Amateur brewers, beer, wine & cider?

[Pedrostt500]

Years ago I used to brew beer from kits, at best it was horrible stuff, but back then Alcohol volume was the go.
I have just got back into the brewing, but I'm more interested in brewing Ciders, and fruit based wines. I have put down my first few brews, one is an apple based wine, will be simmilar to a cider, the second is a cider, and the third is a perry, that is a pear based brew.
So now I have to wait and see if I'm going, end up sitting on a couple of gallons of vinagar, or not.
I am keen to hear from any one who has an orchard that has an excess of fruit for their needs.

So what KB brewers do we have and what do you brew?.

[GOONR]

Years ago I used to brew beer from kits, at best it was horrible stuff, but back then Alcohol volume was the go.
I have just got back into the brewing, but I'm more interested in brewing Ciders, and fruit based wines. I have put down my first few brews, one is an apple based wine, will be simmilar to a cider, the second is a cider, and the third is a perry, that is a pear based brew.
So now I have to wait and see if I'm going, end up sitting on a couple of gallons of vinagar, or not.
I am keen to hear from any one who has an orchard that has an excess of fruit for their needs.

So what KB brewers do we have and what do you brew?.

I have tried to brew a couple of times, ended up with something that paint would run a million miles from.. I gave up, still have all the kit so might have another go at it at some point.

Will be interested with how you get on.

[P38]

Beer kits are ok, got some good results....Unfortunately I dont drink much so ended up with dozens of bottles collecting dust in the shed,

Cider is easy as to brew too, and with a little care you can acheive good results. I found windfall apples to be the best. Used to mix Granny Smith and Braeburn 50/50.

I like brewing Ginger Beer during the summer. Also easy as and everyone seems to like it too.

[Pussy]

Anyone got a ginger beer plant they're willing to share?

[SMOKEU]

I make beer, cider, fruit wine and spirit. Then I laugh at all the people who pay in excess of $30 for a litre of vodka when I can make the same quality product (or better) for about $6.50 per litre.

[Lucy]

I make beer, cider, fruit wine and spirit. Then I laugh at all the people who pay in excess of $30 for a litre of vodka when I can make the same quality product (or better) for about $6.50 per litre.

What sort of still do you use? Is there handy website you could point us to?

[rainman]

So what KB brewers do we have and what do you brew?.

Usually have a plonk red on the go from the homebrew shop kits, not too shabby if you leave them longer than they say you should (fermenting and resting). Finishing off the ginger beer I made (kit not plant, not bad but won't do again). and have two demis of plum wine on the go, one at the final stages of fermentation, another going to be bottled this week probably. Have brewed beers before with OK but not stellar results. Tried an old kit I had around recently and it is not doing so well so I should chuck it and get another one running... maybe tomorrow if the brew shop is open.

I'll have some apples in a month or so and will give cider a go then. Never done it before, any tips from the pros?

[yachtie10]

Interested in Ginger beer (alcoholic) and that perry sounds good
recipies or links if you have them would be great

would also be interested it the equipment if anyone is getting rid of theirs

[Berries]

I'll have some apples in a month or so and will give cider a go then. Never done it before, any tips from the pros?
No tips yet, only just getting the apple trees in, but this site might be of use - http://www.howtomakecider.com/ Some of it is basic, but the stuff on pressing and pulping may be worth a read.

[CookMySock]

I occasionally drink someones homebrew beer, and its usually fucking disgusting. I wouldn't mind having a go at making a really good micro-filtered beer thats not too strong in taste and alcohol content.

Homebrew spirits on the other hand, is really good. Properly distilled and filtered, it's way way better than the tractor fuel you buy at the liquor store, and as has been observed, cheeeeeep! The biggest problem with homebrew spirits, is drinking four litres of the shit every week. Not good.

Steve

[Okey Dokey]

I found windfall apples to be the best. Used to mix Granny Smith and Braeburn 50/50.

How do you prepare the fruit? Do you use a juicer on a food processor, or do you have a press, or something else? Thanks.

[scissorhands]

Cruising around Oratia, I see shitloads of old orchards...

vege shops put out $1 box's of decaying apples and fruit

I'm sure if you ask at places you will find

[bungbung]

I brew beer from scratch (full mash). It kicks arse.

[SMOKEU]

What sort of still do you use? Is there handy website you could point us to?

Still Spirits Super Reflux. yourshout.co.nz or aquavitae.co.nz. Search on Google to find your LHBS.

[SMOKEU]

Have a look at the group I have started http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/group.php?groupid=128

[rapid van cleef]

I make my own spirits. anything you can think of, well, in fact, never mad brandy yet............gotta get some flavourings for that. I drink very little. Its just nice to be able to have a glass or two of southern comfort if i feel like it, and not have to have paid 40-50 bucks for the pleasure. Wifey likes to make cocktails now and again so its cheap for that. For the price of 1 shot and a mixer in a bar I can make a litre of the stuff at home. But then you dont get the whole, going out experienece that i do like.

Weve got a Guava tree and we were wondering about making wine or sumat out of that............well the fruit that is!. Any ideas?

[yachtie10]

you can make guava wine
or distill it for spirits
you can make spirits from pretty much any fruit vegetable or grain plus some others im sure
how it tastes is the main issue

[spajohn]

I've just got back into beer brewing and am about to bottle my third batch tonight. I first tried years ago when I lived in Sydney...living in an apartment that hit 35-40c during the days made for some pretty awful brew. This time around living in an insulated house in Wellington I'm getting much better results...have used Munton's and Brewcraft kits, some with dextrose, another with malt extract. May try an all grain brew once I get the kits turning out OK.

[P38]

How do you prepare the fruit? Do you use a juicer on a food processor, or do you have a press, or something else? Thanks.

Crush the apples whole, collect all the juice and pulp. Put it all into a large bucket with a loose fitting lid and leave it for a long time.... over winter is good.
Empty the contents of the bucket into a press. Squeeze all the juice out and finish the fermentation. filter. bottle then leave for another longtime. open and enjoy.

[Pedrostt500]

Interested in Ginger beer (alcoholic) and that perry sounds good
recipies or links if you have them would be great

would also be interested it the equipment if anyone is getting rid of theirs

Here is the ginger beer recipe that I use,
For the plant,
Glass jar with screw top, ie preserving jar.
1/2 ounce Brewers yeast, though I use a tea spoon of Edmonds Active Yeast.
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup of tepid water, about body temprature.
feed plant daily for a week, 1 teaspoon sugar & 1 teaspoon ground ginger.
Mixing the ginger beer.
4 lemons,
3 cups of sugar,
5 cups of boiling water,
12 cups of cold water,
In a large bowl or pot place 3 cups of sugar and juice of 4 lemons, stir together well, add 5 cups of boiling water and stir untill sugar has disolved. Then add 12 cups of cold water and stir once again.
Strain the plant through a muslin cloth,( or a peice of fine curtain netting material non paterned,) into the bowl, the ginger beer is now ready for bottling, enough bottles for approxamatly 4.5 litres.
I use the schweps small glass screw top bottles they hold about 330 ml's, and store them in a plastic stacker crate, just incase any exsplode, though the small plastic coce bottles would be fine as well.
I find the ginger beer is drink able in 4 days, and the best is from the second batch onwards.
To restart the plant just empty the solids from the muslin cloth back into your plant jar, add a cup of tepid water a teaspoon of ground ginger, and a teaspoon of sugar, and feed again for 7 days.
have fun.

[Pedrostt500]

opps miss read that, posted a naon alcoholic ginger beer.

[Pedrostt500]

ok try this link for the Perry
http://www.forum.realbeer.co.nz/profiles/blogs/perry-making
And I am working from a book called Cider written by Anne Proulx & Lew Nichols ISBN 978-1-58017-520-3, this is written for the American market, but alot applies world wide. It is not hard to find information on cider making on the Web as there are more sites than you can shake a stick at.
at present I use a good home juicer for juicing apples and pears, though I do have plans for an apple grinder and press to be built some time in the future.

[Leviticus]

I need to make some cider then, haven't had a decent one since I've been here. My favourite had a Honey flavour added, and was very strong, but was smooth and easy to drink.

Could be fun....