Many of you are aware of my obsession with all thing beer and brewing. It all started 20 odd years ago when my darling wife bought me a set-up so that I could brew English style ales while on an extended visit to Australia (3 years). It was a basic 25 litre bucket with a lid and little else. To this, you would add a can of pre-prepared malty goodness and sugar from a shop of choice, poor in some water and complete the task with the addition of a packet of dried yeast. A couple of weeks later, you have a liquid that has some semblance of character that could be associated with a beer-like substance. Yippee ! Not difficult to produce something drinkable and the way many did produce their beer-like concoctions.
There was something lacking, however. While they were, for the best part, quite drinkable (by Australian beer standards of the time
), they weren't very good. Was it me ? Was it the basic kit based product ? Or was it the process ? I am quite (?) OCD, so I set out to try some modifications to the process. I started supplementing the kits with extra grains and hops.
BOOM !!
The beer was great. Not perfect but with real character. Due to my OCD, there was only one way forward but that would have to wait as the current circumstances didn't allow for my plans. After aquiring some extra bits and bobs (mostly 48 dozen 750ml bottles), the time came to hop on a plane back to Ol' Blighty. I sold the gear to a friend (and is still being used to this day) and off we went.
When we returned to these shores, it would have been reasonable to assume that due to the variety and availability of the native product, that brewing it myself would be a pointless waste of time and energy. No so, my beer drinking brethren. The availability of the raw ingredients and knowledge makes it a whole different endeavour. I found, to my chagrin, that the average mass produced swill was not what I remembered. Thus I set out to replicate the great brewery's offering without consideration to big business economics.
My earlier dream was finally made real. I now brew using the traditional technique of steeping grains in treated water, boiling the resultant malty goodness (wort) with a variety of hops and adding quality, style specific yeasts. A mixture of chemistry and art.
The results are, to paraphrase those who have tried my brews, outstanding.
There is always as much to learn still as I have done so far, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. The brews (with the occassional hiccup) improve with knowledge and, to these drunken tastebuds, equal to or better than the better commercial brews. Another benefit of the small scale is the ability to experiment with styles and flavour combinations. I'm am not tied to a specific brewing flavour tradition. I can experiment with "New World" hops and an infinite number of flavour combinations from various malts. I could go on (and I'm sure some of you think I have already).
I have been contacted by a couple of Wammers about homebrew and that is the point of this tread. If anybody is interested in starting to brew their own, or improving their current brews, then this can be a one-stop-shop for ideas and inspiration*. From basic "starter sets" to more advanced techniques, I'm at your disposal. In these tough economic times you don't have to go without to save money. A positive side effect of homebrew is the price-per-pint. With a basic kit brew you will get 40 pints @ 50p per pint. With my equipment, I attain 20p per pint. It makes good economic sense. And no, you don't have to be an alcoholic.
I will try to answer any questions with my usual frank, straight to the point manner. No bullshit. No PC crap. If I don't know the answer, I know a man who does. So fire away....
*Please note that any advice I give will have no financial benefit to me as I have no affiliations with any of the products or services that I may recommend.
There was something lacking, however. While they were, for the best part, quite drinkable (by Australian beer standards of the time
), they weren't very good. Was it me ? Was it the basic kit based product ? Or was it the process ? I am quite (?) OCD, so I set out to try some modifications to the process. I started supplementing the kits with extra grains and hops.BOOM !!
The beer was great. Not perfect but with real character. Due to my OCD, there was only one way forward but that would have to wait as the current circumstances didn't allow for my plans. After aquiring some extra bits and bobs (mostly 48 dozen 750ml bottles), the time came to hop on a plane back to Ol' Blighty. I sold the gear to a friend (and is still being used to this day) and off we went.
When we returned to these shores, it would have been reasonable to assume that due to the variety and availability of the native product, that brewing it myself would be a pointless waste of time and energy. No so, my beer drinking brethren. The availability of the raw ingredients and knowledge makes it a whole different endeavour. I found, to my chagrin, that the average mass produced swill was not what I remembered. Thus I set out to replicate the great brewery's offering without consideration to big business economics.
My earlier dream was finally made real. I now brew using the traditional technique of steeping grains in treated water, boiling the resultant malty goodness (wort) with a variety of hops and adding quality, style specific yeasts. A mixture of chemistry and art.
The results are, to paraphrase those who have tried my brews, outstanding.
There is always as much to learn still as I have done so far, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. The brews (with the occassional hiccup) improve with knowledge and, to these drunken tastebuds, equal to or better than the better commercial brews. Another benefit of the small scale is the ability to experiment with styles and flavour combinations. I'm am not tied to a specific brewing flavour tradition. I can experiment with "New World" hops and an infinite number of flavour combinations from various malts. I could go on (and I'm sure some of you think I have already).
I have been contacted by a couple of Wammers about homebrew and that is the point of this tread. If anybody is interested in starting to brew their own, or improving their current brews, then this can be a one-stop-shop for ideas and inspiration*. From basic "starter sets" to more advanced techniques, I'm at your disposal. In these tough economic times you don't have to go without to save money. A positive side effect of homebrew is the price-per-pint. With a basic kit brew you will get 40 pints @ 50p per pint. With my equipment, I attain 20p per pint. It makes good economic sense. And no, you don't have to be an alcoholic.
I will try to answer any questions with my usual frank, straight to the point manner. No bullshit. No PC crap. If I don't know the answer, I know a man who does. So fire away....
*Please note that any advice I give will have no financial benefit to me as I have no affiliations with any of the products or services that I may recommend.
