154 replies to this topic

[ElizP987]

Well, considering I've never done brewing at all, it will point me in the right direction at least! If I'm still alive after I've tasted it I'll let you know how I got on

[G-Bob]

I might give this a go. I have been trying loads of different beer recently and the ones I like the most have a little bit of fruit in them. Might try and make my own and stick some berries in it to see what happens.

[Craig S]

I might give this a go.

I have been trying loads of different beer recently and the ones I like the most have a little bit of fruit in them. Might try and make my own and stick some berries in it to see what happens.

You can get fruit beer for home brew also if you want a easier fruit beer. I am going to try grape beer this year as we always have loads of grapes on our vine.

[slindborg]

I might give this a go.

I have been trying loads of different beer recently and the ones I like the most have a little bit of fruit in them. Might try and make my own and stick some berries in it to see what happens.

[G-Bob]

I might give this a go.

I have been trying loads of different beer recently and the ones I like the most have a little bit of fruit in them. Might try and make my own and stick some berries in it to see what happens.

Shut it!

[elwill]

Hmmm just an FYI but the website you listed Stuwy isn't working, and Google reveals a lot of dissatisfied customers...

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

Hmmm just an FYI but the website you listed Stuwy isn't working, and Google reveals a lot of dissatisfied customers...

ok thanks, I have not bought form them since January and bought a bit of stock.. personally I have never had a problem with them.. I'll try and find my old suppliers. The only reason I changed was because it was cheaper

[slindborg]

There is a newsagent in Dunmow that sells masses of home brew stuff I want to brew up some wherry.

[elwill]

Hmmm just an FYI but the website you listed Stuwy isn't working, and Google reveals a lot of dissatisfied customers...

ok thanks, I have not bought form them since January and bought a bit of stock.. personally I have never had a problem with them.. I'll try and find my old suppliers. The only reason I changed was because it was cheaper

Being inspired by your guide, I had a look at www.brewuk.co.uk and seemed pretty good. Large selection of stuff.

Where do you leave your beer to keep it above 18C? I reckon my house regularly falls below that in winter during the day...

[XXX]

This takes me back! My dad used to brew his own as well as well as being a keen (and pretty good) home wine-maker. I made my first batch of beer when I was about 15. Me and a couple of mates slugged it back one evening and it became a legendary night. We were wasted......! I may well have a go at this again thanks to your inspirational post Stuwy...

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

Hmmm just an FYI but the website you listed Stuwy isn't working, and Google reveals a lot of dissatisfied customers...

ok thanks, I have not bought form them since January and bought a bit of stock.. personally I have never had a problem with them.. I'll try and find my old suppliers. The only reason I changed was because it was cheaper

Being inspired by your guide, I had a look at www.brewuk.co.uk and seemed pretty good. Large selection of stuff.

Where do you leave your beer to keep it above 18C? I reckon my house regularly falls below that in winter during the day...

the joys of being a terrace house and having womans both sides with animals

I just leave it in the corner of the living room under the stairs as per one of the pics

[out on the bike]

Hmmm just an FYI but the website you listed Stuwy isn't working, and Google reveals a lot of dissatisfied customers...

ok thanks, I have not bought form them since January and bought a bit of stock.. personally I have never had a problem with them.. I'll try and find my old suppliers. The only reason I changed was because it was cheaper

Being inspired by your guide, I had a look at www.brewuk.co.uk and seemed pretty good. Large selection of stuff.

Where do you leave your beer to keep it above 18C? I reckon my house regularly falls below that in winter during the day...

You don't need to keep it above 18C it just brews better above that temperature it will just take longer at a lower temperature to brew.I currently have a brew brewing in a room that is around 14C with an old coat over it it will take close to 14 days to ferment at that temperature instead of around 7 days if it was above 18C.I use pressure barrels instead of bottles and I also do wine with kits 5 gallons at a time .I have been making my own on and off for around 20 years now and I have found a very good specialist brewing shop not that far away from me they do have a web site http://www.hamstead-...uk/contacus.htm but I always just pop over there for my supplies.
I've not read the guide through yet but well done to the op for taking the time to put one up hopefully more peaple will have a go and enjoy the satisfaction of settling down to a nice pint knowing that you made it yourself.

[ElizP987]

Started brewing a week on Sunday, so far so good, tested with the hydrometer 2 days ago but not quite right, just waiting a little longer now

[elwill]

Went into Wilkinsons the other day and they have a surprisingly large selection of home brew stuff. Couldn't comment on any of the quality etc, but they had the barrels, bottles, crown capper, and the cans of the beer goo you put in. Probably wilko quality but got to be the only place you can buy that stuff not over the internet?

[G-Bob]

Our local Tesco Extra now has a complete section on it,

[slindborg]

Went into Wilkinsons the other day and they have a surprisingly large selection of home brew stuff. Couldn't comment on any of the quality etc, but they had the barrels, bottles, crown capper, and the cans of the beer goo you put in.

Probably wilko quality but got to be the only place you can buy that stuff not over the internet?

Its not terrible to be fair, and the equipment is a good price which lets face it dosent matter if its from Harrods or wilkos

[elwill]

Went into Wilkinsons the other day and they have a surprisingly large selection of home brew stuff. Couldn't comment on any of the quality etc, but they had the barrels, bottles, crown capper, and the cans of the beer goo you put in.

Probably wilko quality but got to be the only place you can buy that stuff not over the internet?

Its not terrible to be fair, and the equipment is a good price which lets face it dosent matter if its from Harrods or wilkos

Yeah I kind of figured a bucket is a bucket! Some of the beer did look a bit ropey though.

Just seems such an obscure thing for them to have.

[slindborg]

They sometimes have Wherry kits in.... so that can't be tooooo bad

[out on the bike]

Our local Tesco Extra now has a complete section on it,

Our Tesco also has a section of it now but I was surprised to find that the small home brew shop that I usually use is actualy cheaper than Tesco until you factor in the fuel used to get there.

[kingwowns]

Great guide-cheers! On the subject of bottles, you can reuse any old beer bottles (not just any random bottle though, as they may not take the pressure!) and buy metal caps (less than a fiver for 100 or so) and a capper for a few quid. The 1litre bottles with stoppers from ikea work out about £57 for sufficient to hold 40 pints...quite an investment....and you can get a friendly publican to save you 46x500ml bottles for free!