Thread: Homebrew beer, who's doing it?

Just in the process of making my first brew. Who else here does this, and what advice would you pass on after you've learnt from doing/mistakes or successes.

Kj

@kiwijames and @P38

@kimjon

Good on ya for giving it a go.

My only advise is:

Clean, Clean, Clean, A clean brewery is a good brewery.

Cheers
Pete

Cheers Pete and Toby.

Yes I've been a bit "brewcurious" for a while now. Finally manned up and went to a shop and brought a heap of gear last weekend. My wife is very tolerant and the fermenter is sitting in our open plan kitchen pride of place with the heat pump seat on a constant temp...

I'm starting easy with a kit as the base of this brew, being a first timer. Will see how it goes and then up my game to biab?

Anyway advice always appreciated.

Kim

Do you need any bottles for bottling?
I have a heap I need rid of and by the time I am through getting my lot drank I will simply have more than enough.
All brown glass bottles, probably about 50 or so. If you would like them give me a pm and will sort something out. Probably have more than that come to think of it.

My latest batch of Cider came in at a shade under 11% Alcohol.

I added 1kg of white sugar into a 15 Litre batch.

I usually don't add any sugar and achieve around 6% alcohol

My mate and his wife both gave the 11% batch the thumbs up for taste, fizz and all-round drinkability on Friday Night ,

However they weren't so enthusiastic on Saturday Morning after four bottles each , especially after a month long sabbatical of no drinking.

The 6% Cider is much more my style with little or no after affects after a bottle or two.

https://youtu.be/FurWqvpGTNM

Cheers
Pete

Many thanks Willie, pm sent.

Pete, wow 11% !!!! Just finished bottling mine, its an ale and should finish up approximately 4.25% ABV.

Now, waiting....waiting...oh the waiting.... until it does its thing in the bottles.

Kj

Originally Posted by kimjon

Many thanks Willie, pm sent.

Pete, wow 11% !!!! Just finished bottling mine, its an ale and should finish up approximately 4.25% ABV.

Now, waiting....waiting...oh the waiting.... until it does its thing in the bottles.

Kj

Be patient Grasshopper.

The longer the wait the better the off you'll be.

Forget about it until July.

Cheers
Pete

@kimjon, I've always thought of doing the same, I'll watch this thread with interest!
@P38 are you making your cider from kit, juice or apples? Keen to hear more!

Originally Posted by huntingkiwi

@kimjon, I've always thought of doing the same, I'll watch this thread with interest!
@P38 are you making your cider from kit, juice or apples? Keen to hear more!

Hunting Kiwi

Made from Juice is easier and produces a good product.

Check out my video a couple of lines up.

Cheers
Pete

Woops, sorry @P38, been up since early am. Great video and inspiring!
Have you found cheaper sources for the juice, commercial suppliers, or is buying by the bottle at the supermarket when on special about the cheapest you can get?

Originally Posted by huntingkiwi

Woops, sorry @P38, been up since early am. Great video and inspiring!
Have you found cheaper sources for the juice, commercial suppliers, or is buying by the bottle at the supermarket when on special about the cheapest you can get?

Kiwijames has some commercial contacts which would most likely be cheaper jucie than the supermarket but you may have to purchase in bulk.

Me I make 15L batches and buy the juice from the supermarket ... even at full price the Juice is only around $20 and the yeast is around $5 (Ferments 30L)

So around $22:50 per batch or about $1:50 per Litre, which is pretty cheap cider.

Cheers
Pete

It's been pretty easy so far. No harder than making a cup of tea...just on a bigger scale (23L of beer). Will be a couple more weeks until its ready to drink as it needs a little time for everything to work its magic. I'll post an honest review when I taste it...good or bad.

Kj

Look up BIAB or 'brew in a bag'.it's the cheapest way to make heaps better bet than you get in can kits.

Originally Posted by Wildman

Look up BIAB or 'brew in a bag'.it's the cheapest way to make heaps better bet than you get in can kits.

Looks good, will get a couple brews under my belt to get the hang of it and then will definitely give the biab a go.

Cheers
Kj