Home brew

banarcus · 24-01-2006, 08:13 PM

Hey fellas. How many home brewers do we have here? I got a coopers kit from santa and I was wondering whats the best stout mix out there. If stouts not your thing, what would you recommend a newbie brewer like myself?
mark..

Sourbastard · 24-01-2006, 08:40 PM

best stout mix, is a can of coopers stout extract, then go to your local brew store and pick up a grain pack to give it some finish. If you have a supplier in NSW try and get your hands on a Grumpys Belfast Gold mix. Ferment it out with Safeale S04 yeast, or a liquid yeast like wyeast, not the crap yeast in the can from coopers, and prime it with some good quality fine sugar. Bottle. Wait. Drink. Fall over. Repeat.

Woz · 25-01-2006, 06:24 PM

I got a Coopers Home Brew kit for my 18th birthday, two and a half years ago. It was purchased especially as my personal request after I spotted it in Kmart for $60 and decided I had to have one.

...

I'll take it out of the box, one day.

'63Deluxe · 25-01-2006, 06:37 PM

I have a stout in the keg at the moment. mmm very nice

I used a coopers stout, 500g of sugar and half a kit can of barvarian larger to make up the rest of the sugar. turned out very nicely :baby bott

If you are sick of washing bottles go for a keg system!

rodderz · 25-01-2006, 06:41 PM

The coopers kit is one oif the better ones of the range, it's pretty close to the real thing. But all canned kits come with a generic type yeast which is very hardy to withstand where it gets transported to and so forth, so the compromise is the ferment wont be as thorough as a bought one. Try the safale that sour suggested, works alot better, but liquid yeasts or cultured yeasts are even better but require more care and skill

Always do a few can kits for a while to get used to brewing then go to the raw ingredients to do partials. I did a super stout before xmas from scratch, which had 3kg of dark malt and roasted grains included, came out a treat, very chocolate/coffee in flavour and is about 6.5%

Try here, heaps of info and help http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/

FordFan86 · 25-01-2006, 06:48 PM

Somebody say homebrew?!?!

rodderz · 25-01-2006, 06:57 PM

around $20 or less for a standard kit brew that makes 25Lt, better than paying over $30 for a carton with less than half of that, and if you do it right tastes better too!

TURBOTAXI · 25-01-2006, 07:05 PM

I have 4 x 18 litre kegs, an F size gas bottle, a regulator and all the lines (I use a gun)
I have made a coopers stout before and it was quite good.
If I could give you any advice just keep it simple, dont make it too complex.
Many happy (and cheap brews)

MotherNatureVer2 · 26-01-2006, 10:36 AM

Drinks at Turbos house tonight then .... hahahahahahhahahahaa

TURBOTAXI · 26-01-2006, 12:11 PM

I'm All Out

mcflux · 27-01-2006, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordFan86

Somebody say homebrew?!?!

Roger that!

I haven't made any since winter though. Last brew was so-so but is coming good now.

I made some ginger beer this time around! But I tend to like draughts the best (any kind really).

XRated · 27-01-2006, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '63Deluxe

I have a stout in the keg at the moment. mmm very nice

I used a coopers stout, 500g of sugar and half a kit can of barvarian larger to make up the rest of the sugar. turned out very nicely :baby bott

If you are sick of washing bottles go for a keg system!

How do you keep the keg cold? I couldn't be stuffed cleaning and collecting bottles!

rodderz · 27-01-2006, 12:35 AM

Thats the other important thing.... the mixing part isnt hard but the key to a good beer is to keep the temperature at a constant degrees, too cold and the yeast wont ferment (unless it's a lager) or too hot and the yeast will die, you wont get the sugars fermenting and it will get infected. For a stout keep it between 18-22C, so if you brew it this time of year and it's warmer than that, the fermenter will have to live in the wardrobe or somewhere cool. If the missus complains about the bubbling or the smell, say it's very important....

gtfpv · 27-01-2006, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by banarcus

Hey fellas. How many home brewers do we have here? I got a coopers kit from santa and I was wondering whats the best stout mix out there. If stouts not your thing, what would you recommend a newbie brewer like myself?
mark..

theres one called kentucky gold dark ale . (mothers milk )!!!!!!!!! dextrose is a must not sugar.

rapidxr6 · 27-01-2006, 01:03 AM

Quote:

How do you keep the keg cold? I couldn't be stuffed cleaning and collecting bottles!

Have heard rumours of dedicated home brewers that have converted 2nd hand bar fridges into a mini keg cooler.

Going back about 10 years ago i helped a mates father build a tankstand for an older gentleman. Turns out he was a deadly home brewer. Put out free brews after finishing the job. In his stout mix he used brown sugar and golden syrup. I got all giggly after the first long neck, she was powerful shyte, creamy and delicious.

**Peuty** · 12-06-2006, 12:39 PM

Sorry to mine such an old thread guys, but I am in the midst of doing a homebrew, and being winter time, I want to know how I would keep the container at a constant temperature? Out here the temperature at night can get to around -3 or so, which isn't ideal for fermentaion.

Any ideas?

krt10 · 12-06-2006, 12:54 PM

yup i got a grumpys home brew kit. just finished a new batch of laga

mcflux · 12-06-2006, 01:21 PM

Peuty:

1) Where is the container stored? The easiest thing to do is have it in a room with constant temperature (that way heating can be controlled easier without needing thermostats, etc)

2) I store mine in a celler which usually sits around 10-12*C during the winter all day all night. In order to bump it up to aroudn 20*C I wrap an electric blanket aroud the keg, which sits under a table (but off the cold floor). The table has thick blankets draped around it, and the keg itself has polystyrene lids leaning against it like a teepee.

3) If you can maintain a cooler (but still brewable) temperature, let it brew for longer than the instructions say.

4) If you have chosen a brew which suits say 25*C temperatures and you cannot maintain this, find a specialist brew/yeast combo that is happy with 15*C temperatures (and tip out your existing brew!) <-- and let it sit for a looooooong time.

Let us know how you your brew goes!

rapidxr6 · 12-06-2006, 03:03 PM

I've never made a home brew but drank plenty of it

: There was an old fella that lived a few km out of town, i helped a mates father build a tank stand for him so he put on the brew for us when finished. It was a very dark, sweet stout that kicked ur ars. He said his secret was for the sugar he used 1/2kg brown sugar and 1kg of golden syrup. I DO NOT remember leaving the premises and was very sick the next day. The following weekend i went out and barted 2 dozen from him. It was a very nice brew.!!.

Mark351 · 12-06-2006, 03:29 PM

I go here!

http://www.ubrewit.com.au/

Kapn_Kiwi · 12-06-2006, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rapidxr6

I've never made a home brew but drank plenty of it

: There was an old fella that lived a few km out of town, i helped a mates father build a tank stand for him so he put on the brew for us when finished. It was a very dark, sweet stout that kicked ur ars. He said his secret was for the sugar he used 1/2kg brown sugar and 1kg of golden syrup. I DO NOT remember leaving the premises and was very sick the next day. The following weekend i went out and barted 2 dozen from him. It was a very nice brew.!!.

You posted that last time...

**Peuty** · 12-06-2006, 04:07 PM

Excellent tips Ghia, much appreciated.

I am a bit unlucky in the fact that I live in a wooden house, which is quite cool at the best of times. I think I might try the lekkie blanket, maybe get one with a thermostat that I can set, and always keep on.

Anyway, thanks again.

Daniel

Hally · 12-06-2006, 04:45 PM

Puety,

I am sure you can buy warming bands for your brewing container (mind isn't working properly today so ignore my use of non technical terms) that just acts like an electric blanket and maintains a constant temp. I will try and find out were my mate got his. It works great and he brews all year round.

Outbackjack · 12-06-2006, 05:04 PM

And remember you cant keep the lines, keg, brewing keg etc too clean.... Clean everything and then clean them again.......

And then drink, and be merry.

:nutsycuck

rodderz · 12-06-2006, 06:22 PM

Cheapest solution would be what ghia suggested- buy a heat band which is a heated rubber-lined band that goes around your fermenter and plugs into mains power and keeps the brew at around 20-24C or so. You can get adjustable ones, I think the basic ones are around $12 or so. Or, you can get a hole drilled in the lid and put a sanitised fish tank heater with thermostat in through the top which sits in the brew

Gimmers55 · 12-06-2006, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

Excellent tips Ghia, much appreciated.

I am a bit unlucky in the fact that I live in a wooden house, which is quite cool at the best of times. I think I might try the lekkie blanket, maybe get one with a thermostat that I can set, and always keep on.

Anyway, thanks again.

Daniel

Wander produces a warming plate that stays at a steady 24-27 C. You simply sit the brew mix on it and it it keeps the mash at a constant temp (even in my garage in Winter). Cheers ;-)

mcflux · 12-06-2006, 06:52 PM

Actually, I meant an electric blanket, such as what you use on a single bed. It's not necessarily the safest method, but one of those warming belts won't do bugger all in cold near-freezing winter temps. And, if you wrap a blanket (non-electric) around a heater belt, the belt kind of melts and almost burns down your parents' cellar.

:

I'd simply make sure the keg is nice & dry, then I'd wrap the blanket around once and peg it together at top & bottom. Keep in mind that the cellar I use constantly sits at around 10-12*C in winter (and 16-20*C in summer), so your heating method might need more "oomph" than mine.

Rodderz's fish tank heater sounds like the best plan of attack regarding safety (my method involves a watchful eye, checking several times a day). Wrap up the keg with a couple of warm blankets, make sure the keg is sitting on an insulated stand (ie polystyrene or wicker or even wood, but not metal or masonry), and have that thermostat set on HOT :evilsasmo

-Dave-

Oh, and ultimately, leave the brew to stand for minimum of six months before consumption, rather than leaving for a few weeks until it's "drinkable". The taste improves exponentially, from "dodgy" to "gourmet"! All my mates rave about my old brews, and whinge about the more recent ones.

I have a year-old brew now that I haven't touched, which should be tasting pretty damn good by now! My oldest brew was 2.5 years and was the best tasting brew I've ever made. So don't be afraid to let it sit for a while

Wokkas · 12-06-2006, 08:15 PM

Phwoooaarr. Homebrew stout recipes.. Here we go:

-Coopers Stout beer kit (or Beer Maker's Irish Stout if you prefer something a bit smoother and less bitter)
-1Kg dark malt
-1Kg dextrose
-250gm lactose
-400gm maltodextrin (corn syrup)
-500gm dark malt grains- crack in a sock, and boil in 500ml water for 10 minutes.
-15gm Fuggles hops
-Muntons yeast

-Fill to 20 L only.

If you can get your hands on a suitable size container, or second fermenter, bulk prime* with 70gm of light malt.

Try and consume after 3 weeks, but no longer than 6, while the light malt is still creamy. Not the best stout to age- tends to go sharp and lose its smooth thick head.

Serve at room temperature on a cold winters night.

HLC · 12-06-2006, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by banarcus

Hey fellas. How many home brewers do we have here? I got a coopers kit from santa and I was wondering whats the best stout mix out there. If stouts not your thing, what would you recommend a newbie brewer like myself?
mark..

check out www.countrybrewer.com.au i use to work for these guys. great blokes and they'll help you out with anything.

12-06-2006, 11:06 PM

sorry to say this.... and off topic a little bit.... but never bothered with home bre (like the idea), only becuase a family member works for a beer compnay, so have never paid for a beer in my life!!

ps... thats not true I have paid, but its good to sample there's if you get the chance too ;)