and add some sugar to get it fizzing and leave it for a few more days on one of the bottles. On the other bottle I'll let brew till the weekend, then fizz it for another week.

I shall report back.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 18:32 
User avatar
Sleepyhead

Joined: 30th Mar, 2008
Posts: 27343
Location: Kidbrooke
... and they never heard from him again.

_________________
We are young despite the years
We are concern
We are hope, despite the times


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 18:49 
User avatar
Level 6 Laser Lotus

Joined: 26th Aug, 2010
Posts: 2069
Curiosity wrote:
... and they never heard from him again.


haha are you suggesting he will get Ginger poisoning? Does that mean we could end up with 2 Crasters?

_________________
Shin: a device for finding furniture in the dark

If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 19:13 
SupaMod
User avatar
Commander-in-Cheese

Joined: 30th Mar, 2008
Posts: 49232
I'm not ginger!

_________________
GoddessJasmine wrote:
Drunk, pulled Craster's pork, waiting for brdyime story,reading nuts. Xz


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 19:16 
User avatar
Level 6 Laser Lotus

Joined: 26th Aug, 2010
Posts: 2069
Cras wrote:
I'm not ginger!


Are you sure?

Well some people seem to think I am female after the last mafia game so :shrug: it will all work out

_________________
Shin: a device for finding furniture in the dark

If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 19:20 
SupaMod
User avatar
Commander-in-Cheese

Joined: 30th Mar, 2008
Posts: 49232
Haha, yeah I spotted that.

_________________
GoddessJasmine wrote:
Drunk, pulled Craster's pork, waiting for brdyime story,reading nuts. Xz


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 19:45 
SupaMod
User avatar
Est. 1978

Joined: 27th Mar, 2008
Posts: 69502
Location: Your Mum
I may "brew" some Skittles vodka for the 3BQ.

_________________
Grim... wrote:
I wish Craster had left some girls for the rest of us.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 21:21 
SupaMod
User avatar
Commander-in-Cheese

Joined: 30th Mar, 2008
Posts: 49232
Party like it's 2007!

_________________
GoddessJasmine wrote:
Drunk, pulled Craster's pork, waiting for brdyime story,reading nuts. Xz


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2013 16:52 
User avatar

Joined: 12th Apr, 2008
Posts: 17757
Location: Oxford
Kern Beer v1.0

'Surprisingly Drinkable'

Attachment:
beer20130501.jpg


Not available in the shops


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2013 21:04 
User avatar
Ticket to Ride World Champion

Joined: 18th Apr, 2008
Posts: 11843
Did you add sugar to the bottles? that looks pretty flat to me. (doesn't mean it tastes bad).

_________________
No, it was a giant robot castle!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Homebrew-me-do
PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2013 21:30 
User avatar

Joined: 12th Apr, 2008
Posts: 17757
Location: Oxford
Bobbyaro wrote:
Did you add sugar to the bottles? that looks pretty flat to me. (doesn't mean it tastes bad).


Yeah, it's a bit flat. But, what the hell. It's drinkable, and tastes like beer, so I'm happy.

Things to I'll have to remember when bottling batch 2:

i) Use a funnel so the sugar mostly goes into the bottle and not onto the worktop

ii) Add the sugar after putting the beer in the bottle, not the other way round.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic  [ 569 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 12  Next

All times are UTC [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Columbo and 0 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search within this thread:
You are using the 'Ted' forum. Bill doesn't really exist any more. Bogus!
Want to help out with the hosting / advertising costs? That's very nice of you.
Are you on a mobile phone? Try http://beex.co.uk/m/
RIP, Owen. RIP, MrC.

Powered by a very Grim... version of phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group.