Couperman Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 After the success of my extract and half mash brewing exploits, I decided to go for it and have a bash at brewing from scratch. The extra equipment wasn't cheap but should pay for itself in about 10 batches compared to supermarket tinnies and 3 batches compared to the pub, so worth the effort. I reckon it will cost about 40p pint. I am not really doing it to save money although that is obviously a bonus, It is just nice to be able to pour yourself a nice pint that is as good as you can get in a pub. That's the theory anyway, now for the easy part..... actually brewing it as good as you can get in the pub! Wish me luck! Anyhow just off to keg my last batch before entering the scary world of AG brewing....I will probably start next weekend and will take a few piccies as I go if anyone is interested. Big red nose here I come..... Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 It's great fun Kev - you'll really enjoy it. Carl was making full mash beers but hasn't had time since we moved to the farm....he's hoping to start again and have some ready for Christmas (it was going to be for this summer ) He has a good book which gives the recipes for all the well known beers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 so, kevs doing the "all grain" beer im making home made wine and im going to try turbo cider so, Christmas is going to be "interesting" cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Can I gate crash ? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 course you can *note to self - hide the green docs* ooooh, party at the coupercastle cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 My OH used to brew and although I don't like beer I understand from everybody else his stuff was really good, definitely pub standard (in fact for a while he daydreamed of having a microbrewery!) I often wondered whether this was partly our water - it is particularly pure, soft and with no taint of fluouride or anything. I remember he used to make some stout which was particularly nice, something light and hoppy for the summer and his 'house beer' was a straightforward bitter. He also made nettle beer (vile) and ginger beer (bit too gingery for me). The thing he never got round to which I would have liked was a fruit beer. Its quite time-consuming and it used to take two of us doing the muslin-straining bit (can't remember the technical term). OH bought a massive cheap saucepan from a chinese supermarket to heat the brew up in. The smell in the house was great on brew day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted August 8, 2010 Author Share Posted August 8, 2010 Well I have got my first 'All Grain' adventure under my belt! I used brewing calculator software (Qbrew) to formulate my recipe based loosely on an extract recipe I like. I aimed for a darker colour so tinkered with the ingredients and fiddled with the hop quantities a little. When the numbers predicted by the software looked right, (i.e. in the middle of the range for the beer type as I don't know what most of them mean yet!) I decided to go for it. I dropped a clanger with the 'batch sparging' but I improvised on the hoof and it turned out as it was meant to. After a bit of frantic research I found that I had accidentally used the 'Fly sparging' method so all is well. So I now have a 5 gallon bucket of lovely dark 'True Grist' ale fermenting away in the corner The whole process took a yonk (about six hours) but the equipment worked really well and it was straight forward enough. Everything looked and smelt like you would expect it so I am really looking forward to trying it, it looks like it tastes lovely, if you know what I mean The trouble I now have is all my beer kegs are already full and won't be ready for drinking for a week or two, so I will have to sup 5 gallons in about a week, or buy more kegs I am sure I will think of something! I forgot to take any pictures but will next time. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottieR Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 oooo, I have just seen this, I shall send my H this way. He is into AG brewing, he even got roped into writing a book about it. We harvested his hops on Monday so he can do a brew on Saturday, the smell in the car on the way back from the allotment was quite pungent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted September 4, 2010 Author Share Posted September 4, 2010 oooo, I have just seen this, I shall send my H this way. He is into AG brewing, he even got roped into writing a book about it. We harvested his hops on Monday so he can do a brew on Saturday, the smell in the car on the way back from the allotment was quite pungent! You grow your own hops too! I am well impressed. I might have to look into that. Any chance of the ISBN number for the book? Cheers, Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 4, 2010 Share Posted September 4, 2010 Kev - we grow Prima Donna hops. a 'dwarf' variety. Their commercial name is First Gold - very easy to grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottieR Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 They are really easy to grow, I can't remember where he bought them from, but they came in the post. There are two ISBNs on Amazon, not sure which one you need # ISBN-10: 1862058822 # ISBN-13: 978-1862058828. It hasn't come out yet, but I think it should be in the next couple of months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 They are really easy to grow, I can't remember where he bought them from, but they came in the post.There are two ISBNs on Amazon, not sure which one you need # ISBN-10: 1862058822 # ISBN-13: 978-1862058828. It hasn't come out yet, but I think it should be in the next couple of months. they both work ordered cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottieR Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 Ooo you are the first person that I don't "know" to have ordered it, thankyou. I shall tell the Husband. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 I've ordered it too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottieR Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Yay, thankyou. I hope its ok and you like it, not that I am doubting his ability or anything! The cordials are nice, I think we have made one or two from that section of the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Kev - we grow Prima Donna hops. a 'dwarf' variety. Their commercial name is First Gold - very easy to grow. Are they the dried ones you gave me Lesley? they ar ein a little pillow hanging from my head board! Work wonders to drift off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 our book came today at first glance it looks great (then Kev took it off me ) Kev is "planning" that means the house will become a class one brewery thank your husband for writing the book, Lottie cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted November 4, 2010 Author Share Posted November 4, 2010 Hi Charlotte I have more news for the 'Husband' with regards to his book..... I haven't read the book in depth yet but for what it's worth my comments are as follows, not in order of preference or anyfink Really good quality book, bound properly, high quality paper etc, Great graphics and photography, (I particularly like the pre-arranged ring stains and splashes ) Great general layout. Well written, technically sound, and refreshingly straightforward. The recipes all look well worth a try and the extract version to the recipe is also a nice touch. The only thing I was confused about was the actual batch size of the recipes, i.e. in the fermenter. I have probably missed it . After inputting one of the recipes into my Qbrew software it would appear to be 22.5 litres and it would also appear that my software is telling the truth as it tallies with the info in the book so I can trust Qbrew now (not that I ever doubted it of course) , So marks out of ten. I would say nine, but that might change for the better once I have tried a few of the recipes. Well done all concerned, you have reason to be proud, I wish you every success I will post a review on Amazon once I have read through the book properly and brewed a recipe or two. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Hmmm sounds a bit like my hubby Cathy! Hubble bubble, bang & boom! I am speaking about the hubby who as a child, used to make his own fireworks from copper pipe & mix the mix in his mums Kenwood chef! He also had a chemistry lab in the loft & I still find him inventing & concocting these days. I think it best that these two never meet each other! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottieR Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 [doug, the author here] I'm thinking through, and off the top of my head I can't remember if I've actually put the full brew length in the book anywhere for the recipes, that's something for the next edition! None the less, they are 5 gallon, or 23litre brews. You will find that brewing software will calculate some of the colours, bitterness and maybe even the gravities differently, there are a number of different formulae which could be used, and they are then based on different grain values. The best way to know what you are getting from a recipe is to brew a few (from your software or recipe books) and find out what the numbers they say really mean based on real beers brewed on your system. From there you can get your eye in, once you've done a few you'll know what they mean in real beer terms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 Has ' he' converted the shed into a bar yet Cathy? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 Not the shed...the dining room Cathy X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 What Optics, pumps the lot? Or has he gone for the more rustic look of kegs & steins? I admire him giving it all a go! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 Oh, we are totally rustic here I did draw the line at sawdust on the floor though Cathy X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
