Home Brew

[Steam]

If you are using big glass bottles, sterilize them by stacking them in the oven, and warm them up real slow to max oven temperature and leave them there for about an hour.
This means you don't need to bugger about with Sodium Metabisulphite, it's a chore sterilising all those bottles the conventional way.
To do a larger batch, put a bit of tinfoil over the tops of the bottles, this will keep the first batch sterile for the few hours you'll need to sterilize the rest via the oven method.
I found the bottles would stay sterile with the tinfoil on top for a week or so. Convenient!

[peasea]

Shadows info was pretty good. We used to brew all year round and had a wee belt to keep things at temp. Wash everything thoroughly, this step can't be rushed. The 'infection' comment was spot on, it's so easy to get bugs in ya brew. Don't touch anything without washing your hands very well. Like casually strolling up and checking your SG after you've just taken a dump. We used glass bottles for ages and I preferred the result, those big 'pub pets' are easy but I reckon the quality dropped off. If you get it right you'll get a good brew for a good price. Labour intensive tho, but satisfying. Good luck and stay away from your bike after you've a had a couple, sometimes that shit can sneak up on ya!

[Sidewinder]

Last week I brought myself a home brew kit, and I've got my first brew fermenting as we speak and should be ready for bottling in the next day or so.

Are there any other KBer home brewers? Have you got any tips for a noob or any favorite recipes?

What about bad experiences with home brew...come on...lets hear 'em.

Mmmmmm give us your adress and i can show how to drink it

[Slingshot]

Thanks for the comments everyone, I've just finished racking the brew into the second fermenter, took an SG reading and I calculate the % alcohol at 3.3%, hopefully that'll increase with this next phase of fermentation.

The brew itself smells fantastic and has a great colour, it is still fairly murky but that should clear (fingers crossed).
It also tastes great, I only indulged in a very small amount but it tasted quite smooth with a refreshing hoppy after taste, I can't wait to get it bottled and aged now!!!

I need to get another brew down quick smart.

[Indiana_Jones]

And although guys find dutch ovens are funny, women don't .

Nonsense, AJ loves the Dutch oven lol

-Indy

[boostin]

Thanks for the comments everyone, I've just finished racking the brew into the second fermenter, took an SG reading and I calculate the % alcohol at 3.3%, hopefully that'll increase with this next phase of fermentation.

The brew itself smells fantastic and has a great colour, it is still fairly murky but that should clear (fingers crossed).
It also tastes great, I only indulged in a very small amount but it tasted quite smooth with a refreshing hoppy after taste, I can't wait to get it bottled and aged now!!!

I need to get another brew down quick smart.

Just to drag up the past, how did it go?

[Slingshot]

Just to drag up the past, how did it go?

I've been really pleased with the results. Have got a couple of batches bottled and another that's long over due for bottling...looks like it'll be ok still though.

Both batches are clear as crystal the taste has improved with age. The ale has mellowed quite a bit, it initially had quite a bite but now it's superb.

Both batches are a little over carbonated for my liking, they form a nice head but that dissipates pretty fast. I'll use less sugar next time I bottle, hopefully that'll mean smaller bubbles too so the head might last for longer.

[boostin]

I've been really pleased with the results. Have got a couple of batches bottled and another that's long over due for bottling...looks like it'll be ok still though.

Both batches are clear as crystal the taste has improved with age. The ale has mellowed quite a bit, it initially had quite a bite but now it's superb.

Both batches are a little over carbonated for my liking, they form a nice head but that dissipates pretty fast. I'll use less sugar next time I bottle, hopefully that'll mean smaller bubbles too so the head might last for longer.

Sounds good, I am thinking of buying one of the 'Starting Kits' with all the basic gear...I am just worried that I won't be able to match commercial beer quality with a kit type brew.

Have all your brews been the 'kit' type, and do they match the likes of the main NZ commecial beers?

[98tls]

Pm Banditb12 hes been brewing for years and makes some awsome stuff.

[boostin]

Pm Banditb12 hes been brewing for years and makes some awsome stuff.

Thanks will do.

[Slingshot]

Have all your brews been the 'kit' type, and do they match the likes of the main NZ commecial beers?

Yeah...full grain brewing is pretty full on so I've stuck to the kits. The advice I got was to buy decent kits ($20ish per kit for about $23 liters of beer) and use dextrose rather than normal sugar.

IMHO, the homebrew that I've made so far has been FAR superior to the typical commercial beers like Tui. I find those beers quite dull now but have gained an appreciation for beers that I wouldn't have tried in the past.

The other advice I had was to make sure everything was absolutely clean, and then to sterilise everything.

[Shadows]

When are you having your piss up then?

[The Pastor]

Myself and mag do the homebrew, we are just finishing off our first batch - was the awesome.


Our next batch is going to be cider. YUM!

[Usarka]

Myself and mag do the homebrew, we are just finishing off our first batch - was the awesome.


Our next batch is going to be cider. YUM!

You want to mix them together with a dash of blackcurrant and have yourself a homebrew snakebite

[koba]

Both batches are a little over carbonated for my liking, they form a nice head but that dissipates pretty fast. I'll use less sugar next time I bottle, hopefully that'll mean smaller bubbles too so the head might last for longer.

Another point that is often overlooked is the pour, even if the brew aint the best for bubbles if you nurse it nice into the glass it really helps. probably already know that tho!

Another thing is use cold glasses (the colder the better) and ALWAYS make sure they have beenrised with detergent free water before any beer goes in them because the detergent can break the bubbles down..

there may be a few hombrewers in the welly reagion by the looks of it... enough to justify a homebrew tasting (pissup)???