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Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:31 pm
by Openside
I have just entered the Village annual brewing competition for the first time.
Doog22 I shall be expecting you to design me a suitable(one that my friends can see) beer label for this mighty ale.
Anyone got any useful tips??
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:34 pm
by TB63
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:41 pm
by DOB
Openside wrote:
Anyone got any useful tips??
Just opened the first couple bottles of my 2nd ever batch. My panel of tasters (ie, herself's cousins in town for Thanksgiving) were pleased with it.
Keep everything spotlessly clean. There is no such thing as too clean.
Don't transport your beer anywhere from fermenting to bottling. You can mix up a lot of the sediment that way.
Follow instructions to the letter. Make sure you have all your ingredients lined up before you start.
Enjoy, it's fun and the results are rewarding.
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:41 pm
by Openside
TB63 wrote:
Mate I may need your help as one of the Entrees runs a pub chain - in fact this evening we are going to the opening of his latest venture which is a pub with a brewery in it!!
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:43 pm
by TB63
Openside wrote:TB63 wrote:
Mate I may need your help as one of the Entrees runs a pub chain - in fact this evening we are going to the opening of his latest venture which is a pub with a brewery in it!!
Now I'm all ears!..
Wouldn't be in Henley?..
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:45 pm
by Openside
TB63 wrote:Openside wrote:TB63 wrote:
Mate I may need your help as one of the Entrees runs a pub chain - in fact this evening we are going to the opening of his latest venture which is a pub with a brewery in it!!
Now I'm all ears!..
It is a really smart place I have supplied some of the kit and we are off for a supper (IC
)and grand opening tonight - the stainless steel vats are right next to the bar (behind a glass wall) I believe they were at one point hoping to draw it straight from the VAt???
I couldn't possibly comment!!
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:45 pm
by Azlan Roar
you'll be needing these,
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:47 pm
by TB63
Openside wrote:TB63 wrote:Openside wrote:TB63 wrote:
Mate I may need your help as one of the Entrees runs a pub chain - in fact this evening we are going to the opening of his latest venture which is a pub with a brewery in it!!
Now I'm all ears!..
It is a really smart place I have supplied some of the kit and we are off for a supper (IC
)and grand opening tonight - the stainless steel vats are right next to the bar (behind a glass wall) I believe they were at one point hoping to draw it straight from the VAt???
I couldn't possibly comment!!
If they use one of the vats as a conditioning tank and add aux finings to it, it'll be conditioned beer..
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:50 pm
by Openside
TB63 wrote:Openside wrote:TB63 wrote:Openside wrote:TB63 wrote:
Mate I may need your help as one of the Entrees runs a pub chain - in fact this evening we are going to the opening of his latest venture which is a pub with a brewery in it!!
Now I'm all ears!..
It is a really smart place I have supplied some of the kit and we are off for a supper (IC
)and grand opening tonight - the stainless steel vats are right next to the bar (behind a glass wall) I believe they were at one point hoping to draw it straight from the VAt???
I couldn't possibly comment!!
If they use one of the vats as a conditioning tank and add aux finings to it, it'll be conditioned beer..
Not sure what that means but they are not doing it now.
Do you know the outfit then??
can you give me some advice on what to get??
Can I get it from you??
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:52 pm
by Womack
OS,
Didn't you do this thread a couple of years ago?
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:55 pm
by Openside
Womack wrote:OS,
Didn't you do this thread a couple of years ago?
POssibly but I never ended up entering - I am now signed up this year
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:56 pm
by TB63
I can supply you with everything to brew, including the vats etc as we don't use the small ones anymore..
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 6:31 pm
by Openside
TB63 wrote:I can supply you with everything to brew, including the vats etc as we don't use the small ones anymore..
Perfect and I shall put in a good word over supper this evening.
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 6:42 pm
by happyhooker
or, in the finest english (ok, faux-scots) tradition you could just cheat.
my mate who used to work for redemption has just set up on his own - he'll knock you out a few dozen bottles i'm sure!!!
this pub/brewery thing is really going through the roof atmo - there's at least 6 opened/ing up near me in the last year or so
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 7:21 am
by indomite
To answer the OP: the poor.
The best beer is made by professionals not amateurs.
As to cleanliness: if conditions were truly pristine = no bubbles.
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 7:57 am
by RuggaBugga
indomite wrote:To answer the OP: the poor.
The best beer is made by professionals not amateurs.
As to cleanliness: if conditions were truly pristine = no bubbles.
Bubbles are cause by nucleation on the surface imperfections of the vessel.
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:09 am
by Brumbie_Steve
A good tip is to not put extra sugar in the bottle thinking that will make it stronger.
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:18 am
by Thomas
You need to "Attn: Freewhelan"
Although what he does is more craft brewing than home brewing.
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:19 am
by colonel
How some you're orange OS?
Tell me you're not a mod!
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:30 am
by merlin the happy pig
Openside wrote:I have just entered the Village annual brewing competition for the first time.
Doog22 I shall be expecting you to design me a suitable(one that my friends can see) beer label for this mighty ale.
Anyone got any useful tips??
Racking and fining are very important if you don't want excessive yeastiness and/or cloudiness.
There will always be enough viable yeast cells to get the secondary ferment going, so a second racking after another few days settling can help.
Do Not try to make too alcoholic a brew if you are a beginner, because the ferment may slow down t the point where you think it is already 'dry', but still has some residual sugar. The result will be too much sugar for the secondary (bottle) ferment, too much pressure and exploding bottles.
If they don't explode then when they are opened the excess gas will lift the yeast off the bottom and cause a cloudy, yeasty pour.
Lastly, have lots of fun, share with your mates and if they don't appreciate your efforts tell them to fudge themselves.
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:22 am
by Openside
indomite wrote:To answer the OP: the poor.
The best beer is made by professionals not amateurs.
As to cleanliness: if conditions were truly pristine = no bubbles.
Well they may well do and good luck to them if they do - There are 10 of us in the village doing it and then there is a big evening in February at last years winners house for the judging and generally a damn good piss up. But is you want to go through life like a Harry Potter dementor sucking the joy out of everything be my guest.
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:22 am
by Openside
merlin the happy pig wrote:Openside wrote:I have just entered the Village annual brewing competition for the first time.
Doog22 I shall be expecting you to design me a suitable(one that my friends can see) beer label for this mighty ale.
Anyone got any useful tips??
Racking and fining are very important if you don't want excessive yeastiness and/or cloudiness.
There will always be enough viable yeast cells to get the secondary ferment going, so a second racking after another few days settling can help.
Do Not try to make too alcoholic a brew if you are a beginner, because the ferment may slow down t the point where you think it is already 'dry', but still has some residual sugar. The result will be too much sugar for the secondary (bottle) ferment, too much pressure and exploding bottles.
If they don't explode then when they are opened the excess gas will lift the yeast off the bottom and cause a cloudy, yeasty pour.
Lastly, have lots of fun, share with your mates and if they don't appreciate your efforts tell them to fudge themselves.
Thanks for all the advice - What is racking?
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:16 am
by TB63
Openside wrote:merlin the happy pig wrote:Openside wrote:I have just entered the Village annual brewing competition for the first time.
Doog22 I shall be expecting you to design me a suitable(one that my friends can see) beer label for this mighty ale.
Anyone got any useful tips??
Racking and fining are very important if you don't want excessive yeastiness and/or cloudiness.
There will always be enough viable yeast cells to get the secondary ferment going, so a second racking after another few days settling can help.
Do Not try to make too alcoholic a brew if you are a beginner, because the ferment may slow down t the point where you think it is already 'dry', but still has some residual sugar. The result will be too much sugar for the secondary (bottle) ferment, too much pressure and exploding bottles.
If they don't explode then when they are opened the excess gas will lift the yeast off the bottom and cause a cloudy, yeasty pour.
Lastly, have lots of fun, share with your mates and if they don't appreciate your efforts tell them to fudge themselves.
Thanks for all the advice -
What is racking?
Checking out a burds chesticles..
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:16 am
by Freddie Forearm
There's quite a bit of useful advice on here
http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/forum/index.php
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:18 am
by Cthulu's Trilby
Does one need to get hold of a lot of expensive copper pots and whatnot?
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:20 am
by Openside
TB63 wrote:Openside wrote:merlin the happy pig wrote:Openside wrote:I have just entered the Village annual brewing competition for the first time.
Doog22 I shall be expecting you to design me a suitable(one that my friends can see) beer label for this mighty ale.
Anyone got any useful tips??
Racking and fining are very important if you don't want excessive yeastiness and/or cloudiness.
There will always be enough viable yeast cells to get the secondary ferment going, so a second racking after another few days settling can help.
Do Not try to make too alcoholic a brew if you are a beginner, because the ferment may slow down t the point where you think it is already 'dry', but still has some residual sugar. The result will be too much sugar for the secondary (bottle) ferment, too much pressure and exploding bottles.
If they don't explode then when they are opened the excess gas will lift the yeast off the bottom and cause a cloudy, yeasty pour.
Lastly, have lots of fun, share with your mates and if they don't appreciate your efforts tell them to fudge themselves.
Thanks for all the advice -
What is racking?
Checking out a burds chesticles..
Which pub is it you supply (as there are two in Cambridge) he hadn't heard of your brewery I am assuming I got the right name??
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:23 am
by Freddie Forearm
Cthulu's Trilby wrote:Does one need to get hold of a lot of expensive copper pots and whatnot?
No, you can make your own mash tun from a picnic cooler and some copper tube, and the boiler from a decent size bucket with a couple of tesco value kettle elements!
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:24 am
by TB63
The Mill in Cambridge..
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:28 am
by Openside
TB63 wrote:The Mill in Cambridge..
Is that the tied one??
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:28 am
by Sandstorm
Openside wrote:
one of the Entrees runs a pub chain
Who's your main course tonight? The bloke who manages the garden centre?
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:29 am
by Openside
Sandstorm wrote:Openside wrote:
one of the Entrees runs a pub chain
Who's your main course tonight? The bloke who manages the garden centre?
Tres amusant
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:29 am
by Cthulu's Trilby
Freddie Forearm wrote:Cthulu's Trilby wrote:Does one need to get hold of a lot of expensive copper pots and whatnot?
No, you can make your own mash tun from a picnic cooler and some copper tube, and the boiler from a decent size bucket with a couple of tesco value kettle elements!
Excellent. So all that remains is the simple cost/benefit analysis of burning the house down and electrocuting the cat.
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:32 am
by Freddie Forearm
The kettle elements still have the cutouts as a safety feature - plus, I don't like cats.
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:34 am
by Sandstorm
Openside wrote:Sandstorm wrote:Openside wrote:
one of the Entrees runs a pub chain
Who's your main course tonight? The bloke who manages the garden centre?
Tres amusant
fudge, you Poms always lose your sense of humour when discussing ale.
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:34 am
by Openside
Cthulu's Trilby wrote:Freddie Forearm wrote:Cthulu's Trilby wrote:Does one need to get hold of a lot of expensive copper pots and whatnot?
No, you can make your own mash tun from a picnic cooler and some copper tube, and the boiler from a decent size bucket with a couple of tesco value kettle elements!
Excellent. So all that remains is the simple cost/benefit analysis of burning the house down and electrocuting the cat.
Blimey I didn't realise I had to heat anything up
I may have in a moment of enthusiasm signed myself up for a major embuggerance!!
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:36 am
by Freddie Forearm
You've got to stew the grain for 60mins plus, then rinse it through and boil the washings for an hour plus, adding hops at different stages for bitterness/taste/aroma.
You can't just chuck it all in a pot and say ABRACADABRA!
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:41 am
by Openside
Freddie Forearm wrote:You've got to stew the grain for 60mins plus, then rinse it through and boil the washings for an hour plus, adding hops at different stages for bitterness/taste/aroma.
You can't just chuck it all in a pot and say ABRACADABRA!
Jeez I assumed I could just buy a kit
TB63 I think I am going to need serious help - How much room does all this kit take up? will I be able to do it in the Utility room or is it one for the barn??
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:43 am
by Toulon's Not Toulouse
Openside wrote:merlin the happy pig wrote:Openside wrote:I have just entered the Village annual brewing competition for the first time.
Doog22 I shall be expecting you to design me a suitable(one that my friends can see) beer label for this mighty ale.
Anyone got any useful tips??
Racking and fining are very important if you don't want excessive yeastiness and/or cloudiness.
There will always be enough viable yeast cells to get the secondary ferment going, so a second racking after another few days settling can help.
Do Not try to make too alcoholic a brew if you are a beginner, because the ferment may slow down t the point where you think it is already 'dry', but still has some residual sugar. The result will be too much sugar for the secondary (bottle) ferment, too much pressure and exploding bottles.
If they don't explode then when they are opened the excess gas will lift the yeast off the bottom and cause a cloudy, yeasty pour.
Lastly, have lots of fun, share with your mates and if they don't appreciate your efforts tell them to fudge themselves.
Thanks for all the advice - What is racking?
Racking is the process of separating your liquid from the dead yeast and other bits that sunk to the bottom of the fermenter. Those bits will make your brew cloudy as soon as it's agitated, and will give off-flavours. So by racking once the first fermentation is done, and racking again some days later and so on as many times as needed, you'll get a clearer brew, with less many dead yeasts inside to taint the flavour. You do it with a stupid pipe, just like you would to steal petrol from your neighbour's car.
Haven't done any beer myself, but started mead last year. My first batch isn't all that, being too dry and too yeasty. It's getting slightly better with time though, as after 6 months aging in bottle, it's now almost drinkable. Second batch is ready to bottle.
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:43 am
by Womack
Re: Does anyone do home brew??
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:48 am
by Openside
Womack wrote:
Are you laughing at me
Did you spill my pint? are you staring at my GF?etc..