Homebrew Beer Howto

Krusty_Clown · 13-06-2012 01:18PM

rubadub wrote: »

A tall tomato pasata jar

The problem with that is that you'll be losing 200-300ml beer every time you take an SG reading (unless you dump it back into the fermenter, which could bring its own problems).

stuchyg · 13-06-2012 02:29PM

Just took an SG reading, unfortunately had to use a 500ml bull and castle glass as had nothing else deep enough. SG now stands at .10, i dumped out the sample for reading as i wouldnt chance throwing her back in. Even with two more readings to take il be left with 22 ltrs of brew and an IPA kit still to make

rubadub · 13-06-2012 03:49PM

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

(unless you dump it back into the fermenter, which could bring its own problems).

I always dumped it back in, never had problems. Many seem to be overkill on certain aspects of cleanliness and then 'underkill' on others. If you are doing proper microbiology, e.g. growing mushroom cultures, you need sterile conditions, there are no shortcuts at all, you learn quickly. The second you open a lid to atmosphere there are 100s of airbourne contaminants getting in. Whereas brewing beer is very forgiving.

Many (most?) commercial breweries have totally open fermentations going on.

if he had rinsed his sample jar and threw it out I would call it overkill, since the 'underkill' is the fact he has no hairnet, no gloves, no face mask, no apparent clean clothes, and of course the whole thing is open air.

BeerNut · 13-06-2012 06:54PM

I'm a thrower-back too.

stuchyg · 13-06-2012 07:50PM

are ye not meant to leave the lid on the fermenter until bottling though or is only for the first few days

BeerNut · 13-06-2012 08:12PM

The lid is just to stop things falling in.

oblivious · 14-06-2012 09:37AM

rubadub wrote: »

Many (most?) commercial breweries have totally open fermentations going on.

if he had rinsed his sample jar and threw it out I would call it overkill, since the 'underkill' is the fact he has no hairnet, no gloves, no face mask, no apparent clean clothes, and of course the whole thing is open air.

Rare these days unfortunately , but it is around sierra nevada kellerweis is open fermented.

But there are those that do open ferments but in a positive pressure fermentation rooms, so no contamination can enter.

stuchyg · 15-06-2012 05:04PM

my brew is basically ready to be bottled, however i think its going to end up quite weak at around 3.4 ABV, could I add more sugar at this stage to strengthen it or will I have to make do, this is my first attempt so il be happy as long as its drinkable

BeerNut · 15-06-2012 05:09PM

stuchyg wrote: »

my brew is basically ready to be bottled, however i think its going to end up quite weak at around 3.4 ABV, could I add more sugar at this stage to strengthen it or will I have to make do, this is my first attempt so il be happy as long as its drinkable

Accept what it is, bottle it, and move on to the next batch. You risk making it worse if you start fiddling with it at this stage.

daniels.ducks · 16-06-2012 04:50PM

I am thinking of starting my first brew. I have a ten gallon container with a lid and a tap on it. What else will I need besides the kit to get going or is that just it?

BeerNut · 17-06-2012 01:57PM

I'd recommend having a siphon, trial jar, hydrometer, immersion thermometer and paddle. If you're bottling you'll need caps and a capper.

rubadub · 18-06-2012 09:13AM

2 hour brewing class for €19 on livingsocial today

http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/1739/deals/354714-two-hour-beer-brewing-class

no idea if its any use.

BeerNut · 18-06-2012 09:46AM

rubadub wrote: »

2 hour brewing class for €19 on livingsocial today

http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/1739/deals/354714-two-hour-beer-brewing-class

no idea if its any use.

I'll most likely be teaching this. The plan is to go through the making of a kit, and bottling, and talk about other options like kit hacking, extract and all-grain brewing: that sort of thing. And leave plenty of room for questions.

Ratsathome · 18-06-2012 09:50AM

When's the next class?

BeerNut · 18-06-2012 10:19AM

Wish I knew

I think the first one you can book is 30th June, but it'll all depend on numbers.

sharingan · 18-06-2012 01:56PM

daniels.ducks wrote: »

I am thinking of starting my first brew. I have a ten gallon container with a lid and a tap on it. What else will I need besides the kit to get going or is that just it?

You are going to need bottles too. Ten gallons worth. Ask your friends, you will need to start collecting soon. Flip-tops are the most practical (you can sterilise them in advance). BeerNut's post has all of the other essential equipment.

10 gallons is a pretty big container, where did you get it? I know a few home brewers who have made or adapted fermenters that size, but its rare.

What are you planning to brew?

rubadub · 18-06-2012 02:19PM

sharingan wrote: »

BeerNut's post has all of the other essential equipment.

I did many brews without using the... "trial jar, hydrometer, immersion thermometer and paddle", its warm enough these days to brew with no added heater, I just watched for bubbles to stop and tasted for sweetness in place of the hydrometer, damn things kept breaking on me.

You could use 2L PET bottles if you are stuck.

sharingan · 18-06-2012 02:35PM

rubadub wrote: »

I did many brews without using the... "trial jar, hydrometer, immersion thermometer and paddle", its warm enough these days to brew with no added heater, I just watched for bubbles to stop and tasted for sweetness in place of the hydrometer, damn things kept breaking on me.

You could use 2L PET bottles if you are stuck.

I tend to think that the hydrometer is pretty important. had too many bottle bombs and cork rockets. its nice to know how strong some of my hooch is too, especially the wines, when I am serving them up.

Carbonated drinks bottles are a great saviour when you are stuck. Coca Cola ones are the best.

Degsy · 18-06-2012 11:27PM

BeerNut wrote: »

I'll most likely be teaching this. The plan is to go through the making of a kit, and bottling, and talk about other options like kit hacking, extract and all-grain brewing: that sort of thing. And leave plenty of room for questions.

Be seeing you then..the GF just bought two tickets!

stuchyg · 19-06-2012 09:28PM

BeerNut wrote: »

Wish I knew I think the first one you can book is 30th June, but it'll all depend on numbers.

Where do the Homebrew lessons take place

BeerNut · 19-06-2012 11:03PM

Next Door Off Licence, 23-25 Sundrive Road, Kimmage, Dublin 12.

Dub13 · 22-06-2012 10:20AM

Anybody ever done the Mexican cerveza..?I am thinking of doing it for my second batch.If so what was it like and what did you use..?I am also open to other suggestions.

BeerNut · 22-06-2012 10:24AM

I've tasted a couple of examples of it and it was awful, though that may have been more to do with the brewer than the kit. But the bottom line is you can't make something like Corona out of a kit. If pale lager is what you like to drink you're much better off buying it pre-made.

Dub13 · 22-06-2012 10:29AM

BeerNut wrote: »

I've tasted a couple of examples of it and it was awful, though that may have been more to do with the brewer than the kit. But the bottom line is you can't make something like Corona out of a kit. If pale lager is what you like to drink you're much better off buying it pre-made.

Any suggestions for me to look at..?I will have my first batch (Canadian blond) ready to bottle early next week so looking for something else to get on.

BeerNut · 22-06-2012 10:33AM

Try one of the all-malt kits and see if you can taste the difference. Something like Woodforde's Wherry, maybe.

Dub13 · 22-06-2012 10:44AM

BeerNut wrote: »

Try one of the all-malt kits and see if you can taste the difference. Something like Woodforde's Wherry, maybe.

Cheers,will do a bit of research over the weekend and put an order in.Going away for the last 2 weeks in July so I would like to have 2 batches in bottles by then,be a nice thing to look forward to when I get back from France.

bjroche · 23-06-2012 10:29AM

Hi. What are the classes you mentioned and where do I buy tickets?

Dub13 · 24-06-2012 12:28PM

I went for this,anybody ever do it...?

BeerNut · 24-06-2012 08:44PM

bjroche wrote: »

Hi. What are the classes you mentioned and where do I buy tickets?

Living Social. Might have closed by now though.

homerjay2005 · 25-06-2012 09:54AM

lads, i got my brew done 38 days ago and it has been bottled for 17. do ye think its ok to open a few bottles this week or best to leave it another week or 2?

Homebrew Beer Howto

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