Home Brew

[Adam]

Does/has anyone done this before?

I really like the idea of making my own beer, and have been thinking about investing in a kit. I've seen one on Amazon for £65, and going from the reviews, it seems like it would do a job for me. However, there's another one with a CO2 injector, or something like that, for an extra £15. Is it worth spending more money on it? Will it produce a better quality of ale?

Obviously I don't expect the first couple of brews to be perfect, but given that you can get 40 pint kits for £15, I'll not be overly concerned if it's not as good as Brew Dog or any of the Williams' bros.

[Tryfield]

Home brew is lovely.

Gertting blootered oot the skull for pennies is just bang on.

I'm more of a wine chap myself, but home made ale is marvelous.

[Zen Archer (Raconteur)]

Does/has anyone done this before?

I really like the idea of making my own beer, and have been thinking about investing in a kit. I've seen one on Amazon for £65, and going from the reviews, it seems like it would do a job for me. However, there's another one with a CO2 injector, or something like that, for an extra £15. Is it worth spending more money on it? Will it produce a better quality of ale?

Obviously I don't expect the first couple of brews to be perfect, but given that you can get 40 pint kits for £15, I'll not be overly concerned if it's not as good as Brew Dog or any of the Williams' bros.

The CO2 injector is for the pressure barrel, which is where you siphon of your mash from the brewing bin.

Zen's top tip, kick start the brewing process with a quarter bottle of vodka.

I shouldn't admit that, but there you are.

[Adam]

The CO2 injector is for the pressure barrel, which is where you siphon of your mash from the brewing bin.

Zen's top tip, kick start the brewing process with a quarter bottle of vodka.

I shouldn't admit that, but there you are.

So is it worth spending a bit more for a CO2 thing in the brewing bin?

Have you done it for long? Do you find that the end product is not too different from what you would buy in a shop?

[lichtgilphead]

Forget getting a kit. Home brewed beer from a kit is never great in my experience.

Instead, try making alcoholic ginger beer. It's really simple to make, and really cheap.

Here's a link to the recipe I use

http://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A634664

[Zen Archer (Raconteur)]

So is it worth spending a bit more for a CO2 thing in the brewing bin?

Have you done it for long? Do you find that the end product is not too different from what you would buy in a shop?

There are far too many variables to make the product consistent, temperature being the main one.

It's been a long time since I've home brewed so I hope things have improved in that time, but in general you roll the dice with every brew due to the variables and very rarely does it compare with off the shelf products.

The bottom line is, you get pissed and despite how bad it is, you keep on getting pissed.

It's no different to making a bad meal, you resent throwing it out because it's a waste.

[Adam]

There are far too many variables to make the product consistent, temperature being the main one.

It's been a long time since I've home brewed so I hope things have improved in that time, but in general you roll the dice with every brew due to the variables and very rarely does it compare with off the shelf products.

The bottom line is, you get pissed and despite how bad it is, you keep on getting pissed.

It's no different to making a bad meal, you resent throwing it out because it's a waste.

Excellent, thanks! I've seen a few kits and a lot of the reviews say that the end product isn't that different from what you would pick up in the shops. Didn't realise that temperature was a factor, I was planning on doing it in my cellar, where it's quite cold. Might need to re-think where I'll store it...

[Zen Archer (Raconteur)]

Excellent, thanks! I've seen a few kits and a lot of the reviews say that the end product isn't that different from what you would pick up in the shops. Didn't realise that temperature was a factor, I was planning on doing it in my cellar, where it's quite cold. Might need to re-think where I'll store it...

I used to use a heater belt that attached to the mash bin, but was always afraid to use it in case it went on fire.

I'm sure technology has improved in the intervening time.

BTW, you say your cellar is quite cold, this is not good, your brew requires warmth to promote fermentation.

[WILLIEA]

There are far too many variables to make the product consistent, temperature being the main one.

It's been a long time since I've home brewed so I hope things have improved in that time, but in general you roll the dice with every brew due to the variables and very rarely does it compare with off the shelf products.

The bottom line is, you get pissed and despite how bad it is, you keep on getting pissed.

It's no different to making a bad meal, you resent throwing it out because it's a waste.

This post pretty much sums it up. Can be a bit of a lottery some good, some bad. All of it will do the job!

[jock001]

Where do you get the stuff to make fortified wines?

It's essentially grain alcholhol with some esters in to give it a fruit favour.

[tinkerbelle]

Steal you grannies electric blanket. Set your bin in your cellar with the blanket wrapped round it. It should then stay at a constant temperature with no outside variables.

Jobs a good un and Roberta is your transvestite uncle.

[Mark Connolly]

Zen's top tip, kick start the brewing process with a quarter bottle of vodka.

Is this used as an ingredient, or in a Keith Floyd style?

[Sergeant Wilson]

Where do you get the stuff to make fortified wines?

It's essentially grain alcholhol with some esters in to give it a fruit favour.

You've had enough already.

[DA Baracus]

My mate makes his own and it's decent, especially since it's so cheap. He keeps the stuff in a cupboard in the kitchen.

[dastardly77]

Forget getting a kit. Home brewed beer from a kit is never great in my experience.

Instead, try making alcoholic ginger beer. It's really simple to make, and really cheap.

Here's a link to the recipe I use

http://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A634664

Nice one, I've been getting into those ginger grouses recently so will give this a go.

What yeast do you recommend?

[K.T]

I've been really tempted to start making my own home brew but was unsure of the costs for equipment etc? I hear there's a really good shop in Kirkcaldy which specialises in home brewing though. May have to go check it out.

[lichtgilphead]

Nice one, I've been getting into those ginger grouses recently so will give this a go.

What yeast do you recommend?

There isn't a huge choice in Lochgilphead! I just get whatever is in stock at the local deli.

[)typically]

I tried it once but found that everything needs to be sterilised to prevent infecting the brew. This is fine for your fermenting bin but when you need 40 pint bottles to put it in once brewed it can be a pain in the arse.

I gave up on it, but if I was doing it again I would invest in a pressure barrel with the CO2 system. This is for storing the beer once brewed, not for fermenting in. The advantage is it keeps the beer fresh by preventing oxidation. The CO2 doesnt affect the beer. You can buy a plastic barrel that doesnt have the CO2 injector but once opened you need to drink the 40 pints in a few days otherwise it goes off.

With the pressure barrel there is a valve system that allows you to inject Co2 into the air space in the barrel and drive the air there out. This blanket of CO2 protects the beer. The problem is once you drink some, more air is drawn in and you need to repeat the Co2 process to remove said air.

Basically you need a fermenting bin to ferment ther beer, a syphon tube to syphon it off and then ideally the plastic CO2 barrel to store it in before and during drinking. Bear in mind that the beer neeeds to be stored for a month or more after fermenting in order to carbonate and condition. Also a hydrometer to measure the progress of the fermentation and calculate the ABV %age.

Fermentation takes around a week.

Lagers need to be fermented in colder temepratures (say 14-16 degrees C) if you are brewing in a centrally heated house then ales are the better option as they fement best at 18-20 degrees C.

Mine was a Bitter, it was OK but not great.

Below is a link to a how to guide for first time kit brewers. The instructions on the can apparently are over simplistic and dont get you the best results.

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=24822

Edited October 27, 2013 by DersMoretolifedandis

[Paranoid]

You should contact the Scottish Craft Brewers. I think they have a Website. Just do a search. They will give you all the info you require.

[Smurph]

I'm going to make some ginger beer over the next few weeks using that recipe. Sounds lovely and reckon it would be good during the winter months. I was planning on making my own ciders too but I'll start off with the ginger beer.