Hi guys, this may well be done in several parts as i get boared really quickly and also i want to give more experienced carnoisseurs a chance to add in any tips ect.
Anyway before i lose your interest before we even start its probably best we get right into it.
2 Weeks ago i was new to it. Reviews and comments put me off but after trying some home brewed bitter at a local show (I live in devon and we love our brew down here) i decided to have a go myself. The bitter it tried was a bog standard £6.99 kit and was brewed to show people how easy it was to get into it and it tasted gorgeous!
Anyway we must go on, im getting bored already!
Equipment
I must stress that this is a one off purchase and after you've brewed a few kegs it will pay itself off.
Your will need:
A Brewing bin:
A Syphon Tube:
And either a Keg:
Or bottles... (Doesnt need a picture)
Total cost of the set up is about: £30 - Or second hand anything from £8-£25
£20 for the keg, ranging up to £45 for a really decent one.
£0.59 for the syphon tube 1.5m in length
£10 for the fermenting bin or bottles.
This is starting to feel like one of my old science write ups...
The Ingredients
I bought a kit. Basically you get the hops, malt ect already done for you so it removes like 8 hours worth of work.
Its best to start with a kit and work up to doign it yourself.
The kits range in price. I bought a £6.99 cheap one that makes 40 pints but you can but £19.99 ones that do not need anything ect just water and these are meant to resemble higher quality brewers bitter.
A general kit will look like this:
or a more expensive one:
And that all you need.
Side note
You can buy a Hydrometer to work out the rough alcohol % of your beer and when its ready to bottle but thats personnal choice. They are about £2.50 though.
Also you will need steriliser to sterilise your equipment but it only costs 69p ad that will be enough for about 6 cycles.
What to do!
This is the fun part. Its takea bout an hours worth of work in total to brew your beer. In 4 weeks you could eb enjoying your first beer!
If your using a kit this is what to do:
1) Open your kit, use a tin opener and pour the contents into a sterilized bucket. Add the suger if required.
2) Add hot water (from a keetle) until the mixture is a gallon in volume. Mix the contents together.
3) Make the mixture upto 5 gallons in total using cold water, tap water is fine ( I recommend only producing 35 pints as it will yield a stronger richer beer)
4) Add the yeast to your mixture and lightly put the lid onto the barrow. You want to let the air made escape.
5) Leave the mixture in a warm place about 19-22 degrees celcius for 5-7days
*** 5-7 days Later***
If you have a hydrometer the reading should be about 1.005 grav. If not then bubbling and frothing should now have ceased.
6) Syphon the liquid into your keg or bottles addingabout hlaf a teaspoons of suger per pint. This gives it the fizz and pressure to come out of the keg or bottle.
7) Leave the bottles or keg out of direct sunlight ina cool place for about 3-5 weeks.
***3-5 weeks later***
Your beer will be ready to drink. Invite your friends round and enjoy. Homebrew beer always tastes stronger than shop bought i find and after going to 5 homebrew parties now i wouldnt go back to shop bought beer. The alternatives to the likes of the big brand beers and bitters are so much better or should that be bitter
Ok im starting to get cheesy so its time to stop. Any questions ask me and ill pop next door and ask the experts. If anyone wants to add anything let me know or add it here anyway.
If your still reading you must be very keen!
Shr3k
Anyway before i lose your interest before we even start its probably best we get right into it.
2 Weeks ago i was new to it. Reviews and comments put me off but after trying some home brewed bitter at a local show (I live in devon and we love our brew down here) i decided to have a go myself. The bitter it tried was a bog standard £6.99 kit and was brewed to show people how easy it was to get into it and it tasted gorgeous!
Anyway we must go on, im getting bored already!
Equipment
I must stress that this is a one off purchase and after you've brewed a few kegs it will pay itself off.
Your will need:
A Brewing bin:
A Syphon Tube:
And either a Keg:
Or bottles... (Doesnt need a picture)
Total cost of the set up is about: £30 - Or second hand anything from £8-£25
£20 for the keg, ranging up to £45 for a really decent one.
£0.59 for the syphon tube 1.5m in length
£10 for the fermenting bin or bottles.
This is starting to feel like one of my old science write ups...
The Ingredients
I bought a kit. Basically you get the hops, malt ect already done for you so it removes like 8 hours worth of work.
Its best to start with a kit and work up to doign it yourself.
The kits range in price. I bought a £6.99 cheap one that makes 40 pints but you can but £19.99 ones that do not need anything ect just water and these are meant to resemble higher quality brewers bitter.
A general kit will look like this:
or a more expensive one:
And that all you need.
Side note
You can buy a Hydrometer to work out the rough alcohol % of your beer and when its ready to bottle but thats personnal choice. They are about £2.50 though.
Also you will need steriliser to sterilise your equipment but it only costs 69p ad that will be enough for about 6 cycles.
What to do!
This is the fun part. Its takea bout an hours worth of work in total to brew your beer. In 4 weeks you could eb enjoying your first beer!
If your using a kit this is what to do:
1) Open your kit, use a tin opener and pour the contents into a sterilized bucket. Add the suger if required.
2) Add hot water (from a keetle) until the mixture is a gallon in volume. Mix the contents together.
3) Make the mixture upto 5 gallons in total using cold water, tap water is fine ( I recommend only producing 35 pints as it will yield a stronger richer beer)
4) Add the yeast to your mixture and lightly put the lid onto the barrow. You want to let the air made escape.
5) Leave the mixture in a warm place about 19-22 degrees celcius for 5-7days
*** 5-7 days Later***
If you have a hydrometer the reading should be about 1.005 grav. If not then bubbling and frothing should now have ceased.
6) Syphon the liquid into your keg or bottles addingabout hlaf a teaspoons of suger per pint. This gives it the fizz and pressure to come out of the keg or bottle.
7) Leave the bottles or keg out of direct sunlight ina cool place for about 3-5 weeks.
***3-5 weeks later***
Your beer will be ready to drink. Invite your friends round and enjoy. Homebrew beer always tastes stronger than shop bought i find and after going to 5 homebrew parties now i wouldnt go back to shop bought beer. The alternatives to the likes of the big brand beers and bitters are so much better or should that be bitter
Ok im starting to get cheesy so its time to stop. Any questions ask me and ill pop next door and ask the experts. If anyone wants to add anything let me know or add it here anyway.
If your still reading you must be very keen!
Shr3k
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