Home Brew Questions

[butcher]

and DO NOT use granulated sugar in beer, ever.

Use beer enhancer if you must but even with pure malt a 50p a pint beer is easily acheivable.....

 

[Addy]

and DO NOT use granulated sugar in beer, ever.

Use beer enhancer if you must but even with pure malt a 50p a pint beer is easily acheivable.....

If you want cheap liquid malt extract then try this..

I have used them for extract brews aswell as kit additions and you really cant beat that price anywhere.

 

[mr steev]

My local pub keeps the empty bottles in a huge bin out back with easy access so I am going to get mine from there. I like Addy's balloon tip, saves me a quid on an airlock! Cheers for the advice peeps.

Check them with a capper first. Some you can't fit caps onto (generally have a slightly bulbous neck - thirsty feret bottles for one irrc) Best to find out before you have 40 open bottles all full of beer (voice of experience! )

I can't remember what they're called, but you can get some syphoning gadget that has a little pin on the end which controls the flow (press it on the bottom of the bottle for it to flow, then as soon as you lift it it stops) They cost a couple of quid more than just the taps but make bottling a lot easier, quicker and less messy

 

[TopCat]

That makes a lot of sense.

 

[mr steev]

A bottling stick
http://www.copperkettlehomebrewing.co.uk/bottling/102/bottling-stick

 

[Addy]

Check them with a capper first. Some you can't fit caps onto (generally have a slightly bulbous neck - thirsty feret bottles for one irrc) Best to find out before you have 40 open bottles all full of beer (voice of experience! )

Yeah, Jennings brewery bottles can only be capped with a bench capper.
If you can, ask a local for used Magners / Bulmers bottles as they are 1 pint, they are thicker than most and it means less work.


+1 for Vidine a £5 bottle will last a lifetime and no rinse required, but if you cant get that then use THIN bleach at a rate of 1/2 cup per 5 gallons but ensure you rinse x 3 after sanitising.

 

[Addy]

...p.s I hated using the bottling stick.... took too long.
Just a length of tube, a keen eye and a balance of gravity is much quicker.

 

[mr steev]

...p.s I hated using the bottling stick.... took too long.
Just a length of tube, a keen eye and a balance of gravity is much quicker.

Really? Maybe it's because I always end up bottling at night when the light is not best, but I always used to end up making a right mess. Thankfully I've got a stone floor, but I don't like to think of the wastage
I'm pretty ok at wine, but I think that's because the bottles are bigger and you get more time to prepare to swap

 

[butcher]

I can't remember what they're called, but you can get some syphoning gadget that has a little pin on the end which controls the flow (press it on the bottom of the bottle for it to flow, then as soon as you lift it it stops) They cost a couple of quid more than just the taps but make bottling a lot easier, quicker and less messy

Bottling stick

DANG perryroast!

 

[butcher]

Vidine at 1:1000 is the mutts for disinfecting.....

 

[mr steev]

I read on a forum a while ago that someone got some Videne from Asda so it seems quite easy to get hold of. I asked at a local chemist and they ordered it in for me

 

[friedaweed]

I'm in the middle of a funky Mango super Stout. All from reduced price items

2 x

2x

1x

1x

Total cost is around 12 sovs for 40 pints

 

[spring-peeper]

and DO NOT use granulated sugar in beer, ever.

My son-in-law brews his own beer. He has won a number of awards.

His next batch will be using our maple sap as the sweetener.

I'm guessing he will be heeding your warning.

 

[William of Walworth]

Stig to alert her to this thread. Like loads who've already posted here, she knows her shit on this subject

 

[Addy]

Strange yeast to use on that brew friedaweed I'll be interested in how the flavours are once its fully conditioned.

 

[friedaweed]

Strange yeast to use on that brew friedaweed I'll be interested in how the flavours are once its fully conditioned.

I had it spare after I ordered 2 for my last trap beer and only needed one. It's gonna be shite or nice innit

 

[TopCat]

My local Mitcham pound style shop have a 25 litre food quality bin with lid for £3.99. I think this may be an unpleasant expense but necessary!!

 

[badseed]

I know that you know already...but- http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/quick-home-brew-question.209938/

A great thread with something for everyone.

 

[sojourner]

Damn this thread makes me wanna make some more barley wine! Mmmmm barley wine.

 

[TopCat]

I have had a couple of kind offers of stuff from urbanites, I thank thee muchley. I have also been contacted by a fella off my local recycle forum who has a hydrometer and a "few bits and bobs". He seemed to get quite enthusiastic in helping me when he knew I was re starting brewing after a 26 years absence. I am seeing him on Saturday.

I am drinking all the water at work to empty another 16 litre water cooler bottle.

I think I am going to try and brew cider, beer and wine. We are having a summer party and it will be good to be able to be generous to our friends.

 

[Addy]

The Wurzels Orange Wine is a good cheap white to make.

 

[butcher]

Turbo cider is a good cheap way to start, I believe Tesco have basic apple juice at 80p-ish for 4 L, that means 40 pints for under £9.

I used this recipe, and backsweetened with Stevia sweetener:

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=36513

 

[TopCat]

I got some bits and bobs off a bloke from the local freecycle forum. He threw in a bottle of elderflower champagne which was jolly nice of him and jolly nice to drink as well.
I have started:

• 16 litres turbo cider
• 23 litres of bitter
• 4.5 litres of wine.

 

[butcher]

Up date, had a tester on the Turbo today, feckin' lush, just right sweetness and good apple flavour!

 

[TopCat]

Well all mine is going blub blub blub. I better get a move on and get ready to rack off the trub, it would be good if I had something to do this in/had collected some bottles for the following stage.

 

[TopCat]

I had better start collecting bottles.

 

[Addy]

I've not forgot to post to you TC, just sorting stuff out and getting time to get to PO

 

[TopCat]

I siphoned off the beer and cider today into new containers. They are sitting outside in the cold overnight.

 

[TopCat]

Is it right to say I racked off my trub? Whatever, I siphoned off the beer and cider into large sterile containers and left them outside last night to see if they would clear. I had a few sips of each, the cider was quite tart. The beer smelt and tasted good.

I have realised I need to get 70 (pint) bottles and have them clean and sterilised for Wednesday so I can bottle up. It’s probably expecting too much of me to buy 70 bottles of beer and drink them.

I am fretting about this a bit; it would be a shame to fuck it all up given the effort thus far. I will see if I can get a vehicle later and go begging down the pub for empties.

How do you get the labels off? Soak them all in a hot bath?

Also, do I need to use brewing sugar for the fermentation in the bottle?

 

[mr steev]

I wouldn't panic too much about racking it exactly 10 days after or whatever it says. I've left mine in the fermenting bucket a for a month or two after the instructions said to bottle it and it was fine.

The cider will taste a bit rough for a while. It really needs a good few months to mature ime.

I soak the bottles in hot water with a bit of washing up liquid. Then scrape them off with the back of a knife. You'll find some just slip off whereas others are a real pain and you'd probably need to use white spirit or something to get the glue off.

I use brewing sugar to prime, but I don't think you have to.