Solitary chicken - need advice

[stoice]

Was thinking of getting my OH a beer home brewing kit but just thought I'd ask you knowledgeable lot your advice.

Are they any good?

Does the beer taste ok?

Where is best to buy one? (I was thinking on-line, not too expensive, all in one kit if poss.)

 

Thanks guys.

 

Stacey

[docsquid]

My experience with this is that the beer tasted absolutely vile - it was cheap, and had alcohol in it, but that was where the resemblance to real beer ended. Mind you this was years ago and the kits may have improved a bit.

 

I do a lot of winemaking with considerably better results - I don't use the kits, use wild elderberries and blackberries and it tastes pretty good.

[Snowy]

You do need to get the really good quality ones - there are some out there. Otherwise yes they are vile

OH has just taken the dog out. I'll ask him which ones he recommends when he gets back

[Couperman]

The reason a lot of cheap home brew kits taste vile is because they recommend you use standard refined white sugar. The yeast cannot convert all of the sugar to alcohol and the bit that remains is responsible for the 'homebrewy' vileness.

 

If you use spray dried malt extract or brewers sugar instead you will get much better results even with a cheapy kit. Another approach which I am told works is to use two brew kits for one batch (ie the treacly stuff in the tins) and leave out the sugar altogether.

 

Coopers are good kits.

 

I am currently using an ingredient kit which is a bit more of a faff on but you do feel more like a proper brewer. You get to play with grain and hops and stuff and the results have been as good if not better than you can get from the pub and certainly better than tinnies. It works out about 40p a pint. (without taking the equipment into account)

 

here is the link **summer ale recipe kit**

I brewed 40 pints for christmas and I have er well supped 30 of em already, hic.

 

I use these little mini-keg things, they are easy to cart around to parties and stuff and they fit in the fridge if you like your beer cold.

**Mini-kegs**

 

I have got a bit hooked on it now and I am going to invest in more equipment to brew from scratch in search of the perfect pint and a big red nose

 

I hope this helps.

 

Kev.

[Guest]

my hubbie makes 'milestone old homewrecker' he's done it a cple of times now and it's really nice! Just finished off a keg so am hoping he'll make another in time for Christmas!

 

you'll need a plastic keg and a gas thingy to put the fizz in and a fermentation bucket to make it in and other bits and bobs but we love the taste, it's really nice!!!!

 

http://www.milestonebrewery.co.uk/onlineshop_homebrew.html

 

we're lucky in that we have a really well stocked and knowledgable home brew shop near us. If you have a local home brew shop, go in and ask for their advice.

 

there's some reviews about it here...

 

http://www.brew-it-yourself.co.uk/shop/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=562

 

I've noticed that site also tells you about all the other kit you'll need too...

 

http://www.the-online-homebrew-company.co.uk/shop/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=78_113&products_id=899

 

but you might find the stuff cheaper in your home brew shop or in Wilkinsons or even ask on freecycle, people buy the stuff and then get bored so you might be lucky!

[stoice]

That's great guys thanks so much.

 

I was considering a brewZer from boysstuff but it seems you're stuck to forever buy their refills, whereas a standard kit means i could use any ingredients to make ciders, bitters lager etc.

 

I've found a local supplier http://www.colchesterhomebrew.co.uk/colchesterhomebrewshop/ so that should be helpful for advice too.

 

Yay! Christmas pressie for the man who has everything - Done!

 

Sx

[Guest]

let me know what you get, would be interested to see

 

p.s. that looks like a great shop, I'm jealous!

[Snowy]

Whatever you do, DON'T get the Brewzer, it's disgusting! OH recommends Woodfordes.

http://www.woodfordes.co.uk/index.html

OH says if you join their club you get discounts on the kits.

[Guest]

.... OH recommends Woodfordes.

http://www.woodfordes.co.uk/index.html

OH says if you join their club you get discounts on the kits.[/color]

 

gosh, they seem expensive

 

if he likes a nice bitter/ale tell him to try the milestone one, it really is lush and a lot cheaper

 

**edit** ignore me, was looking at the beer boxes instead of the kits

 

I like the sound of 'admiral's reserve', which one does your husband like?

[Snowy]

.... OH recommends Woodfordes.

http://www.woodfordes.co.uk/index.html

OH says if you join their club you get discounts on the kits.[/color]

 

gosh, they seem expensive

 

if he likes a nice bitter/ale tell him to try the milestone one, it really is lush and a lot cheaper

 

**edit** ignore me, was looking at the beer boxes instead of the kits

 

I like the sound of 'admiral's reserve', which one does your husband like?

 

His favourites are Nelson's Revenge, Admirals Reserve or Headcracker (superb but does what it says on the tin!!! )

[Guest]

will give it a go, ta

[TAJ]

Whatever you do, DON'T get the Brewzer, it's disgusting! OH recommends Woodfordes.

http://www.woodfordes.co.uk/index.html

OH says if you join their club you get discounts on the kits.

 

Yes Woodfords also recommended here - it has won many awards. Available from a lot of home brew places, or direct from the brewery website online (join their club for free and get 10% off every time you order.

 

Tracy

[stoice]

I went for this in the end.

Although I got mine from the shop i mentioned above for £25 but i got a 'free' extra ingredient thingy for another 40 pints and loads of advice. I went with a lager one to start but it can be used for any type of homebrew after that and i think my OH would love some of the ales and stouts on offer. The guy in the shop always has a selection for customers to try (And i noticed they were all the milestone ones so i think they'd be the best)

 

Anyway, thanks for all the advice, I'll let you know how he gets on after Christmas

 

S xx

[dafdalziel]

Hi there.

 

I love real ale and after buying the 'Precycle' book wanted to have a go at homebrew.

 

To get all the gear in one go, I decided to buy the Youngs bitter starter kit from Wilkinsons as an experiment. expecting it to be a failure and so wasting the least amount of money.

 

I followed the instructions to the letter with the only difference being the use of Glucose powder from Morrisons rather than normal sugar weight for weight (Recomended in the Precycle book).

 

Again, I was dubious but after 2 weeks decanted the brew into a pressure barrel, this time using granulated sugar to prime. I tried making my own Marmite with the left over dregs, but that was disgusting!!! (Thanks Precycle)

 

I tested my brew every so often and in didn't seem to be clearing and I was about to write it off as a failure and give up on it. However, during a dinner party (fantastic 70's style fondue) I poured off a glass to show my guests and found it had cleared perfectly, AND tasted fantastic!!! Better, to me, than most pub pints.

 

I really love and have been drinking it for about 3 months now (I'm not a heavy drinker!) and it gets better with age. It is alcoholic, but not overly strong.

 

I am one happy home brewer and can't wait to do the next one. DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!!

 

Regards. Steve.