The home brew thread

[dangerous]

Been 20 years since I brewed at home, last weekend I called in on the one and only Ghost Bullet and checked his shit out (drinkable shit) things have changed in 20 yrs like instead of a teaspoon of detrose its a carbon drop or something.
Right so 20yrs back I was doing the hell brew people came for miles to get a slurp, but then it all went wrong, duno why evey brew tasted like it was burnt, any hows...

curently building a man cave secretly descised as a bikers bar, and soon as I have finished it Ill be brewing again... spill the beans guys, tell us ya sucesses and balls ups, 'bikers rest' needs to get this shit right, who likes what brands and why, how do ya do it and what tips ya got...

[Drew]

You talking spirits, or beer?

Because I have NEVER tasted a home brew beer, that I'd pay for...or recommend to anyone I like.

[dangerous]

You talking spirits, or beer?

Because I have NEVER tasted a home brew beer, that I'd pay for...or recommend to anyone I like.mate... I only drink beer in green bottles as a general rule, german, french Iti etc, so Im a picky cunt (well cunt anyway) ... Ghosties brews were bloody good, I rated what I tried as good as 1664 and grosh etc
nothing like the shit I brewed 20 years back... were you even a twinkle in ya old mans ball bag then? LOL

GB also does spirits, had some burbon disteling when I was there the booze was soaking in choped up kegs to get the tast, one this at a time tho 1st the beer then Ill take GB on with the whiskys etc.

[Ghost_Bullet]

Home brew beer is awesome, initially all I wanted was a still to make some bourbon and the like, but the price was a bit high for a decent still, a home brew beer kit showed on trademe last year, and I kinda had to buy it. Now I am working around 14dozen glass 750ml bottles and 30 plastic 750ml bottles, that means can allow brews to mature and the like to get the flavour.

Just lovin it... all ya gotta do it take ya time, keep it all clean.....apart from the dirty girl pics on the man cave walls, and ya be laughing....

Just about to head out for dinner so cant share much more now. But heres a pic of some of the brews in bottles.


Booom Yo.

Pics are Beer in crates, including some cider, Some beer and spirit wash fermenting, and a few spirits made up one night.

[Str8 Jacket]

Been 20 years since I brewed at home, last weekend I called in on the one and only Ghost Bullet and checked his shit out (drinkable shit) things have changed in 20 yrs like instead of a teaspoon of detrose its a carbon drop or something.
Right so 20yrs back I was doing the hell brew people came for miles to get a slurp, but then it all went wrong, duno why evey brew tasted like it was burnt, any hows...

curently building a man cave secretly descised as a bikers bar, and soon as I have finished it Ill be brewing again... spill the beans guys, tell us ya sucesses and balls ups, 'bikers rest' needs to get this shit right, who likes what brands and why, how do ya do it and what tips ya got...

My man makes some bloody good homebrew. Uses fresh hops (even grows his own) and experiments with different malts and yeasts etc. He's a big book reader so has researched all different styles and how things work and don't work. I've really enjoyed some of his beers and some not so much but quite a few of our mates are enjoying his beers now too.

I shall point him in the direction of this thread! :)

[Ghost_Bullet]

GB also does spirits, had some burbon disteling when I was there the booze was soaking in choped up kegs to get the tast, one this at a time tho 1st the beer then Ill take GB on with the whiskys etc.


Cheers dude..... Hey next time I buy some chunks, I will get some of the whiskey ones and see what we can get out of them. ;)

[Akzle]

huh. I thought we already had one of these.

Drew. You gotta try my shit. If any of it lasts long enough. If you spent more time smoking joints and riding bikes, you'd have less time to fuckup a homebrew prematurely.


I brew kits for 2 reasons. Theyre cheap and im lazy.

If you have the time and inclination, grain brewing gives you heaps more options on profile, finish, abv etc.
That said, use brown sugar instead of white, or malt extracts and you can play with cans a bit.

Still bottle prime with sugar.
The carbo drops will give you fizz faster, but since i age all mine at least a month,idgaf. And i rekn it be cheaper to rack into a 2nd and batch prime instead of drops.

Bottles suck. If you can afford kegs, do.

Build a kegerator. With tapstands, like a badass.

Your burnt beer was probably a young dark ale that you started in autumn (with cracker sugar) and went into bottles in winter, amirite?
If youd kept it 8 months it would have been delicious.

I dont fuck around with heatpads etc, but theyre cheap easy way to get more consistent.

Dont try brewing all your shit 10%
session beers will keep more friends.

Learn the art of pouring.

Stop buying commercial beer.

[Big Dave]

Be careful huh. Three guys died from drinking a crook batch of home brew spirits over here last week.

Nasal vodka:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/lethal-home-brew-kills-third-queensland-victim-vincent-summers/story-e6frg6nf-1226662384206

[Akzle]

Booom Yo.

Pics are Beer in crates, including some cider, Some beer and spirit wash fermenting, and a few spirits made up one night.

so its a bottle off ye be wanting eh...
When its daylight i'm'a post my brag pix...

[Drew]

Drew. You gotta try my shit. If any of it lasts long enough. If you spent more time smoking joints and riding bikes, you'd have less time to fuckup a homebrew prematurely.




Next time I ride to Aukland, I'm coming up to your shanty for one of your beers then niggah!

[Akzle]

Be careful huh. Three guys died from drinking a crook batch of home brew spirits over here last week.

theres a difference between brewing and distilling.
If you drink distilled heads (methanol) you go blind. Or die.
Thus the expression 'blind drunk'

meanwhile, everyone go find 'how beer saved the world'

[scumdog]

Cheers dude..... Hey next time I buy some chunks, I will get some of the whiskey ones and see what we can get out of them. ;)

Now THAT sounds like a grand idea...gimme a yell when it's ready:drinknsin

[Akzle]

Next time I ride to Aukland, I'm coming up to your shanty for one of your beers then niggah!

game on.
crated 2 yetterday. That was yer dry lager. So ready about november. Which is when i hav to get my crop in. Hmm.
Putting down a draught tomorow.
Of course, i do tend to associate with alcoholics, so take yer chances

[mashman]

I've gotz the ingredients, and have had for a couple of months, that are just screaming to be used... yet I can't be arsed until I've done the fridge conversion. Praps I should just do it anyway then Drew can taste some real nasty shit.

[Sable]

Fuck all this beer and spirits bullshit, make some Kilju.

[Akzle]

OP, get on realbeer.co.nz
all your answers there. Lots of peopl running microbreweries, probly some near you could hold your hand if needed...

And if you want a still, get it soon. Government going to start registering buyers.

[Str8 Jacket]

Fuck all this beer and spirits bullshit, make some Kilju.

Got several litres of it here. I would be happy to see it go, he wouldn't. Want some? (j/k)

[Akzle]

Fuck all this beer and spirits bullshit, make some Kilju.

do it with golden syrup bro. Its like getting smashed drinking hokeypokey.

[Akzle]

I've gotz the ingredients, and have had for a couple of months, that are just screaming to be used... yet I can't be arsed until I've done the fridge conversion. Praps I should just do it anyway then Drew can taste some real nasty shit.

you dnt need frig to brew. You can age it until you do the frig, and be all classy.

[mashman]

you dnt need frig to brew. You can age it until you do the frig, and be all classy.

I already do age it, it gets an extra 6 days.

[Icemaestro]

anyone done an alcoholic ginger beer? Been googling but wouldn't mind some experience. I've done a couple of ciders (apple and then a feijoa), have a 25L brewing bucket thing with an airlock, the hydrometer, sterilising stuff, beer and wine sweetener...

[dangerous]

can't be arsed until I've done the fridge conversion. this is why I post, seems asuming ya talking bout a fridge to keep beer at a constent temp its not nessary, GB just has his on the floor, think the temp thing is over rated?

[Akzle]

anyone done an alcoholic ginger beer? Been googling but wouldn't mind some experience. I've done a couple of ciders (apple and then a feijoa), have a 25L brewing bucket thing with an airlock, the hydrometer, sterilising stuff, beer and wine sweetener...

not personally. But if you grain brew, add ginger.
Try boundary's 'grizly beer' for inspiration. All their shit is too hoppy for my tastes. Again. Realbeer.co.nz.

Howd the fejoa go? Did you do it as wine and bottle carb?

[Icemaestro]

Feijoa was friggin difficult getting all the little seeds out! Came out tasting beautiful, a million times better than shop stuff that you can barely taste the feijoa. Not sure what turns it into wine? I racked off about 5 times and strained through cheese cloth about 3 times though. came out moderately clear, awesomely fizzy. I ended up making it quite sweet for the wife, she thought it was an odd mosquato or whatever it is when I gave it to her!

[mashman]

this is why I post, seems asuming ya talking bout a fridge to keep beer at a constent temp its not nessary, GB just has his on the floor, think the temp thing is over rated?

I guess it depends on what you're brewing. I've got zero experience but I blame the heat for the last failure... again though, dunno if that's because I brew the fizzy cold stuff (from the supermarket, classy). First batch was ok. Second batch was quite nice (blackdog seemed to like it). Third batch was a dismal failure, which I drank anyway because it would have been rude not to. It came out about christmas time when the fridge was full of food and sat out for 3 days. I threw it in and some weeks later it came out all 'orrid with next to no fizz. Although the more you drank it the better it got, pfffft, it was still uber shite. I was waiting to do a fridge conversion before I put the next batch in, but may just throw this one in and do the bottle drudge one more time. Could be that the temp thing is overrated, but the ones that went straight into the fridge turned out much nicerer.

[Drew]

I've gotz the ingredients, and have had for a couple of months, that are just screaming to be used... yet I can't be arsed until I've done the fridge conversion. Praps I should just do it anyway then Drew can taste some real nasty shit.

Hahahaha, I don't drink that shit man. Simon gave me a bottle of his lager a while ago, first bottle of home brew I've ever finished. Still wasn't to my liking though.

But I'm fussy with beer. I dislike all the "craft" beers I've tried...and I FUCKIN HATE tui.

[Akzle]

Feijoa was friggin difficult getting all the little seeds out! Came out tasting beautiful, a million times better than shop stuff that you can barely taste the feijoa. Not sure what turns it into wine? I racked off about 5 times and strained through cheese cloth about 3 times though. came out moderately clear, awesomely fizzy. I ended up making it quite sweet for the wife, she thought it was an odd mosquato or whatever it is when I gave it to her!

added yeast or au naturale?
so bascicly just fermented fejoa, you didnt add fizz for bottling?

I mash shit inside a cotton pillowcase, keeps most of the crud out once you rack it off and squeeze it out.

[mashman]

Hahahaha, I don't drink that shit man. Simon gave me a bottle of his lager a while ago, first bottle of home brew I've ever finished. Still wasn't to my liking though.

But I'm fussy with beer. I dislike all the "craft" beers I've tried...and I FUCKIN HATE tui.

heh... WTF do ya usually drink then?

[Drew]

heh... WTF do ya usually drink then?Heineken! It's pretty much all I really like.

Hense I'll go up norf and have a hoon finding Akzle's tin hut, and drink his attempt at something similar.

Malcolm plans on trying to make one aswel, to prove me wrong about home brew being fuckin shite.

[Akzle]

But I'm fussy with beer. I dislike all the "craft" beers I've tried...and I FUCKIN HATE tui.

hmmm. Get down to the dux nuts in chch, if it hasnt fallen off. Cant remembr what they called it, but had a fine range of homebrews.
But youre probably just a fussy cunt.
Go a guiness?

[Drew]

Go a guiness?I have had a guiness, on St Patrick's day. Finished it because it cost about a million bucks, but I think I'll pass on ever having another one...


And don't you go making excuses fucker, I'm coming up to try your drop!

[mashman]

Heineken! It's pretty much all I really like.

Hense I'll go up norf and have a hoon finding Akzle's tin hut, and drink his attempt at something similar.

Malcolm plans on trying to make one aswel, to prove me wrong about home brew being fuckin shite.

Oh fuck I nearly vomd. I've always been a Becks man myself. I've got the Euro lager on the shelf which, when tested side by side with the Becks was nicererer... the missus seconded that. Not that it'll turn out that way this time, ha, but if it does, I'll reserve ya one... mebee.

Have fun dear :D

[mashman]

If anyone ever has anything near a recipe for Caffreys, I'll swap you a child or my wife for it.

[Icemaestro]

added yeast or au naturale?
so bascicly just fermented fejoa, you didnt add fizz for bottling?

I mash shit inside a cotton pillowcase, keeps most of the crud out once you rack it off and squeeze it out.

champagne yeast, I added a little white surgar to the bottling, also added sugar to the fermenting at the beginning, set it at about 7-8% My first one I did just from apple juice the easy way and it came out amazing...but I'd set it at 10% and then added a fair bit of sugar for secondary fermentation :-P. rather alcoholic!

[Akzle]

If anyone ever has anything near a recipe for Caffreys, I'll swap you a child or my wife for it.

I'll take one of each

irish red porter?

Googluh caffreys clone recipe

[mashman]

I'll take one of each

irish red porter?

Googluh caffreys clone recipe

Will box 'em up following a taste test. Yes I know I changed the rules, get over eet. I might have to have a crack once the Euro Lager is bottled.

Never tried it. Caledonian 80/-? was fuckin lervely, but you had to be at the offy when it came in or it vanished instantly. Fortunately Dad kept his wine and beer stock up.

[Akzle]

Will box 'em up following a taste test. Yes I know I changed the rules, get over eet. I might have to have a crack once the Euro Lager is bottled.

Never tried it. Caledonian 80/-? was fuckin lervely, but you had to be at the offy when it came in or it vanished instantly. Fortunately Dad kept his wine and beer stock up.

it calls itself irish ale. Brewd to 4.8%

youd want to go bigger, prob 7-8. It'll be a hot brew, add lactase for smoothness and a bit of sweet head. Personally, id chuck some espresso in. Heavy on wheat/rye balance with crackd crystal malt
Half carbonate but keg with nos.

Fuckd if im doing it for you, cracker.

[far queue]

this is why I post, seems asuming ya talking bout a fridge to keep beer at a constent temp its not nessary, GB just has his on the floor, think the temp thing is over rated?I use an old cupboard that I rescued from a kitchen renovation years ago. I wired a light fitting and a thermostat into it. A 100w bulb and the thermostat set to 18° is all you need. No need to get too flash. The beer tastes great. I used to brew about 20 years ago also and started up again in the last year or so. I like Mangrove Jacks Mexican Cerveza - it's tastes similar to Carona. I bottle mine in glass 330ml bottles - 1 brew will fill 70 bottles.

[Ghost_Bullet]

I like Mangrove Jacks Mexican Cerveza

A damn nice brew that is to. And interesting the differing flavor between plain dextrose and enhancer pack

[dangerous]

brought me a kit yesterday, guy at linwood your shout is a hard case... so its been over 20yrs since i did it but tonight a mangove munch larger is going down

[far queue]

A damn nice brew that is to. And interesting the differing flavor between plain dextrose and enhancer packYeah, they were both nice, just different. That Dutch Lager is nice and clear at home, I guess it just didn't travel well. It's still got LOTS of head though - I don't know what that's all about.


brought me a kit yesterday, guy at linwood your shout is a hard case... so its been over 20yrs since i did it but tonight a mangove munch larger is going downThat's where I go. He knows his stuff all right.

[Ghost_Bullet]

And the guy at the Brew Shack in Rangiora loves to talk beer.

[mashman]

I've recently acquired all of the bits n pieces to convert the fridge and finally went to grab the plastic brewing container. I had had it filled with water for the last few months and in that time is has developed a red scum in various parts of the barrel. Is there anything I can get from Bunnings etc... so that I can clean the container and lay my brew down tonight? Coz that'll get my A into G in regard to converting the fridge.

[kevfromcoro]

I had a big brewing container,, 50ltr I think
would double up the mix. 46ltrs at a time
when was ready I would siphone it into a keg
then charge is up with c02
didn't need the sugar in the keg
was normally ready in a day or 2
also made some fejoa wine...
brewed it in a keg.....
when I took the top of ,, it nearly blew half the trees off the coast
did get a wee sample
it was ok....

[Akzle]

I've recently acquired all of the bits n pieces to convert the fridge and finally went to grab the plastic brewing container. I had had it filled with water for the last few months and in that time is has developed a red scum in various parts of the barrel. Is there anything I can get from Bunnings etc... so that I can clean the container and lay my brew down tonight? Coz that'll get my A into G in regard to converting the fridge.

we had this conversation.
Bleach. Either chlorine or sodium hypochloride. About a table spoon/10lt.
Contact time >20mins, scrub the old krausen with dish brush, not steelo.

Triple rinse with boiling water, (swish a 2lt kettle full around the bucket, tip, repeat.)

[mashman]

we had this conversation.
Bleach. Either chlorine or sodium hypochloride. About a table spoon/10lt.
Contact time >20mins, scrub the old krausen with dish brush, not steelo.

Triple rinse with boiling water, (swish a 2lt kettle full around the bucket, tip, repeat.)

And you thought I'd just take your drunken arsed word for it :D
Did a little reading on bleach and sooooo many folk don't agree with using it, primarily because of residual taste. So I'll give that one a miss.

However, the missus decided to treat herself with my poker winnings and bought herself one of them thar steam cleaners for the carpet. It has a nozzle. I'm about to open it and give it a blast.

[dangerous]

has developed a red scum in various parts of the barrel. Is there anything I can get from Bunnings etc... so that I can clean the container and lay my brew down tonight? IMO... through it out and for a copule a bucks you can get a new one, just aint worth all the time and effort that goes into the brew.

[Ghost_Bullet]

Its been a slosher of a weekend weather wise, but stuff been made to even out the wetness to the outside vs the inside. The last few days, put a Craft Series Mixed Berry Cider down (apple raspberry and black current) Distilled a wash for spirits, and last night put down a Cascade Choc Mahogany Porter. These two brews into my converted fumigation cabinet fitted with a thermostat and couple of light bulb fittings as a heat source. Made of Freezer sandwich panel. It could fit a max of 6 barrels.... Boom... roll on summer bitches. :msn-wink::bleh::Punk:

[dangerous]

GB... theres something about that 1st photo that just aint right...
the BIG question is... when are we having a 'sleep over' ie, trying all this shit of yours???

[Ghost_Bullet]

GB... theres something about that 1st photo that just aint right...
the BIG question is... when are we having a 'sleep over' ie, trying all this shit of yours???

Ha ha ha yeah looks like I am stirring shit.... Rammy (my ram) has many use's. hehe.

Yeah yeah, I do like the idea of having a bit of a paaartay, bringa tent and sleep it off.

[dangerous]

Fuck... just remembered I started this thread... so beta bring shit up to date.
New bar is well under construction, second brew just bottled and a 3rd to go down... 1st will be readyish in another week to sample but will leave for another month.

286562 286563 286564 286565

[Ghost_Bullet]

Fuck... just remembered I started this thread... so beta bring shit up to date.
New bar is well under construction, second brew just bottled and a 3rd to go down... 1st will be readyish in another week to sample but will leave for another month.

286562 286563 286564 286565

Good looking bloody shed, gonna have to come check that shit out.

[dangerous]

Good looking bloody shed, gonna have to come check that shit out.bring Rammy man... few of his mates over the fence at the mo,

[mashman]

IMO... through it out and for a copule a bucks you can get a new one, just aint worth all the time and effort that goes into the brew.

I did think about that, but don't really have any time during the week to get out and get one... anyhoo, the steamer seemed to do the trick. Beer down, beer fridge to go.

[Akzle]

Beer down, beer fridge to go.

http://www.scancrit.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/excellent-4689_preview.png
. .

[Akzle]

i call down the wisdom of kaybeeland!

Got an ale going. Decided to throw coffee at it. (8 spresso shots/20lt)
now im thinking the coffee is too much for it.
So, can i add malt and or lactose before primary finishes, or do a secondary adding a stout mix and fuckall more sugar. (shooting this one about 7% as is)...
Go

[dangerous]

Quick update on my brewing... went off using a kg of dectrose and now just use a all malt kit, just bottled me 3rd in a row tryed the 1st 2 and yeahhhhhhhhh dont think Ill go back to sugar

[Akzle]

Quick update on my brewing... went off using a kg of dectrose and now just use a all malt kit, just bottled me 3rd in a row tryed the 1st 2 and yeahhhhhhhhh dont think Ill go back to sugar

use raw sugar or coffee crystals. Less refined but a similar level of fermentables.
I makem syrup first to kickstart.
Dont even use white sugar to prime, unless you like flame style bubbles.
Might have to have a play with twocan brews again too.