The Beer Home Brewers Thread

[UncleFluffy]

What my biggest question about it is, how do you guys bottle it? Do you actually bottle it/keg it/cask it? I was looking at starting up my own for the semi-fraternity house that i'm going to be living in next term, and I was just trying to figure out the easiest way to chill it and drink it.

Bottling is (for me) the most annoying part of the whole process. I usually do a slightly oversize batch, bottle six for gifts and keg the rest. Kegging is a lot less hassle, but it is one more thing to learn. I'd recommend you bottle the first few batches while you're figuring out the brewing process. Once you have that down start learning to keg your beer.

 

[spade2you]

For simple brews that only do a 1-2 gallon partial boil you can chill the wort by putting the pot in a sink full of cold water and changing the water every 5 minutes as per Q&R above. Add ice to the sink for an even faster cooldown. Once you get to full volume boils then you definitely need a chiller.

The ice immersion system is ok, but very time consuming compared to the immersion chiller, although most of mine tend to have about 2-3 gallons at least in the brew pot.

It adds maybe 3 hours to your brew day, but the improvement in clarity and control is worth it (for me).

I think my homebrew club would really prefer if I went all grain but that's 3 hours I can't spend training for the next bike race or playing bass. I'd really love to have more free time for that....and in general.

Bottling is (for me) the most annoying part of the whole process. I usually do a slightly oversize batch, bottle six for gifts and keg the rest. Kegging is a lot less hassle, but it is one more thing to learn. I'd recommend you bottle the first few batches while you're figuring out the brewing process. Once you have that down start learning to keg your beer.

I don't mind bottling. I have kegs, but still haven't used them. Even though I have a keg fridge, I'm too much of a sucker for variety. Somehow I seem to be a sucker for being able to choose between 4-5 different homebrews.

 

[hbarcat]

I've been homebrewing since 1988 and my best advice to beginning homebrewers who want to get to the next step: Always do a full wort boil

The improvement to beer quality that takes place when going from partial boil to full boil are very significant and well worth doing. Partial wort boil will always result in that "homebrew" flavor while doing a full wort boil means you get much cleaner taste, better hop utilization and head stability and other improvements. This holds true even if using malt extract and not mashing an all grain (with the exception of lagers).

However, with a full wort boil, a wort chiller is absolutely essential. You can buy a simple copper tube chiller at the homebrew store for pretty cheap or you can make your own even cheaper. It is necessary to cool the wort to room temperature as quickly as possible (under 15 minutes is ideal) to avoid off flavors and other undesirable effects.

 

[DONZI97]

I'm bumping this great thread because I'm going to start home brewing myself next week. I like too many of those $9.99 6 packs, and want to make my own good beer cheaper. Plus I could use another hobby to obsess over.

 

[capnsandwich]

I'm bumping this great thread because I'm going to start home brewing myself next week. I like too many of those $9.99 6 packs, and want to make my own good beer cheaper. Plus I could use another hobby to obsess over.

With the ingredients it takes to make those heavy$9.99/6 pack beers, you may not save too much. Those beers are loaded with hops and other ingredients.

 

[DONZI97]

Come on man, you trying to discourage me?

I know I'm not going to save a lot, especially in the beginning, but I hope to get efficient at it.

 

[capnsandwich]

Come on man, you trying to discourage me?

I know I'm not going to save a lot, especially in the beginning, but I hope to get efficient at it.

Send me a 6 pack of your home brew and I'll make you feel better.

 

[DONZI97]

I'll wait a few batches, but maybe that could be arranged. I think I'm going to try an American Pale ale first, maybe a Fat Tire clone second.

 

[UncleFluffy]

Come on man, you trying to discourage me?

I know I'm not going to save a lot, especially in the beginning, but I hope to get efficient at it.

You should be able to save relative to a $9.99 six pack.

5 gallons is 640 fl oz, 6x12 oz = 72 fl oz

so your break-even is $9.99 * 640 / 72 = $89 for a batch. I don't think I've ever done a brew that took more than $60 of ingredients, and that's for something pretty insane.

Of course, that's not counting the one-off equipment cost but that's something you can build up as you go along.

Take a look here for some ingredient kits. That should give you a rough feel for price.

If you get really serious you can start saving money by reusing yeast and buying your base malt in bulk, but that's something to worry about later on down the road.

 

[DONZI97]

Yeah, got a kit on the way.... Hope to get the first batch brewed next week.

 

[pie_man_25]

I might be getting a couple cans of hopped malt extract, pale lager malt. I might be getting 4 of them with 2 carboys and a capper for 60 bucks. Is that a pretty good price for some used stuff? Also, I'm thinking I might add some hops to the extract, just to give it some more hoppy flavour - I want more of a pilsner (think DAB original) than a pale lager - any suggestions for hops? I also might add some chili (proper spelling?) peppers, perhaps even taco seasoning alongside it, to a batch, does this sound like a good idea or should I keep it as simple as possible?

 

[UncleFluffy]

I might be getting a couple cans of hopped malt extract, pale lager malt. I might be getting 4 of them with 2 carboys and a capper for 60 bucks. Is that a pretty good price for some used stuff?

Not sure about the price as I can't see the stuff, but my suggestion would be to take a look at one of the big online suppliers and work out what it'd cost new.

Also, I'm thinking I might add some hops to the extract, just to give it some more hoppy flavour - I want more of a pilsner (think DAB original) than a pale lager - any suggestions for hops? I also might add some chili (proper spelling?) peppers, perhaps even taco seasoning alongside it, to a batch, does this sound like a good idea or should I keep it as simple as possible?

Keep it simple at first, and stick with ales rather than lagers until you've got the basics nailed down. Lagers add a few extra steps to the process and need a lot more patience.

 

[pie_man_25]

Not sure about the price as I can't see the stuff, but my suggestion would be to take a look at one of the big online suppliers and work out what it'd cost new.



Keep it simple at first, and stick with ales rather than lagers until you've got the basics nailed down. Lagers add a few extra steps to the process and need a lot more patience.

okay, I was going to be replacing their yeast anyway, so just get some packets of dry ale yeast or something?

 

[spade2you]

My kit came with a hopped malt extract. It was one of my first batches, so I wasn't really good yet, but I didn't like it. I mostly use Brewer's Best kits that I tend to modify heavily.

 

[UncleFluffy]

okay, I was going to be replacing their yeast anyway, so just get some packets of dry ale yeast or something?

It might be an ale yeast anyway. I got the impression that you were getting a random collection of someone's spare stuff, but if it's a complete kit, go with their recipe and instructions for the first time around.

 

[DONZI97]

So I got my beer making kit along with a 5 gallon SS brew pot in the mail today, and decided to do a practice boil and cool down, and timed it. It took about 1 hour and 10 min to boil the water which was filled to about 2/3, and about 20 minutes to cool it down using the pot in the sink with cold water(replenish every 5 minutes or so) method. I didn't have a thermometer, but got it down to room temp. I know the faster the better on the cool down phase, but what is too long in your guys opinion? I think after the first batch, I'll make an immersion chiller(the father in law is a retired plumber/pipefitter, so he has the tools and know how)

 

[cardboardJoe]

I cool the wort in the utility sink downstairs, filled with ice, and salt water.
5 gallons of boilin wort cools to 72 degrees in about 8 minutes...just keep the ice water and the kettle moving.

 

[UncleFluffy]

Another thing you can do is freeze plastic water bottles and throw them into the wort. Remove the labels and sanitize them first though!

 

[pie_man_25]

It might be an ale yeast anyway. I got the impression that you were getting a random collection of someone's spare stuff, but if it's a complete kit, go with their recipe and instructions for the first time around.

yeah, sorry, I might just be getting some spare stuff. I know I've got to get some food grade tubing, airlocks, and a bottling bucket, but the extract "kits" are cans of cooper's "draft" extract, four of them to be exact. I imagine a pale lager like MGD, hence why I would want to add some more hops to it, but in the name of simplicity I can live without for the time being. I understand it's not going to be a "beer geek's" beer, but as long as it's not too terrible I'm

 

[DONZI97]

First batch fermenting away! I was actually excited to watch the bubbles in the chamber. I'll let it sit till Monday then rack into the secondary. Its a pre hopped IPA by the way, I'll get more advanced next round.