Petrol too dear?home brew beer!

nitroman · 16-07-2006, 02:36 PM

G'day. With the inflated cost of petrol these days we performance car owners need to save every penny. For the last few years I have been brewing my own beer and haven't had to buy takeaway beer at all. I can make 21/2 carons for 12-20 dollars. I always have a full fridge, and I can afford to run a V8! Beautiful!
I'm interested in hearing other people's recipies and brew methods, and I'd like to help out new brewers who aren't sure how to do it.
Cheers!

Casper · 16-07-2006, 02:39 PM

Sourbastard is a master brewer. His home made stuff just kills bought stuff! I know why you do it if thats what home brews are like!

**Peuty** · 16-07-2006, 02:48 PM

Yeah I recently started brewing myself, probably about 3 or so months ago, and you are right, its cheap, easy to do and saves alot of money buying that mass produced tripe.

I am only using a basic Coopers kit at the moment, but after I am sure I can brew properly I want to try some of the non-main stream stuff where you can add grain and whatnot to the mix.

Actuall, now that I think of it, my latest brew seems to taste a tad too bitter?? Any ideas as to why? I used the exact same measurements and techniques as before, maybe I need to let it sit a bit longer than I have.

nitroman · 16-07-2006, 03:01 PM

I like to let my beer sit for at least 6 weeks before drinking it. The cold weather seems to slow down the maturing process so let it sit for a bit longer.
The missus just started arcing up over something or other, I think I'll go sample the coopers mexican with 2 kilos of dextrose. That oughta help!

dan.76 · 16-07-2006, 05:10 PM

i found that the sterilizer (sp?) would leave a sharp bitter taste if the bottles were not properly rinsed.
i used to make coopers lager at about 4% and really liked it . at one stage i had about 3 mates who would come round and drink with me and every so often bring a can of brew and some sugar lol
i have heard (and tasted) that using honey instead of sugar will give good results but couldnt get any of the blokes who use it to give me the mix . they all said work it out for yourself.

nitroman · 16-07-2006, 05:20 PM

Yes, rinsing after sterilising is very important. I've also found (unfortunately) that using the garden hose to fill the fermenter leaves a nasty bitter taste.

#Russ#Es# · 16-07-2006, 07:51 PM

I'm actually VERY interested in starting home brew. Can any of you guys lead me in the right direction for a good kit?? Are the Coopers/Toohey's kits from Big W/etc good, or can you buy more expensive, higher quality kits that give better results?

Also, anyone tried the Ginger Beer or Apple Cider that most of the home brew manufacturers make? I would probably make a batch of beer, then ginger beer then apple cider for some variety if they are any good...

xbgs351 · 16-07-2006, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #Russ#Es#

I'm actually VERY interested in starting home brew. Can any of you guys lead me in the right direction for a good kit?? Are the Coopers/Toohey's kits from Big W/etc good, or can you buy more expensive, higher quality kits that give better results?

Also, anyone tried the Ginger Beer or Apple Cider that most of the home brew manufacturers make? I would probably make a batch of beer, then ginger beer then apple cider for some variety if they are any good...

I think that the Coopers kit is better value than the Tooheys kit, but it would be worth checking out your local homebrew shop for comparison.

I have brewed up a cider from a kit and although it was easy to drink, it wasn't great. After that I decided to make up cider from apple juice. I purchased 22 litres of apple juice at the supermarket, added yeast, 2 teaspoons of yeast nutrient and a teaspoon of pectinase. It's only been bottled for a week, but tastes a lot better than the cider kit.

Looking at the ginger beer kits, most are artificially flavoured. I hope to make some genuine ginger beer, but have yet to find a recipe to suit the home brew kit.

Currently I have some mead fermenting away. It should come out at around 14% alcohol and hopefully taste very nice.

BlueJ · 16-07-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #Russ#Es#

I'm actually VERY interested in starting home brew. Can any of you guys lead me in the right direction for a good kit?? Are the Coopers/Toohey's kits from Big W/etc good, or can you buy more expensive, higher quality kits that give better results?

You need a) equipment and b) ingredients.

You can buy a Coopers or Tooheys kit to get the equipment. They have most things that you will need to get started. You can acquire further bits as you need them. Find a good home brew supplier near you and talk to the staff there.

Regarding ingredients, you get what you pay for. The $10 brew cans you buy in the supermarket are the cheapest you can get...and make the lowest quality beer.

Coopers have kits at 4 different price and quality levels, for example. Their top kits cost only a few dollars more than the cheapest. Then there are the overseas kits that can be better quality again.

In my opinion the best kit brews I have made have used fresh wort (the liquid stuff that you ferment) and liquid yeast. For $50 you can make 15-20l of pretty flash beer. Compared to spending $20 to make 23l of pretty mediocre beer.

Once you have mastered kits you can move onto extract brewing, which is where you use a kit as a base and make some fresh wort yourself to enhance the flavour.

The ultimate is all grain brewing, where you start with malted barley etc and
do everything yourself. Complete creative freedom - make only the beers you like, or invent your own unique style!

nitroman · 17-07-2006, 01:42 PM

I would have to agree the coopers kit is the way to go, you get almost everything you need. The only other things you need is a sugar measure (about $3) brewing detergent(I reccomend "neo pink") and a bottle capper (price varies but I would fork out the $50 for a good one). Then it's a matter of collecting bottles. Stubbies work fine but are twice the work, longnecks are the go. I recently bought 400 old longnecks at a clearing sale for $10.

turboute · 17-07-2006, 04:49 PM

Slightly OT from this thread but not too far...

Anyone got a still as well? Thinking about seeting one up at my house (trying not to blow it up at the same time though - lol) Have heard from 2 people saying that they are easy to set up - making small amounts though. And while thte liquor they produce doesn't taste that great it still goes alright when mixed. Hell of alot cheaper too - one bloke said it cost about $5-10 to make over 2L at about 35-40%.

FordFan86 · 17-07-2006, 04:51 PM

Dad's done his own homebrew for about 2 1/2 years now. Coopers kit, always coopers beer. Makes 19-23 litres (depending on type) every few weeks, has about 180 bottles I think (700ml). Always beer in the house, nice stuff aswell.

Dezza · 17-07-2006, 05:18 PM

One of my housemates does homebrew. The problem is he is always so eager to drink it, it's hardly ready by the time he does. It's certainly not at the quality of the bought stuff. He always uses the Coopers kit.

And I know Ghia5L also does homebrew.

mcflux · 17-07-2006, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ea_silver_ghia

And I know Ghia5L also does homebrew.

Hehe.

J4m35 and w4yn3 know it too

:

Gilesie · 17-07-2006, 05:42 PM

When I used to brew my own I went to the library (before the internet was heard of).
I borrowed a book about world beers which gave a basic description of what ingredients were used by different brewers.
I made some interesting brews by adding things like caramel/chocolate essence.

FordFan86 · 17-07-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghia5L

Hehe.

J4m35 and w4yn3 know it too

:

Oh yeah... I'm trying to con dad into getting some ginger beer happening.
It ain't happening tho :(

mcflux · 17-07-2006, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordFan86

Oh yeah... I'm trying to con dad into getting some ginger beer happening.
It ain't happening tho :(

That's because he has other things which he'd rather attend to :Reverend:

LUXO_8 · 17-07-2006, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghia5L

That's because he has other things which he'd rather attend to :Reverend:

bwahaha!.... !!

anyway, my parents make all kinds of stuff....dad doesnt really do beer anymore. more making spirits

D4v3 knows all about our whisky

mcflux · 17-07-2006, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

bwahaha!.... !!

anyway, my parents make all kinds of stuff....dad doesnt really do beer anymore. more making spirits

D4v3 knows all about our whisky

It tastes like bananas lol

Gimme another!

nitroman · 17-07-2006, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboute

Slightly OT from this thread but not too far...

Anyone got a still as well? Thinking about seeting one up at my house (trying not to blow it up at the same time though - lol) Have heard from 2 people saying that they are easy to set up - making small amounts though. And while thte liquor they produce doesn't taste that great it still goes alright when mixed. Hell of alot cheaper too - one bloke said it cost about $5-10 to make over 2L at about 35-40%.

You can buy reflux stills on ebay that are about 3-400 dollars. Self contained though, you just plug em' in and supply cooling water. I want one but the missus thinks I drink enough as it is. get one while you can!

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