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home brew.

  • 29-05-2015 11:18PM
    #1
    Banjo String
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,380 ✭✭✭✭


    I likes my beers. I'm definitely not a beer snob, but I have to admit to turning up my nose to the more conventional beers as last five or six years (Heineken, bud, etc) in favour of the crafts.

    I'm lucky enough to live within a five minute drive of an O'Briens off license, which in fairness to them have some amazing beers on offer.

    However the wife has arrived home from her work earlier in the evening with two bottles of home brew produced by a colleague of hers (both professionals), and I'm very, very impressed.

    She was sent home with two litre bottles, the type with the old fashioned swing top fasteners on top. One is a wheat beer, and one ipa.

    The wheat beer is grand, slightly sugary, but grand, but the IPA is absolutely fantastic! Much better than any of the mass produced crap found in the shops.

    Its something I've been thinking of doing now for ages, but I'm just curious if many other AHers bother with the home brew, because I think I might have found a new hobby!


«13

Comments

  • #2
    GLaDOS
    Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 23,257 Mod ✭✭✭✭GLaDOS


    I'm drinking a glass of my own brew right now. Was my first attempt and just made following the kits instructions but very happy with it. Very cost effective after the initial investment in the equipment.

    Cake, and grief counseling, will be available at the conclusion of the test



  • #3
    osarusan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,059 ✭✭✭✭osarusan


    Never done it, but thought about it.

    As I understand, the better you want it to taste, the more you have to work on it (and the less it is just mixing a couple of packets together).

    There is a forum for this, in case you didn't know:
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1353


  • #4
    thomasm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,506 ✭✭✭thomasm


    Had a mate give me some recently and all I was thinking at first was how can I politely say yeah that was ok expecting it to be ****e when in fact it was fantastic. Really surprised at how good it was


  • #5
    Banjo String
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,380 ✭✭✭✭Banjo String


    osarusan wrote: »
    Never done it, but thought about it.

    As I understand, the better you want it to taste, the more you have to work on it (and the less it is just mixing a couple of packets together).

    There is a forum for this, in case you didn't know:
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1353

    Ah I know there's a forum for it, but I don't want to start discussing what's 'fruity with a slight liquorice after taste on the palette' in preference of a light hearted discussion in after hours.

    What I did notice was the ipa blew the lid right off the bottle top when I cracked it open!

    Very pleasant drink though.


  • #6
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    I have a can of Tennent's in the fridge.


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  • #7
    Banjo String
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,380 ✭✭✭✭Banjo String


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    I have a can of Tennent's in the fridge.

    You know what's gas, I'm down here in Kildare, but a south county Derry native, where (as you'd know) tennents is pretty much the staple pint to have in a pub.

    It's nigh on impossible to get in draught down here, and it's seen as a bargain basement drink around these parts in the offies.

    Tenants ftw TBM.

    I was drinking in the Elk bar (I am sure you knew it, and i'm from about 4miles from there originally) on Saturday night past, and the tennents went down a treat tbh!


  • #8
    Links234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,944 ✭✭✭✭Links234


    Yeah, I started homebrewing, it's fun and you can make some very nice brews. I brewed my third not so long ago, a really hoppy IPA, turned out quite nice.


  • #9
    Herb Powell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,097 ✭✭✭Herb Powell


    Homebrewing is class, yet to make a beer I didn't like. Far easier than most would think. I think my favourite was a Belgian-style ale I made for Christmas. 8.5%, very very crisp tasting, just all-round great. T'was a good day.......:P


  • #10
    Banjo String
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,380 ✭✭✭✭Banjo String


    Links234 wrote: »
    Yeah, I started homebrewing, it's fun and you can make some very nice brews. I brewed my third not so long ago, a really hoppy IPA, turned out quite nice.

    I had to laugh, the dude that sent the beer home (consultant or surgeon, not quite sure tbh) sent a note home with them, that I should try Coopers, unknown to him is that I'm a very avid coopers drinker, especially their sparkling ale.

    Definitely recommend it!


  • #11
    Banjo String
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,380 ✭✭✭✭Banjo String


    Herb Powell wrote: »
    Homebrewing is class, yet to make a beer I didn't like. Far easier than most would think. I think my favourite was a Belgian-style ale I made for Christmas. 8.5%, very very crisp tasting, just all-round great. T'was a good day.......:P

    8.5% :eek: that's near wine territory lol:pac:


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  • #12
    Ronan|Raven
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,164 ✭✭✭Ronan|Raven


    Just pitched the yeast into 20 Litres of pale ale.. come.. join us on the homebrew forum.. gwan!


  • #13
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    Banjo String wrote: »
    You know what's gas, I'm down here in Kildare, but a south county Derry native, where (as you'd know) tennents is pretty much the staple pint to have in a pub.

    It's nigh on impossible to get in draught down here, and it's seen as a bargain basement drink around these parts in the offies.

    Tenants ftw TBM.

    I was drinking in the Elk bar (I am sure you knew it, and i'm from about 4miles from there originally) on Saturday night past, and the tennents went down a treat tbh!
    Great draught in a pub where it's pouring well through a short line. There's only certain pubs up here I would drink it in, no way would I drink it in a pub in Kildare.

    Years since I was in the Elk, be in McNallys, or Mals as it is now an odd time for grub. You ever see it on google street view? Some advertisement for the place!:pac:


  • #14
    P_1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,681 ✭✭✭✭P_1


    If it's done right it's both incredible and massively rewarding. If done wrong, well you have alcoholic dishwater, a waste of time and a bit of a mess to clean up


  • #15
    hatrickpatrick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,798 ✭✭✭✭hatrickpatrick


    If they succeed in bringing in minimum alcohol pricing, home brewing will become immensely popular. I'm looking into making a simple cider at the moment, which apparently is possible with apple juice sans preservatives :D


  • #16
    Banjo String
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,380 ✭✭✭✭Banjo String


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    Great draught in a pub where it's pouring well through a short line. There's only certain pubs up here I would drink it in, no way would I drink it in a pub in Kildare.

    Years since I was in the Elk, be in McNallys, or Mals as it is now an odd time for grub. You ever see it on google street view? Some advertisement for the place!:pac:

    You know too much :eek:

    I was a very, very regular in both back in my time!

    Edit, must check it on street view..... I will report back.....


  • #17
    uch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,035 ✭✭✭uch


    I made the equivalent of Double Diamond Bitter years ago, and while the Beer itself turned out to be very close to the original, to me it tasted Shíte, so I gave up

    22/25



  • #18
    Links234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,944 ✭✭✭✭Links234


    I want to try and make mead :)


  • #19
    Banjo String
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,380 ✭✭✭✭Banjo String


    Hahahahahahahahahahahah! :pac:

    That's the spot!


  • #20
    Wang King
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,169 ✭✭✭Wang King


    How much does the equipment cost to start up, and how long before you can crack open your own ipa


  • #21
    uch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,035 ✭✭✭uch


    uch wrote: »
    I made the equivalent of Double Diamond Bitter years ago, and while the Beer itself turned out to be very close to the original, to me it tasted Shíte, so I gave up

    But I should have added, it's quite easy to make in the first place, so everyone should try at least once

    22/25



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  • #22
    Links234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,944 ✭✭✭✭Links234


    Wang King wrote: »
    How much does the equipment cost to start up, and how long before you can crack open your own ipa

    I got loads of brewing equipment as my birthday present last year, and I think it cost around 100€ and depending on the brew anywhere from a month onwards. Stuff is generally better if you leave it in the bottles a while.


  • #23
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    Banjo String wrote: »
    Hahahahahahahahahahahah! :pac:

    That's the spot!
    Take it that it hasn't been changed then yet?:pac: One of the lads working in it was telling me about it.


  • #24
    Banjo String
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,380 ✭✭✭✭Banjo String


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    Take it that it hasn't been changed then yet?:pac: One of the lads working in it was telling me about it.

    Load of landrovers???


  • #25
    Aongus Von Bismarck
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,794 ✭✭✭Aongus Von Bismarck


    I have very little time for "home brews"

    If I want a beer I'm not going to trust it to some amateur to cook up in a dingy bathtub.

    Hermann, one of the IT drones at work is big into home brewing. He brought in a case of Kölsch that he brewed at home. He knows I like a good beer and have a very well developed palette so he was interested in my opinion on it. I refused to even taste it. Based on Hermann's physical apperance (combats, grubby Star Wars t-shirts, greasy hair and unkempt goatee) I don't think hygiene is a major priority for him. God knows what germs were inside those green bottles.

    No, if I want a beer I'll leave it to the experts who know what they are doing and are strictly regulated.


  • #26
    Banjo String
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,380 ✭✭✭✭Banjo String


    Maybe Hermann is an expert Aongus.

    Don't judge a book by the cover lad.


  • #27
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    Banjo String wrote: »
    Load of landrovers???

    Aye, Mid Ulster Auctions must have had a big one coming up, had to park a few over there :P


  • #28
    Aongus Von Bismarck
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,794 ✭✭✭Aongus Von Bismarck


    Banjo String wrote: »
    Maybe Hermann is an expert Aongus.

    Don't judge a book by the cover lad.

    If you saw Hermann you'd err on the side of caution too I'd imagine BS.


  • #29
    Herb Powell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,097 ✭✭✭Herb Powell


    Banjo String wrote: »
    8.5% :eek: that's near wine territory lol:pac:

    It's kind of mid-range really, go do some exploring of Belgian ales, you'll have fun. Trappistes Rochefort, Gulden Draak, etc, all above the 10% mark.
    Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »
    I have very little time for "home brews"

    If I want a beer I'm not going to trust it to some amateur to cook up in a dingy bathtub.

    Hermann, one of the IT drones at work is big into home brewing. He brought in a case of Kölsch that he brewed at home. He knows I like a good beer and have a very well developed palette so he was interested in my opinion on it. I refused to even taste it. Based on Hermann's physical apperance (combats, grubby Star Wars t-shirts, greasy hair and unkempt goatee) I don't think hygiene is a major priority for him. God knows what germs were inside those green bottles.

    No, if I want a beer I'll leave it to the experts who know what they are doing and are strictly regulated.

    lel

    The main difference between a good proportion of homebrewers and professionals is scale. That's it. The process is fundamentally the same.


  • #30
    P_1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,681 ✭✭✭✭P_1


    Links234 wrote: »
    I want to try and make mead :)

    Noone likes a boaster :P


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  • #31
    larrymiller
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,456 ✭✭✭larrymiller


    Made my own beer a few years ago it was pure muck, wouldn't drink it If I was paid.
    But a kind of family "tradition" of making poteen I've been making is top notch but pure poisin at the same time. I suppose that means I'm doing it right


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