Home Brewing

[VSS]

The bottling rod also has the correct displacement for the void you leave in the bottleneck.

If you brim the bottle and them removed the rod, you have that perfectly uniform neck gap in each bottle.

That sounds far too technical!

 

[Morkai]

That sounds far too technical!

The bottling wand is very handy to be fair. It's a good and cheap piece of kit.

 

[TringSaint]

That sounds far too technical!

All you do is push the wand down and the little spring loaded stopper open up the flow. To stop it you just let go.
Perfect 2” gap is left at the top of each bottle.

 

[TringSaint]

But sucking on the pipe, and getting a mouthful, is all part of the fun!

(Cue rude comments....)

Now I know why you don’t use sterilising fluid to clean your kit!!

 

[FrenchieBoy]

I have just "Taken the plunge" and ordered all the home brewing gear I need to start me off as well as a Geordie Bitter kit to start off with so I'll see how thing go but will continue to watch this thread for any hints or tips I can glean from it.


I have been bouncing a few PMs backwards and forwards with VSS who I would like to thank for all of his help and advice and of course answering my basic (And maybe stupid to some) questions.
Many Thanks for your time, help and patience Sir!

 

[Morkai]

I have just "Taken the plunge" and ordered all the home brewing gear I need to start me off as well as a Geordie Bitter kit to start off with so I'll see how thing go but will continue to watch this thread for any hints or tips I can glean from it.


I have been bouncing a few PMs backwards and forwards with VSS who I would like to thank for all of his help and advice and of course answering my basic (And maybe stupid to some) questions.
Many Thanks for your time, help and patience Sir!

You're a YouTube chap, Frenchie.

There are a wealth of good step by step videos out there if you're stuck.

 

[FrenchieBoy]

You're a YouTube chap, Frenchie.

There are a wealth of good step by step videos out there if you're stuck.

Yes mate, that is where I have spent hours "researching! YouTube can be a pain in the back side at times and in many cases you don't know exactly what you can believe but it does have some good points!

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

I just need to buy the BIAB set up then I will give it a go.
I have found a recipe for a Leffe blonde clone which I really want to try. Also one for old peculiar!

I use a bag and burco for the mash and then a separate boiler for the boil. All got of facebook marketplace pretty cheap (except the bag, I got that from a brewing shop)

 

[Essexsussex]

Yes mate, that is where I have spent hours "researching! YouTube can be a pain in the back side at times and in many cases you don't know exactly what you can believe but it does have some good points!

If you enjoy this, I fully encourage you to go the next step and make with a dried malt kit. What you make now will be good, the dried malt kit will be very good and then when you are addicted you’ll do brew in a bag and results will be excellent!

 

[Essexsussex]

I use a bag and burco for the mash and then a separate boiler for the boil. All got of facebook marketplace pretty cheap (except the bag, I got that from a brewing shop)

Almost what I do but I restrict to just the burco, lift the bag out and boil in there. Either way works great and all grain is absolutely the way to go and really not hard.

 

[FrenchieBoy]

If you enjoy this, I fully encourage you to go the next step and make with a dried malt kit. What you make now will be good, the dried malt kit will be very good and then when you are addicted you’ll do brew in a bag and results will be excellent!

I understand and agree with what you are saying but just for now I think I need to learn to walk before I try running. However who knows what the future holds, especially as I am quite partial to a Guinness or Porter and some of these "Craft Beers"!
Maybe we should have a dedicated "Home Brewing Recipe" thread!

 

[Essexsussex]

I understand and agree with what you are saying but just for now I think I need to learn to walk before I try running. However who knows what the future holds, especially as I am quite partial to a Guinness or Porter and some of these "Craft Beers"!
Maybe we should have a dedicated "Home Brewing Recipe" thread!

Guinness / porter is about the easiest all grain to make, there are plenty of places to hide all ills behind the burnt malt.

Enjoy whatever you do!

 

[Morkai]

I very crudely marked off every 5L with the Dremel in this 50L behemouth.

Should help when boiling and mashing.

 

[TringSaint]

I understand and agree with what you are saying but just for now I think I need to learn to walk before I try running. However who knows what the future holds, especially as I am quite partial to a Guinness or Porter and some of these "Craft Beers"!
Maybe we should have a dedicated "Home Brewing Recipe" thread!

Have a look at the malt miller website - they have loads of clone recipes on there for full and part grain kits. Some are official and others are from home brewers who have recreated their fave beers.

 

[Morkai]

Guinness / porter is about the easiest all grain to make, there are plenty of places to hide all ills behind the burnt malt.

Enjoy whatever you do!

The only thing I'm not mad on with stout/porter is having them carbonated. It's never as nice as a Carb/Nitrogen mix.

 

[FrenchieBoy]

Have a look at the malt miller website - they have loads of clone recipes on there for full and part grain kits. Some are official and others are from home brewers who have recreated their fave beers.

Many thanks! I've just registered with The Malt Miller!

 

[Essexsussex]

The only thing I'm not mad on with stout/porter is having them carbonated. It's never as nice as a Carb/Nitrogen mix.

I have nitrogen as well as co2 that I use for dispensing wine. Handy to use for Guinness type things making a mix.

 

[Morkai]

I have nitrogen as well as co2 that I use for dispensing wine. Handy to use for Guinness type things making a mix.

Perfect. I cant stand a stout with a coca cola mouthfeel.

 

[TringSaint]

Perfect. I cant stand a stout with a coca cola mouthfeel.

Just adjust the amount of brewing sugar added for secondary fermentation. I use 1 tsp per bottle for lagers, 0.75 tsp per bottle for an ipa type ale and 0.5 for heavy ales and stouts.

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Almost what I do but I restrict to just the burco, lift the bag out and boil in there. Either way works great and all grain is absolutely the way to go and really not hard.

Yeah, I originally was going that rout but my burco has a cut of at 95 degrees so couldn't get a rolling boil. It would cut, and temp drop down to high 80s and heat back up. I made one smash beer with it and it turned out fine but decided to get a second boiler as it came up cheap. My problem is storing bottles