Right i was in my attic the other day and came across the Homebrew kit my wife got me a good few years back which i have never used.

I'm gonna give a serious go but i want to do something a little different after tasting some rank homebrew's before.

Just wondering if there are any of you out there with any experience of what to try and what to avoid and the best suggestion might get a free sample in the post.

What gear have you got? If you've got enough gear to boil the full volume of liquor I'd use an unhopped malt extract and manually add hops. If you can't do this and you're going for a hopped extract beer (which most beers are) it's at least worth getting some aroma hops and bunging them in when you're boiling your concentrate to add some nice aromas. One of the main problems with kits is they use a hopped malt extract which you then boil destroying any subtle flavours and driving off the nice beery (IE hopy) aromas. The other thing to do is to throw away the rubbish yeast the kits come with and get some "proper" brewers yeast. If in doubt something like a Nottingham yeast is a good average.
And it's worth boiling any water you use as it drives off chloramines that make your beer taste quite nasty and phenoly. If you live in a hard water area this will also reduce your waters alkalinity (usually a good thing though it does depend on the type of beer you're making).

That's why kit homebrew tastes grotty. Rubbish yeast (so high alcohol, no depth of flavour), little in the way of aroma (ie it tastes vaguely beery but smells rubbish) and a slightly wierd aftertaste (usually chloramines from the water supply).

.... and whatever you do don't bung extra sugar in to make it stronger (because stronger is better- right?) you'll end up with something really weak insipid but prone to causing terrible hangovers

I have 2 big 5 gallon barrel type container's but with no instruction's but to be honest i'm not that clued up.

I just need an idea so i go and do it and end up with something that is uter crap.

do you like cider ?

if so do a google search for "turbo hybrid cider"

basically its cheap apple juice (mine was asda smart price !) a 15g pkt of yeast, ferment in a bucket for a week or so and leave for a while.


i made the mistake of adding a little sugar to mine and it came out at 8.2% abv

Ray

Personally I'd strongly recommend reading "the art of brewing". Available free from the internet. Gives step by step instructions for extract only brews, extract with hops and full-mash brews. A good book- infact so good I got the hard copy.

I like cider ....... this could be dangerous (As I was thinking - how do you make a nice cider as i read this).

The last few homebrews I've done I used Reverse Osmosis water = around 95% pure water. Makes quite a difference.

Thank's for the replie's.

Now Cider sound's like a good one so it's now that or Beer.

Theoreticaly could make a Cider from most fruit juice's which also seem's interesting and is there a way of measuring the alcohol content of your homemade potion.

We started with thisLinky Last year. Had good results

Basic instructions :

Sterilies everything !

Boil 2 Liters of water

Add 1 KG sugar

Add in Tin of this

Add in yeast included in tin (melt yeast in some hot water & sugar first)

Top up to 5 Gallons with cold water

Keep at 27deg C for 1 -2 Weeks ( I use a only fishtank heater.)

Transfer to bottles trying not to take sediment

add 1/4 tsp of sugar to each Bootle and cap. You will need 20-30 Bulmers bottles and a Capper Bottle Capper & Crown Caps Capping Tops Homebrew NEW | eBay UK

Keep bottles warm (not hot) Wait another couple of Weeks, until bottles clear, then chill & serve

Enjoy.


I started the 3rd Batch on Monday night.... so about 1 month for production.

Hi
I brew wine from excess fruit friends grow, turns out good.
I also brew beer. Best are mashed yourself from malted grains, but I would suggest that's not a wise starting point.
For easy summer beers, I buy the cheapest lager kit I can, boil with the recommend amount of sugar and as much water as my (v large) pan will hold. Add to the brew bucket with your selection if fruit. Raspberry worked well, cherry and also root ginger is excellent, but I have been known to have too much ginger, which was interested.
These make cheap easy refreshing summer beers

David

finland / sweeden are you inspiration here, they make ciders out of all sorts. One of my lasting memories was pineapple cider.

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Originally posted by van cleef
Thank's for the replie's.

Now Cider sound's like a good one so it's now that or Beer.

Theoreticaly could make a Cider from most fruit juice's which also seem's interesting and is there a way of measuring the alcohol content of your homemade potion.

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quote:

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Originally posted by van cleef
Thank's for the replie's.

Now Cider sound's like a good one so it's now that or Beer.

Theoreticaly could make a Cider from most fruit juice's which also seem's interesting and is there a way of measuring the alcohol content of your homemade potion.

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Try

(OG-FG)/7.5=ABV