Happy easter to you all!!!!!!!!

For the Easter break my mate Jim (Dinger1203wrx on here) and myself have decided it might be worth a pop at a bit of home brewing...
So while we were doing it we thought it could be fun to keep a bit of a diary and keep you all informed on how its going. we bought the kit from the home brew shop in Stafford, http://www.yobrew.co.uk/home.php

Stage 1, Get the kit home...



As you can see jim is very happy with our purchase!!

Stage 2, Jim checking out the free bag of coke with the order!!!!!!!!!



Stage 3, Open the box see what we actually got.

 

Stage 4, Get the kit out the box and have a good look at it all...





Stage 5, Sterilise and check the kit carefully!!!



Stage 6, With the kit sterilised now it was time to finally read the instructions...



The lid was quite tight...

 

Stage 7, once we finally got the instructions out, Jim tried to read them...



Stage 8, coz Jim hadn't got a clue I had a look..



No I hadn't got a clue either..

Stage 9, open the can..

 

Stage 10, Jim checks the stuff, IT STINKS!!



Stage 11, the pour..





Stage 12, the scrape, and licks of the spoon... MINGING!

 

I did this lark when I was 16. It was honking (technical term) and I went on to be a Scientist in the distilling industry (!).

It's a very cheap source of ale but distilling it is a bit trickier and smellier.

K.

Edited due to the fact that that the previous post mentioned "minging".

 

Stage 13, time to add the sugar/cocaine..



stage 14, bored of this time for a line or two..




stage 15... Sugar not good for snorting, back to brewing.


The sugar added

 

Stage 16 adding 2 and half litres of not quite boiling water..



Stage 17 stir it all in..



Stage 18 wipe sugar out of nose, don't want it running into beer...

 

Stage 19, move onto the floor and top up barrel with the cold water..



Stage 20, nearly there!!!



Stage 21, sprinkle with yeast / maggots...






Stage 22, stir it all in and watch for pretty bubbles..

 

stage 23, wave bye to the brew and put lid on,



Stage 24, find somewhere to hide it where the missus will never suspect, her shoe cupboard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Now thats the first bit done, we'll be back in a week to let you know how its getting on!!!
Any advice would be great!!!

Jim and Dan!

 

>Any advice would be great!!!

Eight cans of Carlsberg for a fiver at the local garage.

 

I've been brewing my own for over 25 years mate..... Personally I use Geordie or tom caxton brews. (cheap is not an option when home brewing) Try to buy a kit with 3kgs of extract. Don't be to hung up about cleanliness!!! I have used the same bucket and bottles for about 20 years now and never had a bad brew!!!! Don't bottle to early or you'll end up with a real lively beer. I usually bottle it 8 days after I've made it summer or winter. It's ready for drinking a week after that. I see you have a beer keg, again down to preference, but I use bottles, you can put one in the fridge in summer!!!! I go for either bitter or export as I'm not a lager drinker. I make one every 10 days or so, I have 48 1 litre bottles, as I get down to 1/2 I put a brew on. That way I always have beer!!!! Best of luck and happy drinking.
dave

 

Talking of lively, my bitter has enough gas in it to power up Sellafield. If I simply open the top of the pressure barrel to vent it off, will this help?