Homebrew Beer Howto

The Mulk · 14-07-2011 09:09AM

Bugsyboy1 wrote: »

Just wondering if you were happy with your brew? Did it turn out like you expected? I bottled my first beer brew (Canadian Blonde this weekend).

Paul

Hi Paul,

wasn't a bad brew, I have tasted nicer.
Just finishing off the last of a Coopers Pilsner made with 500 grams Spraymalt and
500 g Brewing Sugar , it was excellent, maybe a bit light though. way better than the ale.
I purchased a two can kit of Coopers Heritage lager (one can was Coopers Light Malt Extract Light 1.5 Kg) so thats in the fermenter now. I have high hopes for this after the success of the Pilsner.

stalins_ma · 14-07-2011 01:53PM

Something similar to the Mulk above I was thinking of using 500g spray malt with 500g dextrose to make my Coopers Canadian blonde.

Chap in the mybeerandwine chop in Rathmines (recommended btw) said to just put the 1kg+500g malt in together but I feel this may be too much - can anyone confirm?

Cheers

BeerNut · 14-07-2011 02:12PM

Sounds like way too much sugar to me. I wouldn't use sugar at all for a beer like that, but 500g of each is the best option for what you have, I reckon.

stalins_ma · 14-07-2011 02:16PM

BeerNut wrote: »

Sounds like way too much sugar to me. I wouldn't use sugar at all for a beer like that, but 500g of each is the best option for what you have, I reckon.

Yeah I guessed as much. I'll go with the malt+dextrose so. One other thing BN - any recommendation re hops for this particular brew or should the malt spray suffice in giving the Canadian Blonde a little more something. I know I'm starting with a poor enough brew to start with but I just don't want some fizzy Budweiseresque mess at the other end!

Cheers

stalins_ma · 14-07-2011 02:21PM

merc230ce wrote: »

So did anyone here buy the My Beer And Wine CityDeal for the Beermaking class? I'm going next Thursday and plan to do my first brew that weekend :-)

I see they sold 880-odd vouchers! That's 44 classes with 20 people in each, and the vouchers have to be used in 90 days, so they're going to be busy boys!

I was there today (it's next to the Dominos on the Rathmines Rd.) - the shopfront itself is tight enough on space and pretty basic so I'd imagine there's a whole setup out back. 3 other people there at lunchtime so they were busy enough. I'd like to see them succeed as there aren't any other suppliers I'm aware of on the ground in the city (correct me if I'm wrong?)

BeerNut · 14-07-2011 02:34PM

stalins_ma wrote: »

One other thing BN - any recommendation re hops for this particular brew or should the malt spray suffice in giving the Canadian Blonde a little more something.

No harm at all in dry-hopping. 25g of anything you fancy should do it: Cascade or Citra, maybe. Add them to the fermentor a week or so before bottling.

stalins_ma wrote: »

I'd imagine there's a whole setup out back.

The classes aren't held at the shop.

stalins_ma · 14-07-2011 11:24PM

BeerNut wrote: »

No harm at all in dry-hopping. 25g of anything you fancy should do it: Cascade or Citra, maybe. Add them to the fermentor a week or so before bottling.

Think I'll try the cascade so...cheers lad...

irish_goat · 18-07-2011 03:39PM

So I've commandeered a 5 gallon glass carboy from an old store room in work. Is there any advantage in using this for my next brew or should i stick with my plastic fermenter tub just?

BaZmO* · 19-07-2011 08:26AM

Only real advantage I can think of is that you can use harsher cleaning products on glass thereby minimizing the risk of infections. Other than that I can't think of any, well apart from it looking cooler and you can also see the fermentation through the glass.

oblivious · 19-07-2011 08:28AM

irish_goat wrote: »

So I've commandeered a 5 gallon glass carboy from an old store room in work. Is there any advantage in using this for my next brew or should i stick with my plastic fermenter tub just?

There are much more resistant to oxygen that plastic, but the risk of serious laceration due to breakages is why i have retired my two

BaZmO* · 19-07-2011 10:01AM

oblivious wrote: »

There are much more resistant to oxygen that plastic

What difference would that make during fermentation?

oblivious · 19-07-2011 10:19AM

BaZmO* wrote: »

What difference would that make during fermentation?

Not really, just if you are storing for long time like making sour beers it would really matter

BaZmO* · 19-07-2011 10:25AM

oblivious wrote: »

Not really, just if you are storing for long time like making sour beers it would really matter

Really? I did not know that.

oblivious · 19-07-2011 11:08AM

BaZmO* wrote: »

Really? I did not know that.

Yea plastic is massively permeable to oxygen which is made worse to the big surface area the liquid is exposed to

but for normal brewing i go with plastic

Donny5 · 19-07-2011 11:18AM

oblivious wrote: »

Yea plastic is massively permeable to oxygen which is made worse to the big surface area the liquid is exposed to

but for normal brewing i go with plastic

The gas permeability depends entirely on the plastic.

oblivious · 19-07-2011 11:20AM

Donny5 wrote: »

The gas permeability depends entirely on the plastic.

True the amounts are from HDPE i believe if i can dig out the table i will post it

AntoSRFC · 20-07-2011 03:56PM

Just waiting for the Coopers Canadian Blonde to arrive which will be my first atempt at brewing. After looking at various videos on You Tube I saw a comment recommending putting a green apple cut into four with the seeds removed into the fermentation bucket. Apperantly this will remove any nasty yeasty flavours? Is this a good idea or am i better off leaving it?

Thanks

oblivious · 20-07-2011 04:03PM

AntoSRFC wrote: »

Just waiting for the Coopers Canadian Blonde to arrive which will be my first atempt at brewing. After looking at various videos on You Tube I saw a comment recommending putting a green apple cut into four with the seeds removed into the fermentation bucket. Apperantly this will remove any nasty yeasty flavours? Is this a good idea or am i better off leaving it?

oh dear lord :eek:

Just give it two week on the yeast at room temp (18-22c) as long as your sanitation process is good you will be fine

AntoSRFC · 20-07-2011 05:15PM

Perfect

cooperguy · 20-07-2011 10:50PM

Im new to this forum but iv a feeling ill be around a bit! My homebrew kit arrived yesterday and I will be doing my first brew this weekend

merc230ce · 20-07-2011 11:47PM

cooperguy wrote: »

Im new to this forum but iv a feeling ill be around a bit! My homebrew kit arrived yesterday and I will be doing my first brew this weekend

Ha! Me too!
Look forward to comparing notes ;-)

oblivious · 21-07-2011 07:34AM

cooperguy wrote: »

Im new to this forum but iv a feeling ill be around a bit! My homebrew kit arrived yesterday and I will be doing my first brew this weekend

merc230ce wrote: »

Ha! Me too!
Look forward to comparing notes ;-)

Best of luck with it lads:)

stalins_ma · 21-07-2011 09:01AM

I'm still on my first brew too but from what I can see and have read it's best never attempt a lager until you seriously know your way around the business! Ale all the way and maybe a weiss for me next.

Anyway I'm about to dry-hop my brew since it's almost finished fermenting in the primary. Should I just lift the lid on the bucket and bung 'em in? I got some of this cascade -

http://www.mybeerandwine.ie/product_info.php?cPath=42_73&products_id=197

Should i even bother with a sterilised muslin bag or just throw them in straight as they are?

BeerNut · 21-07-2011 09:41AM

Throw them straight in. Hops are self-sanitising. Putting them in a bag makes it easier to get them out again, but is likely to reduce their effectiveness.

stalins_ma · 21-07-2011 12:22PM

BeerNut wrote: »

Throw them straight in. Hops are self-sanitising. Putting them in a bag makes it easier to get them out again, but is likely to reduce their effectiveness.

Yeah I figured there's going to be a load of gunk making its way in to the bottles anyway since I'm not transferring to a second bucket and siphoning before bottling. The hops can sit with the rest of the sediment as I bottle so won't need to bother fishing them out I reckon (if they're pellets there'll be nothing to fish out anyway!)

Cork Boy · 22-07-2011 02:26AM

merc230ce wrote: »

Ha! Me too!
Look forward to comparing notes ;-)

Me too

I got the Milestone IPA - what did ye get?

merc230ce · 22-07-2011 07:25AM

I got the (wait for it) Coopers Canadian Blonde! I know, I know, I'm just kinda mad like that ;-)

I have roped my brothers in to split the cost of equipment and wanted something non-threatening to start off with (they're Bud/Miller/Catspiss drones)

From then on it'll be IPAs all the way baby! :-) So I'll be interested to know how the Milestone works out.

What equipment kit did you get?

Cork Boy · 23-07-2011 08:40PM

I got the 33L kit from thehomebrewing company. I also purchased some spare bits and bobs and stick on thermometers which are like €2 I think and sooooo handy! Also, they bored a hole in each bucket for me for free for the taps... all in all a great crowd to deal with.

So myself and a buddy put on the brew (he's getting a six pack for his troubles) last night and it's bubbling away mad all day and has a healthy krausen so I'm very excited, smelt lovely and had a sip from the trial jar - i know the taste and smell but can't place it!

Now I'm already thinking of what to do next - if the milestone turns out well I'll get the Black Pearl stout and the wheat bear.

Also, there's a great article here http://www.beoir.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88:small-scale-brewing&catid=16:extract-brewing&Itemid=47 on small scale extract brewing so I might get myself 2 x 5Ltr Demijohns while placing the order as they only come to €10 or so each.

Martyn1989 · 24-07-2011 03:30AM

Cork Boy wrote: »

Also, there's a great article here http://www.beoir.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88:small-scale-brewing&catid=16:extract-brewing&Itemid=47 on small scale extract brewing so I might get myself 2 x 5Ltr Demijohns while placing the order as they only come to €10 or so each.

I was thinking of doing the same thing, I brewed one 10L batch in my 25L fermenter, it turned out so well I decided to keep doing 23L batches, Id say those little demi-johns are excellant for trying new things, but when a beer turns out great you want more then 10 bottles (really only 9 and a half due to not syphoning up the gunk at the end).

I got a 19L plastic PET demi john from My Beer and Wine, thats fitted with a tap http://www.mybeerandwine.ie/product_info.php?cPath=67_69&products_id=319 which I now use as a secoundary fermenter, and works very well for what Im doing, Ive an extract pale ale ready to bottle from it and an extract blonde honey ale ready to go in for secoundary.

Hellrazer · 24-07-2011 07:29PM

Could anyone put together a starter kit for me or should I just go with the Coopers.

Next question and I hope that this one can be answered.

I suggested that I was going to give this a go to Mrs Hellrazer last night and she recalls (like myself) her brother and father(in my case an uncle) brewing beer years back.From memory the stuff was lethal and totally undrinkable--well we drank it but it was a case of hold your nose and knock it back.

So my question is this.

Whats changed in say the last 15-20 years.Is the beer you brew now "nice to drink"
Compared to pub/off licence bought stuff does it taste decent?Would you drink it as an alternative to purchased beer?
Thanks.

Homebrew Beer Howto

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