I've been brewing for about 35 years now, IPAs, stouts, porters, brown ales, wit biers, Belgian style ales, etc. This is my brewing set up -
Something I've contemplated for years Finm. Amazingly you can buy home distilling stuff but you need a license from HMRC to use it legally and home distilling is something they don't really seem to cater for.
Brilliant job. I’ve started to use a heated recirculation pump. Which has massively improved efficiency and really helped clear the wort.
I was going to make wine, but I gave up on the idea and decided to buy it instead. I now have about 200 empty wine bottles to get rid of but at least I drank the stuff.
Used to make my own, from extract kits, years ago. Fancy trying again now (as I am more patient now maybe better results). One question, as I am not a big drinker, is can you get smaller kits, to make say 10 pints at a time ? I have looked and couldn’t find anything. Wondered if someone could point me in the right direction.
Not sure about extract. But you can tailor your recipe to what every volume you want. But one thing I have learnt is. The longer you leave the beer to condition in the bottle. The better it can be. I kept a stout for 6 months before starting to drink it and it was beautiful and smooth. As long as it’s is stored well it will keep for a long time.
I have never tried making it ‘from scratch’ perhaps that would be the best route. Used to use barrels, and was going to do that again.
I’d head down the bottling route. The beer will keep much much longer and better bottled. I you have a co2 charged barrel that’s a good compromise. But any oxygen ingress in to the barrel will stale the beer pretty quickly.
Interesting thread this one, thanks. There's some useful knowledge in this thread. I was given one of these as a birthday pressie a few years back, really simple to make and no bottling involved as it dispenses straight from the bag it's brewed in. However, as Alan said it would be handy if they was something with a smaller quantity. From memory these kits make about 24 pints which I really wouldn't drink all on my own at home in the suggested lifespan of the brew kit. Great in prior preparation for a party though. http://www.moonshinedrinks.co.uk
Most extract type kits I’ve seen are 40 pints, but there are some available that are 10 litres (17 pints). So I may go down that route. Making it ‘from scratch’ may come later, make as little or as much as I like then. my next question would be is there any harm making up a 10 litre kit in a 25 litre fermenting bin ? (Not sure about the big air space ?) most of the equipment starter kits are 25 litre.
Always. Problems start when you have very little head space. And you end up with foaming sticky beer spewing out of the airlock. just got my next kit delivered. That should take me to about 65 litres once brewed.
Ok you would be brewers. Here’s the hard facts. The beer that you have lovingly cared for from brew day through fermentation. Needs just a little more love from you! Buy a bag of crown caps. A bottle capper (cheap) and save a shit load of BROWN! Bottles. The next brew you make (20 litres). Bottle it. It’s easy and cheap. And your beer lasts for ages. And will taste so much better after a period of bottle conditioning. Google it or YouTube it. Honestly it’s a doddle. Add the required amount of sugar dissolved in water to the bottling bucket. And fill those clean empty bottle. Voila beer when you want it. Share it with your friends.
Due to my impatience. I’ve made a start on the Stout I brewed about a month back. Oh it’s really good! Let my neighbour have a pint whilst we socialised at a safe distance. And the look on his face confirmed what I already knew. Only snag is, any excuse and I’m pouring myself another pint.
