Home brewing kits ....

DezUk · 16 Oct 2013 at 16:11

Got my second brew on the go now, this time its Coopers Canadian Blonde, just got it going about 30 mins ago. As for the other batch its now bottled and in the shed awaiting a taster in December. I did give it a quick go when bottling it and tasted like its gonna be nice

Canadian Blonde

robj20 · 16 Oct 2013 at 16:54

I'm making a Passion Fruit cider at the minute. Aiming for 7.5% and medium sweet, really fizzy for a change as well, normally like my cider almost flat.

Garfo · 16 Oct 2013 at 20:24

can blonde is a nice drop

i have mex beer/export pills/euro larger

all very nice beers

SkeeterUK · 16 Oct 2013 at 21:00

Anyone got a price list for a beginner for this hobby. I want to make some beer for near end of next month maybe. Not rich so if possible list the cheapest stuff and maybe where to get it from if allowed. From sunderland so if anyone knows any stores that might do it cheaper than getting it online that would be cool as well. Dont really fancy spending more than 30-40 quid and hopefully this includes a cask instead of bottles as dont think i could be bothered capping all the bottles etc.

Oh this is for ale, maybe somit similar to newcastle brown ale perhaps?

seabiscuit · 17 Oct 2013 at 08:40

Well if you consider a kit such as this, the beer kit itself is £20-25, so it does work out about £40 for the equipment.

As for the Cider makers in this thread, (shamelessly stolen from over at Jims) Andrew Lea's book, Craft Cidermaking is on offer this week for £3 including shipping. Apparently today is the last day though, so be quick. He's apparently one of the UK's authorities on making cider from fruit, but I'm sure a lot of the information will be good for making it from juices too.

Edit. apparently the 18th is the last day

Pete1989 · 19 Oct 2013 at 11:45

Just got this setup in the cellar, we think its about 300-350 pints

DezUk · 19 Oct 2013 at 12:27

Hahaha no hanging about there, nice one!

Pete1989 · 19 Oct 2013 at 19:57

DezUk said:
Hahaha no hanging about there, nice one!

No point in *!*^!(* around

Had to tie the stopper down yesterday as it was forcing it out. Think I might even drill another hole in it and have 2 airlocks on it, since i would presume that the more apple juice the more gas is given off and i dont want it clogging and going BOOM!!!

DezUk · 19 Oct 2013 at 21:06

Can anyone advise me on carbonation?

I am tasting my St Peters IPA (shown above) and its tasting really nice though it has no head and hardly any fizz. I stuck a teaspoon of sugar in each bottle but there is only a slight hint of bubbles and absolutely no head. Ay tips on how to get it carbonated and with a decent head?

DezUk · 21 Oct 2013 at 16:13

Anyone got suggestions on how to get the brew carbonated, I've a Coopers Canadian Pale Ale nearly ready to bottle. Last time I added a little sugar to each bootle and capped them but was hardly any fizz and no head.

Cheers!

jimmy321 · 21 Oct 2013 at 20:03

DezUk said:
Anyone got suggestions on how to get the brew carbonated, I've a Coopers Canadian Pale Ale nearly ready to bottle. Last time I added a little sugar to each bootle and capped them but was hardly any fizz and no head.

Cheers!

Use a Priming Calculator

silent · 21 Oct 2013 at 21:38

use coopers carbonation drops mate. easy peesy and carbs up all the time.

DezUk · 21 Oct 2013 at 22:21

silent said:
use coopers carbonation drops mate. easy peesy and carbs up all the time.

Cheers mate!

FrenchTart · 21 Oct 2013 at 23:27

I've used the drops and though they are great once you start doing things regularly it is a lot cheaper to use a priming calculator as provided by jimmy321. Decant your beer to an extra bucket, add sugar and mix (trying not to mix in too much air) and then bottle. A bottling wand is really great for this kind of thing too.

Martynt74 · 22 Oct 2013 at 16:10

Anyone seen this? Looks good to me

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...-brewery-lets-make-pint-homebrew-kitchen.html

robj20 · 22 Oct 2013 at 16:55

DezUk said:
Anyone got suggestions on how to get the brew carbonated, I've a Coopers Canadian Pale Ale nearly ready to bottle. Last time I added a little sugar to each bootle and capped them but was hardly any fizz and no head.

Cheers!

Ditch priming altogether and force carbonate.
If you use a nitrogen/co2 mix it will give a better head as well.
I couldn't stand going back to priming, if i'm bottling i keg first, force carbonate at 25psi for a month or so then fill the bottles slowly

Mark A · 27 Oct 2013 at 12:25

Marvt74 said:
Anyone seen this? Looks good to me

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...-brewery-lets-make-pint-homebrew-kitchen.html

Way out of my price range, but looks good, maybe if they become popular the price will go down one day.

:rolleyes:

@ the DM comments...

DezUk · 28 Oct 2013 at 22:53

My Coopers Canadian is still bubbling away and it was started on the 16th, thought it would be ready by now.

FrenchTart · 28 Oct 2013 at 23:22

DezUk said:
My Coopers Canadian is still bubbling away and it was started on the 16th, thought it would be ready by now.

You'd expect it to be normally but if it has been cold it can sometimes delay things a little. Also, any idea of your original gravity and target final gravity? As the alcohol content gets higher the fermentation will slow down.

peige · 3 Nov 2013 at 21:15

I've just realised I've got 72 bottles of wine on the brew right now, 2 30 bottle kits (one brewing, one clearing), 2 x 6 bottle Wurzel variants.
Then I've got 23 litres of cider ageing, 6 bottles of my first wurzel mix ageing and then the end of my first wine kit that we are currently drinking.
Beer.. a Wherry thats just coming ready (already a few pints drunk) and a Muntons kit that i'm working my way through.

Only started this a few months ago. Not brought any beer or wine now since the day it first came ready and its so much nicer than the stuff we were buying.

All due to a post on here that lead to my first Muntons kit and the really helpful people in my local brew shop