Does anyone homebrew?

[TwoJ's]

My room mate and I are going to take a stab at making some of our own beer. I've done a bit of reading, and I think I know what type of setup we will have at first. I'm wondering if anyone does it around here? If so, what kind of setup do you have?

I think we are going to end up kegging our brew instead of bottling. I have a fridge that I can convert easily, and I like the idea of having good beer on tap all of the time. Plus, bottling looks to be a pain in the ass, and I don't want to have sediment from the carbonation process.

So show me what you've got and any recipes you recommend.

[cholyoke]

I have been doing it since I was 16 (father son project - cool dad). So over half my life at this point. I have your basic setup of fermenter, carbouys for secondary fermentation and cornelius kegs (5 gallon soda kegs). Pretty much if you buy the basic equipment kit, it will last you for a long time. Add a glass carbouy for secondary fermentation and a bottle tree for draining bottles and you are set. Also, think about getting a good capper if the one with the kit looks chinsy. Or use grolsch bottles. It sucks to drink them all, but they are the best for bottling. Edit: you can also get them if Washington has deposit/return for bottles. Most exchange places will save them and sell the Grolsch (or any flip top) bottles to you. Get new seals at your local homebrew store.

I do mixed grain/malt extract recipies mostly. My brother does all grain and he says it allows you more flexibility, but I am happy with my results. Don't be chinsy with the sanitizing agent. Cleanliness is very important.

These are my most common recipies:

The Goat Oatmeal Stout
0.5 lbs Oats (Steep grains in 155oF – hot to touch – water for 1 hr)
0.5 lbs Chocolate
2.0 lbs Roasted Barley
0.25 Wheat
0.5 "6 row"
6.5 lbs amber liquid malt extract
1 oz, Wye Target (AAU 8.9%, IBU 31.3)(60 minute boil)
1 oz, Fuggles (half 30 and half 5 minute boils)
Wyeast Northwestern liquid yeast.


Bitter Brown (Graduate Student) Ale
1 lbs British Crystal (Steep grains in 155oF – hot to touch – water for 1 hr)
6 lbs light powdered malt
1 oz Challenger (60 minute boil)
1 oz N. Brewer/Northern Down/Chinook (half 30 min and half 5 min boil)
1 tsp Irish Moss (15 minute boil)
Wyeast American ale II liquid yeast

One week in primary fermenter at room T
at least two weeks in secondary fermenters prior to kegging or bottling.

[mtechnik]

Kudos Cholyoke !

[cholyoke]

I forgot some stuff. Due to the world hop shortage (no shit), you may not be able to get some of the hops listed above. Ask your local brewstore people for reasonable substitutes. I've been using Chinook in place of Northern Brewer hops. Which aren't as nice, but still do the job.

John Palmer wrote a super book and posted the first version online. You can read it here: http://www.howtobrew.com/sitemap.html. You can also purchase the newer one on his website. The book has good explanations about the purpose of each step of the brewing process.

After doing some reading, the best thing you can do is go to your local home brew store and just jaw with the owner. They are there to help you get started and make tasty beer the first time.

[BMW_TUNER]

I have a few Recipes that I will try to dig up for you. Bottling sucks kegging is great ebay is great for kegging supplies.

[eighteight325is]

Buy the Charlie Papazian book, "The Complete Joy of Home Brewing". He does a really good job of breaking down the process from the really simple first time setup to more sophisticated full boil setups and recipes. Also, there are a number of good recipes in his book.

I have a traditional English ale recipe somewhere that I like to make when I haven't brewed in a while, because it is drinkable within 3-4 weeks (though still gets better with more age). I can make that and have a few of those in less time and then brew up a second or third batch that can sit for a few months to condition in the bottles w/out getting impatient :) I'll try and dig it up for you.

Bottling is a pain in the ass, but you may want to try a few batches before investing in kegging supplies. Bottles are cheap and a bottle washer would only run you a 10-15 bucks.

[scabzzzz]

I only homebrew meth. Sorry.

[trent]

I also homebrew. I have a tapper with 4 taps and try to keep 4 beers online at all times (at least during winter when fermentation temps are easier to control). I have a belgin cherry wit, and a West Coast Pale Ale on tap (centennial hops....yum). I have two BIG IPA's up next along with an Irish Red. Dont bother bottling.

[Optimator]

I have two BIG IPA's up next

How BIG. Will it feel like four fingers up the Pujols? What's your hopping schedule and target OG?

[daniel]

haha i saw "homebrew" and immediately thought of video games, not beer. oops.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebrew_(video_games)

[JAM]

i just brewed my first batch, a scotch ale

i got the kit on ebay, it was around $105 shipped. it looks good, although the capper seems to be a bit chinsey. goes to the secondary in a few days

www.homebrewtalk.com will have every answer you need

[BMWLA]

hah i just saw this i tried it a couple of years ago and a bottle blew up huge mess in the garage my wife about kicked my but

[jflip2002]

Homebrew: Im not just an alcholic, Im also a cheap ass.

[rwh11385]

I also homebrew. I have a tapper with 4 taps and try to keep 4 beers online at all times (at least during winter when fermentation temps are easier to control). I have a belgin cherry wit, and a West Coast Pale Ale on tap (centennial hops....yum). I have two BIG IPA's up next along with an Irish Red. Dont bother bottling.

So it's less complicated than bottling? How much trouble is it to get prepared for a tap?

[Nick325is]

Try Northern Brewer for homebrewing. That is where we get everything from. They have pretty much everything you could ever need.