Homebrew Beer Howto

Whisko · 04-08-2014 02:50PM

Don't do it.

Get yourself a proper kit (for cheaper) and enjoy the variety of being able to brew 40pint batches.

All you technically need is a 5 gallon bucket with a lid- then any 40 pint kit.

Saruman · 05-08-2014 04:37PM

Whisko wrote: »

Don't do it.

Get yourself a proper kit (for cheaper) and enjoy the variety of being able to brew 40pint batches.

All you technically need is a 5 gallon bucket with a lid- then any 40 pint kit.

Just be sure it's food grade or a proper fermenting bucket.

paddylonglegs · 17-08-2014 02:03AM

Ok I know it's ages away, but anyone got any Christmas brews planned? Instead of rushing to tescos for the tray of 24 for €24, might be nice to have the brew there for yourself and the visitors.

Any thoughts on what would be a nice winter drink with a crowd pleaser style?

My experience is most definitely the kits so not too advanced at this !

tteknulp · 17-08-2014 11:16AM

Christmas beer

I put this on this on last September
It was very nice amber colour similar to red ale

3kg plain light malt extract
450g light honey
500 muscavo brown sugar
225g crystal malt
60g black malt
40g cascade hops in boil
20g saaz finishing
30g grated ginger root
3g ground cinnamon
Grated zest of 3 oranges
Safele s04 yeast

o.g 1052

blueshed · 17-08-2014 03:52PM

paddylonglegs wrote: »

Ok I know it's ages away, but anyone got any Christmas brews planned? Instead of rushing to tescos for the tray of 24 for €24, might be nice to have the brew there for yourself and the visitors.

Any thoughts on what would be a nice winter drink with a crowd pleaser style?

My experience is most definitely the kits so not too advanced at this !

you could do a little hacking to a dark ale kit and get a winter beer.

Whisko · 19-08-2014 08:03PM

paddylonglegs wrote: »

Ok I know it's ages away, but anyone got any Christmas brews planned? Instead of rushing to tescos for the tray of 24 for €24, might be nice to have the brew there for yourself and the visitors.

Any thoughts on what would be a nice winter drink with a crowd pleaser style?

My experience is most definitely the kits so not too advanced at this !

I've just barreled a summer light ale :pac:

A bit backwards but tasting delicious out of the FV!

alastair · 20-08-2014 09:20AM

paddylonglegs wrote: »

Any thoughts on what would be a nice winter drink with a crowd pleaser style?

My experience is most definitely the kits so not too advanced at this !

I brewed a Brupak Beers of the World Christmas Ale before the summer. It requires a long spell in the bottle before it's ready, so this one should be ready to roll for, eh, Christmas. A couple of sneaky early samples suggest it's going to be very nice indeed. It's only a 10 litre kit, so doubled up quantities.

Buona Fortuna · 20-08-2014 09:42AM

alastair wrote: »

I brewed a Brupak Beers of the World Christmas Ale before the summer. It requires a long spell in the bottle before it's ready, so this one should be ready to roll for, eh, Christmas. A couple of sneaky early samples suggest it's going to be very nice indeed. It's only a 10 litre kit, so doubled up quantities.

Sounds nice where did you get that from?

paddylonglegs · 20-08-2014 02:00PM

alastair wrote: »

I brewed a Brupak Beers of the World Christmas Ale before the summer. It requires a long spell in the bottle before it's ready, so this one should be ready to roll for, eh, Christmas. A couple of sneaky early samples suggest it's going to be very nice indeed. It's only a 10 litre kit, so doubled up quantities.

Great. Where did you get it? I found my last coopers Canadian blonde took 4 weeks on the bottle before it tasted good. How long would you need in the bottle for this?

alastair · 20-08-2014 05:15PM

I got the Christmas Ale from Homebrewwest iirc - but they seem to be out of them at the moment. You can get it here though: https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/beercider-kits-brupaks-beers-of-the-world-c-1_162.html

edit - oops! They're sold out too.

Time to condition - the reviews I've read recommend a good six months at least.

MonkstownHoop · 23-08-2014 06:14PM

I'm about to start my first brew, i got a milestone winter ale a while ago and it is 2 cans as opposed to the one that came with my kit, i also purchased malt extract, would it be too much to use the malt extract with the 2 cans or is that the norm? Or just use the brewing sugar I got with it? A friend also gave me spray malt and hop extract drops that he had lying about after giving up on brewing if they are any use, thanks.

BeerNut · 23-08-2014 07:26PM

Just the two cans will do you. Save the other stuff for another brew.

SeaFields · 07-11-2014 09:02PM

Hi folks,

Herself has asked would I like a wine or beer making kit off Santa! And told me to pick out whichever I want. Yes, I really like the idea!

Looking online there's a fair few Irish websites. Would you guys have any recommendations of one over the other? And as a complete newbie, any recommendations for some starter kits? Am leaning towards a white wine kit.

gaz wac · 07-11-2014 09:15PM

Hey

I have a beer kit because, well I prefer beer but I got mine here. I also get my beer from them. Never any problems

https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/christmas-gift-ideas-c-182.html

Wine kits as well .... Good luck ðŸ˜„

Buona Fortuna · 07-11-2014 09:25PM

Hi Seafields

I like this company http://www.homebrewwest.ie/
their customer care is total $hoite but there stuff is good and if there's a problem they will sort it out ............................................. eventually.

As to starting I'd recommend one of these Coopers kits http://www.homebrewwest.ie/coopers-diy-beer-kit-new-with-vwp-sterilizer-246-p.asp
€90, you can pick the flavour, and then use the kit again for another beer.

blueshed · 08-11-2014 11:47AM

SeaFields wrote: »

Hi folks,

Herself has asked would I like a wine or beer making kit off Santa! And told me to pick out whichever I want. Yes, I really like the idea!

Looking online there's a fair few Irish websites. Would you guys have any recommendations of one over the other? And as a complete newbie, any recommendations for some starter kits? Am leaning towards a white wine kit.

have a look here http://www.geterbrewed.com/complete-brewing-kits/

17-12-2014 06:43PM

Hi all,

Still playing around with kits, and tweaking them.

This is my first time dry hopping, and I could do with some advice please.

Coopers Pale Ale was in the FV for 12 days, and I then added 25g of cascade pellets in a muslin sock, which is in the primary about 5 days now. (No secondary)

Having since taken a sample, I had to taste it, but it's not 'hoppy'. I looked into the FV and see the hop sack is floating on top. (There was a great hoppy aroma though..!).

Question is, should I give the wort a gentle stir, but not enough to disturb the yeast?

Or should I leave it alone and hope the flavour/aroma gradually mixes itself through?

Will the hops gradually absorb more wort and eventually sink adding flavour on their way to the bottom??

I'm planning on bottling in a couple of days, which will mean 7 days dry hop, and a total 19 days in the FV.

I made a hop tea previously, but added it at the beginning of the fermentation, and was pleased with the result, so I'm am a bit disappointed with the lack of hoppiness - so far.

(Unfortunately I probably left it too late to enjoy at Christmas... but maybe New Year...)

Any advice is welcome...

Cheers

drumswan · 17-12-2014 06:50PM

Dry hopping adds only aroma.

18-12-2014 12:14AM

Okay, I understood it would also add some flavour as well as aroma. But there is no aroma either from the sample I tasted!

All a learning curve.

Would a stir be advisable? Would it help distribute the aroma?

BeerNut · 18-12-2014 12:28AM

If it was me I'd leave it alone.

drumswan · 18-12-2014 01:24AM

1013 wrote: »

Okay, I understood it would also add some flavour as well as aroma. But there is no aroma either from the sample I tasted!

All a learning curve.

Would a stir be advisable? Would it help distribute the aroma?

It would not be advisable. You will oxygenate it. Exactly what I did with my first batch if I recall. Leave it alone.

18-12-2014 10:22AM

BeerNut wrote: »

If it was me I'd leave it alone.

drumswan wrote: »

It would not be advisable. You will oxygenate it. Exactly what I did with my first batch if I recall. Leave it alone.

Okay, thanks for the advice - I think I'll leave it alone!

For future, suggestions welcome as to how I can get a more hoppy flavour / aroma into the beer? I did also include 25g of pellets boiled for 15 mnutes in some DME and a gallon of water. I thought that wouldn't be long enough to bitter it too much, but instead add flavour? But maybe not?

Thanks

drumswan · 18-12-2014 10:31AM

1013 wrote: »

Okay, thanks for the advice - I think I'll leave it alone!

For future, suggestions welcome as to how I can get a more hoppy flavour / aroma into the beer? I did also include 25g of pellets boiled for 15 mnutes in some DME and a gallon of water. I thought that wouldn't be long enough to bitter it too much, but instead add flavour? But maybe not?

Thanks

Its not really possible to judge what effect adding hops in that way would have, there is no brewing software etc to model it.

If you want to brew to your own tastes move to extract and forget about kits. It is not much more complicated. With kit brewing you will always be brewing to someone elses recipe, despite any tweaks you make.

BeerNut · 18-12-2014 10:41AM

1013 wrote: »

suggestions welcome as to how I can get a more hoppy flavour / aroma into the beer?

You could always try dry hopping with loose leaves rather than bagged pellets. But really, as drumswan says, if you're not happy with results you get with kit brewing, move to extract or all-grain.

18-12-2014 11:07AM

drumswan wrote: »

If you want to brew to your own tastes move to extract and forget about kits.

Yeah, that's the next plan - thought I'd try to play around with the kits before moving on. I have a few ingredients, malt, grains and hops, so am hoping to give it a go soon.

Likely to be back for more info and help..!

Cheers

paddylonglegs · 19-12-2014 10:15PM

1013 wrote: »

Yeah, that's the next plan - thought I'd try to play around with the kits before moving on. I have a few ingredients, malt, grains and hops, so am hoping to give it a go soon.

Likely to be back for more info and help..!

Cheers

What's the next step after brew kits generally?

I have done a couple of brews but am still learning. Will keep with the kits for the time being

BaZmO* · 19-12-2014 10:36PM

paddylonglegs wrote: »

What's the next step after brew kits generally?

I have done a couple of brews but am still learning. Will keep with the kits for the time being

Extract Brewing is normally next, followed by All Grain.

I started with Extract and never changed. I planned to go to AG but circumstances haven't allowed me to so far....but soon!

20-12-2014 11:58AM

paddylonglegs wrote: »

What's the next step after brew kits generally?

I have done a couple of brews but am still learning. Will keep with the kits for the time being

I've never tried extract before, so it will be a new experience for me.

Planning on steeping some grains, and then boiling some malt extract, with hop additions at various stages. Could be awful, but I won't know until I try, and learn from my mistakes.

Hopefully it'll turn out drinkable, even if not to the taste I might prefer!

skipper11x · 03-02-2015 07:58PM

Hi, new to brewing. Got a brew kit for Christmas. 2 10 litre buckets. I'm doing an ale and did one week in one bucket then syphoned it into the second bucket for another week and then bottled it. The thing I'm wondering about is where to put the bottles after bottling? I put mine straight into the fridge but should I have left them in a cool dark place for 2 weeks or does it matter?

BeerNut · 03-02-2015 09:52PM

You need to leave them at room temperature or they won't carbonate. Give them two to three weeks there.

Homebrew Beer Howto

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