Home Brewing

[haveaguiness]

Right I feel there may be a few experts on this topic on the Zone so thought I would try and get some opinions...

I want to start doing a bit of home brewing, but I honestly have no idea where to start. I would ideally like to brew some pale ales to start off with but see how things go. As a young 20 something I too often drink the tasteless liquid of foreign lagers when I go on a night out, but I would like to start my brewing my own stuff so I can have a few mates over and get them trying the delights of some proper ales. Plus I am looking forward to the satisfaction of having something that I have labored over.

So does anyone out there home brew and can give me any tips? I have heard there is a place along London Road that specialises in this sort of thing, but would like to find out a bit more before heading in there.

There must be some of you out there that have some cracking home brew stories to tell as well...?

Cheers

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Right I feel there may be a few experts on this topic on the Zone so thought I would try and get some opinions...

I want to start doing a bit of home brewing, but I honestly have no idea where to start. I would ideally like to brew some pale ales to start off with but see how things go. As a young 20 something I too often drink the tasteless liquid of foreign lagers when I go on a night out, but I would like to start my brewing my own stuff so I can have a few mates over and get them trying the delights of some proper ales. Plus I am looking forward to the satisfaction of having something that I have labored over.

So does anyone out there home brew and can give me any tips? I have heard there is a place along London Road that specialises in this sort of thing, but would like to find out a bit more before heading in there.

There must be some of you out there that have some cracking home brew stories to tell as well...?

Cheers

Is that Beers Unlimited?

I reckon they'll be the best people to ask for advice on home brewing.

Can't say I've had a go myself - my expertise is more in the consuming than producing end of real ale - but my old man use to and whilst they weren't tasteless, they weren't good tasting either. But they were alcoholic.


ps Good luck!

 

[McNasty]

Beers Unlimited along the London Road near Crowstone Road, run, I think, by Alison Moyet's brother cater for all things home brew.

 

[canveyshrimper]

As far as SZ is concerned I think callan is your man for home brewing advice, I'm quite adept at drinking it if required. :dizzy:

 

[Benfleet A1]

Home brew can be very hit or miss. Caxton starter kits are pretty good for the first attempt but follow the intructions to the letter, if you don't you will be ******** through the eye of a needle for a month. Airing cupboards are a must and everything must be clean. I would suggest corks instead of screw caps as it lets the brew breathe which will make it better. Don't be tempted to try it early and don't add extra sugar as it just tastes sweeter and does nothing for the overall end product. Try adding fruit but leave it for a couple of weeks extra before bottling and always let the sediment settle before tasting or have plenty of toilet paper on stand-by. Been making my own brew for years and have produced some crackers as well as some prize winning desarsters so stick to the rules for the best results. With fruit, try strawberries, blackberries or raspberries and adding wheat can produce some real bum kickers. Most importantly, have fun and don't be dis-heartened by the occassional ****-up.

Avoid cider at all costs, that truely is an art and requires a press before you even start. Have fun.

 

[haveaguiness]

Home brew can be very hit or miss. Caxton starter kits are pretty good for the first attempt but follow the intructions to the letter, if you don't you will be ******** through the eye of a needle for a month. Airing cupboards are a must and everything must be clean. I would suggest corks instead of screw caps as it lets the brew breathe which will make it better. Don't be tempted to try it early and don't add extra sugar as it just tastes sweeter and does nothing for the overall end product. Try adding fruit but leave it for a couple of weeks extra before bottling and always let the sediment settle before tasting or have plenty of toilet paper on stand-by. Been making my own brew for years and have produced some crackers as well as some prize winning desarsters so stick to the rules for the best results. With fruit, try strawberries, blackberries or raspberries and adding wheat can produce some real bum kickers. Most importantly, have fun and don't be dis-heartened by the occassional ****-up.

Avoid cider at all costs, that truely is an art and requires a press before you even start. Have fun.

Cheers for that GHG. I think I am going to take a trip down to beers unlimited after work now I have found out where it is and get some advise before I start. Only problem so far from that list is that I don't have an airing cupboard... But I'm sure they can suggest something to me.

 

[Davros]

just FYI..

"In the United Kingdom one may produce an unlimited quantity of fermented beverages for domestic consumption only. It is illegal to distill liquor in the United Kingdom without a license to do so from the government, and any fermented products must not be sold without the payment of alcohol duty and registration with HM Revenue and Customs."

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

Cheers for that GHG. I think I am going to take a trip down to beers unlimited after work now I have found out where it is and get some advise before I start. Only problem so far from that list is that I don't have an airing cupboard... But I'm sure they can suggest something to me.

Any small enclosed space will do, even if you have to get a little heater in there.
Be afraid, be very afraid if you decide to do your own Dogbolter:dizzy:

 

[MK Shrimper]

My brother tried this in the early 80's and managed to poison my dad :hilarious:

 

[jstallan]

I've made wine from the wine kits 'beer unlimited' sell... Very nice and so easy. The chap there is very knowledgeable and offers sound advice. For wine I got a special immersion heater that fits in the 'bin' - perfect results everytime. I stopped making it for a while as we were moving house, but now we've settled in and the new shed is up with electric installed I'm going to start up again. With my first batch of 30 bottles of vino, I'd recovered all my costs against buying £4 bottles on wine in the supermarket.

 

[Rudi Luftwaffe]

If you have a microwave it might be easier to make your own crack.