Homebrewing

[Dave-sparks]

Well I just bought 4lb of local honey to make mead. Still need to get a big, induction hob friendly, pot:

View attachment 372618

You can make mead without heat, which has the advantage of not altering anything in the honey.

 

[brewdexta]

I wouldn't go back to kits, not that I think there's anything wrong with them, but I have loads of fun creating my own recipes with software like Brewfather and all grain is far cheaper. A sack of pale malt is about 30 quid and I can make 160 litres of ale with that, and I grow some of my own hops. Throw in a couple kg of other malts and some decent yeast and off you go. I think my last brew was about 25 to 30 quid for 150 bottles, so under 20p a bottle and my mates say it's as good or better than pub ale.

I have thought of using the Grainfather type of kit but they only brew a cup full at a time and cost quite a bit. This was homemade and reasonably cheap (except the new shiny pumps) and can brew 150 bottles of ale at a time

Cheers

 

[Jamie nixon]

I wouldn't go back to kits, not that I think there's anything wrong with them, but I have loads of fun creating my own recipes with software like Brewfather and all grain is far cheaper. A sack of pale malt is about 30 quid and I can make 160 litres of ale with that, and I grow some of my own hops. Throw in a couple kg of other malts and some decent yeast and off you go. I think my last brew was about 25 to 30 quid for 150 bottles, so under 20p a bottle and my mates say it's as good or better than pub ale.

I have thought of using the Grainfather type of kit but they only brew a cup full at a time and cost quite a bit. This was homemade and reasonably cheap (except the new shiny pumps) and can brew 150 bottles of ale at a time

View attachment 372634

Cheers

I just haven't got the time or the space for all grain at this minute, i would like to do it though.
Just as you mention grainfather have you seen these growlers before?

Grainfather Stainless Steel Swing Top Growler 2L Capacity - Brew At Home

A great solution for taking 2L of beer from your keg to wherever you need to go

brewathome.shop

 

[Guineafowl]

I have thought of using the Grainfather type of kit but they only brew a cup full at a time and cost quite a bit. This was homemade and reasonably cheap (except the new shiny pumps) and can brew 150 bottles of ale at a time

I did price up a home-built, custom setup like yours, but decided it would end up costing similar money to a GF. My mate went your way and is happy with his setup, but I think it takes him longer than me to clean everything down, as there are more pots.

A while back I dispensed with the hassle of bottles in favour of Corny kegs. (One GF batch fits neatly in one). Have you ever tried them? I think they’re great.

 

[brewdexta]

I just haven't got the time or the space for all grain at this minute, i would like to do it though.
Just as you mention grainfather have you seen these growlers before?

Grainfather Stainless Steel Swing Top Growler 2L Capacity - Brew At Home

A great solution for taking 2L of beer from your keg to wherever you need to go

brewathome.shop

I've never seen them before, but I avoid looking at brewing sites in case I spend something!

Brew in a bag is all grain and doesn't take much space and you can get fantastic results.

There are loads of tutorials, you can adjust the size to fit your needs https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/biab-guide-for-beginners.49766/

 

[Guineafowl]

I just haven't got the time or the space for all grain at this minute, i would like to do it though.
Just as you mention grainfather have you seen these growlers before?

Grainfather Stainless Steel Swing Top Growler 2L Capacity - Brew At Home

A great solution for taking 2L of beer from your keg to wherever you need to go

brewathome.shop

Looks nice, but I normally use a 1 L flip-top, Grolsch type bottle (from IKEA, I think) for my travel beer

My brother-in-law liked my Gamma Ray batch so much he took some for the 2hr journey home in his tea thermos! His wife was not amused as he was already one or two sheets to the wind.

 

[brewdexta]

A while back I dispensed with the hassle of bottles in favour of Corny kegs. (One GF batch fits neatly in one). Have you ever tried them? I think they’re great.

Possibly

I have a couple more in the beer fridge and some more lurking somewhere.

I tend to keg one from each brew and bottle the rest unless there's a party coming up.

 

[Jamie nixon]

Looks nice, but I normally use a 1 L flip-top, Grolsch type bottle (from IKEA, I think) for my travel beer

My brother-in-law liked my Gamma Ray batch so much he took some for the 2hr journey home in his tea thermos! His wife was not amused as he was already one or two sheets to the wind.

brilliant

 

[Jamie nixon]

If anyone wants to enter a 100quid competition, here it is.

Brewathome.shop

COMPETITION TIME AGAIN! It's that time again! This prize can be used by yourself or perhaps given to someone you know for Christmas?! It's entirely up to you and it can be spent in store...

www.facebook.com

 

[Onoff]

I just haven't got the time or the space for all grain at this minute, i would like to do it though.
Just as you mention grainfather have you seen these growlers before?

Grainfather Stainless Steel Swing Top Growler 2L Capacity - Brew At Home

A great solution for taking 2L of beer from your keg to wherever you need to go

brewathome.shop

Like no growler I've ever seen...

 

[xmetal]

I brew beer from the grain too. I can can brew up to 80l at a time and have a couple of stainless steel conical fermenters plus a smaller one to transfer to. I use Corneleus kegs, a smaller 5 pint SS keg and bottles. I gave up with pressure barrels as they were too unreliable.

 

[Onoff]

I've not brewed for a few years but used to use this recipie (or similar), for mead which doesn't need boiling.

Turns out OK too, and even better if you let it mature for more than a fortnight.

Joe's Ancient Orange Mead Recipe

Joe's Ancient Orange Mead Recipe is the perfect recipe for beginners which you'll find all over the internet. It was originally posted by Joe Mattioli on a website called Got Mead many years ago and went viral.

www.almostoffgrid.com

Any idea what sort of ABV that turns out at?

 

[premmington]

Lyme Bay Traditional Mead 750ml - English Mead, Other - Grape Britannia

Buy Lyme Bay Traditional Mead 750ml & celebrate any occasion or indulge in a quiet evening at home. Explore the best English Mead, Other today.

www.grapebritannia.co.uk

14.5%

 

[Maker]

I have thought of using the Grainfather type of kit but they only brew a cup full at a time and cost quite a bit.

That was my objection, too expensive, but also I wanted to build it. A grainfather is great if you just want to make beer, but I wanted to make a brewery, the beer is just a by-product.

 

[DanZac]

Any idea what sort of ABV that turns out at?

Think it was about 13% give or take.

It comes out pretty dry if you take it right down, so if you can find a yeast that wont ferment it right out it comes out a bit sweeter, and to my taste a bit nicer. I can't remember what yeast I used though, so not much help there (probably a beer yeast instead of a wine one though)

Go easy on the cloves too, they really overpower everything else if your not careful.

 

[Onoff]

Ta

Think it was about 13% give or take.

It comes out pretty dry if you take it right down, so if you can find a yeast that wont ferment it right out it comes out a bit sweeter, and to my taste a bit nicer. I can't remember what yeast I used though, so not much help there (probably a beer yeast instead of a wine one though)

Go easy on the cloves too, they really overpower everything else if your not careful.

Thanks, I've gone with this:

BULLDOG 28g High Alcohol Mead Yeast & Nutrient Sachet 5031174300080 | eBay

Mix 20L of water (30-35°C) with 6-9kgs of honey.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Onoff]

The mead yeast I'm getting says it's good for 20L of water and 6-9kg of honey.

I'm only making a gallon using a couple of kilos of honey.

Do I still put the whole yeast sachet in?

 

[brewdexta]

Yes. The quicker the yeast get to full population the better as they exclude other organisms that you don't want.

 

[Jamie nixon]

Possibly

View attachment 372636

I have a couple more in the beer fridge and some more lurking somewhere.

I tend to keg one from each brew and bottle the rest unless there's a party coming up.

i would love corny kegs but i don't have the space at the minute. one thing i have looked at is the growler above or a 5L mini keg with a tap, that way it will fit in the fridge and its 10 less bottles to bottle.
also see below i could fit full batches of turbo cider in these.

Mangrove Jack's Mini Keg With Ball Lock Cap 5L (AU/UK) - Brew At Home

Portable size 5L Stainless Steel Mini Keg, can pressure carbonate (using the ball lock cap). Great for taking beer to a friends or for small batch sizes.

brewathome.shop

 

[Maker]

i would love corny kegs but i don't have the space at the minute. one thing i have looked at is the growler above or a 5L mini keg with a tap, that way it will fit in the fridge and its 10 less bottles to bottle.
also see below i could fit full batches of turbo cider in these.

Mangrove Jack's Mini Keg With Ball Lock Cap 5L (AU/UK) - Brew At Home

Portable size 5L Stainless Steel Mini Keg, can pressure carbonate (using the ball lock cap). Great for taking beer to a friends or for small batch sizes.

brewathome.shop

You'd get a Corny keg for that price, have you got space for a half sized one?