Brewing

[Justin]

Anyone on here homebrew? I'm planning to start in January, and would love any advice from folks that have done it.

[cravenbronco]

My mom use to brew her own. She could probably help ya out

[Kinder]

My old neighbor Nate brews, and he's really good at it. I've got some in the kegerator now, I'll have to bring you some.

[Unaweep]

I brewed in 15 gallon batches back in the 90's.

I love to cook, took classes when I was 10. Brewing is really just another form of making food..

I'm going to be building my equipment starting next year and startup again.


I would recommend starting with a easy beer, nothing complicated. My first beer was a Russian Imperial Stout.

I also like the British type of beers, bitters etc..but haven't brewed those. My submarine was stationed in the UK and I really enjoyed those pub beers.




J.E.

[Eck]

I've got a buddy who brews a lot! He's submitted various beers into competitions and he helped me brew a lager last year. I plan to make another batch with him early next year and you're more than welcome to come along and help/ pick his brain. Just let me know.

[Justin]

I'd be interested in that. I'm a huge fan of ciders, and may start with that since it's ultra simple and wouldn't cost me much for the equipment.

[Eck]

Yah Ciders are very simple.

[D&D72]

I love to cook, took classes when I was 10. Brewing is really just another form of making food..

J.E.

Beer IS food where I come from!

[Justin]

My old neighbor Nate brews, and he's really good at it. I've got some in the kegerator now, I'll have to bring you some.

How did I miss that you have a kegerator? Ill have to pick your brain about that as well.

[Jesus_man]

Beer IS food where I come from!

Indeed!!

I've always wanted to get into it, but never have. A cousin and my FIL used to do it too, one ran out of time and one lost interest after a few batches of flat beer.

But for now, it's just too easy to get amazing beer here to think about putting in the time for that.

[Dukietown]

I've dabbled in it but would like to get into it more. I have all the gear just haven't had time. Might be a good thing to do in the evenings over the winter...

[Dirtheadz]

I brew... I would say buy a kit (grainbag, mash, malt, primming sugar, etc....) They typically make 5 gallons. I recommend buying a cultivated liquid yeast (just seems to be better and higher ABV%). Make sure everything is steryl (this is a biggie unless you enjoying shitting out your brains). I also recommend not being shit-faced while your brewwing your batches, Ingredients you "think" will "make it better" wont (trust me here). It is fun, though.

[Dirtheadz]

I would be interested in one of your Cider recipe's

[BNC04]

These are your friends

http://www.northernbrewer.com/

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/

http://www.midwestsupplies.com

Most of these places have forums to fill your brain.
I'd recommend starting out with a couple of kits that sound interesting, This will allow you to get a feel for what all is involved and see if you want to go to the next step of all grain, mash etc etc. This, like many hobbies can get very in depth and take alot of time, money and supplies. Sound familiar?

Get a starter kit for supplies, that you see on many of these websites.
Buckets, carboys, bubblier, Hydro, a big pot and burner. I used a turkey fryer and aluminum pot which some will tell you to shy away from but I did not find the aluminum to create any off flavors.
Get a sanitizing and cleaning kit as well. Sanitizing and cleanliness are the absolute key to making good beer.

I started with bottling and after one batch went to a 5 gallon keg system which I found to be MUCH easier and less time consuming. You can get the corny kegs on craigslist from time to time.

I quit doing this a few years ago, just because of the time involved. I did enjoy it immensely however and may get back into it at some point.

This is where I ended up just prior to calling it quits. A freezer with a temp controller and 5 kegs and taps. (Keezer)



Brett

[Justin]

Thanks! I'll check those out. I'm starting out with kegs-one of the barriers to homebrewing was dealing with bottling due to limited time. I'm planning to run 3 gallon Corny kegs, and recently scored a double keg conversion for our downstairs fridge. My wife is not excited.

[Eck]

That is a nice looking freezer set-up you had. I really like the conversion into a bar!

[Dirtheadz]

Mmmmmmm Beer!

[Unaweep]

Justin ,

I don't know if any brewpubs do this on the Front Range, but when I lived in Albuquerque you could go brew your own beer at a brew pub. It was an excellent way to get into it without having to buy anything, you just used their equipment and grains and everything. One of their brew masters was their to help you so you didn't mess up.

just a thought....

[Jesus_man]

Yes there is one place in the ' springs that does that.
http://www.therockymountainbrewery.com

[Justin]

Tracked some gear down on craigslist and racked my first batch of brew tonight. Am starting with a dry English cider. Hopefully it'll taste good in a month!

[Kinder]

Looks great.

[Jesus_man]

Need a taste tester?

[Justin]

My kids took care of the initial tasting. Apparently it tastes exactly like apple juice. Nothing like including small children in the creation of adult beverages. If I bottle any of it I'll spread the love, otherwise you'll have to come over and hang out, as the plan is to keg and force carbonate most of it.

[Jesus_man]

Lol, that's involving the kids. My 1yr old daughter loves Strong Beers. It's funny. Give her a little taste and she wants more!

[Dirtheadz]

Mmmmmmm Beer!

Mmmmmmmmm BEER!!!!!!!

[Justin]

Houston, we have fermentation. 10 days to drinkable.

[Entourage]

Here is a really nice setup for a home brewery DIY I saw on reddit:

http://m.imgur.com/a/XhszR

[D&D72]

Houston, we have fermentation. 10 days to drinkable.

10 days has come and gone. what's the verdict?

[Justin]

A little raw, but tasty. I'm aging it for a month or two. Patience sucks.

[Dirtheadz]

force carbination... 3 days. poor that baby into your corny and put some Co2 to it... roll it around for an hour