What now

General homebrew discussion, tips and help on kit and malt extract brewing, and talk about equipment. Queries on sourcing supplies and equipment should go in The Store.

What now

Postby Lebowski » Thursday Feb 10, 2005 5:39 pm

Well I just finished bottling my first recipe beer (little creatures pale ale kit from westbrew, which had cascade hops in a satchel, safale packet, brew enchancer pack and black rock pilsener blonde) it smells and tastes a lot better than my first 2 brews of just plain kits and dextrose.

After bottling that I started on coopers pale ale. This time mixing everything up in a pot on the stove, before I was just doing it in the fermenter.
I added cascade hops, about 400ml of honey from my dads beehive in gingin, coopers pale ale tin and brew enchancer from westbrew. Fingers crossed it turns out good.

Now I'm wondering what other kinds of hops and things are out there to make a brew taste great. I was thinking of trying ginger beer next (if i find enough bottles) What kind of hops or other things could you add to make it taste great?

Also should you sterilise the pot you are going to boil in, or is the heat enough to kill any bugs?

Oh and lastly, wheres the best (read cheapest) place to get a keg system in perth? and how much would It cost? and gas costs? (I think I might still have to save up for a while, but washing and filling 60 bottles is getting tiring, anyone know a good source of 750ml bottles?)

I apologise this post is all over the place I just have a lot of questions and im excited about my new beers. :D
Lebowski
 

Postby Lebowski » Thursday Feb 10, 2005 5:42 pm

Oh yeah I just thought of another question. Last time the hops came in a little satchel, this time they where loose so I just chucken them into the boil and didnt bother to strain them out.. will this be a problem? How do most people normaly add hops for aroma?
Lebowski
 

Postby BPJ » Friday Feb 11, 2005 8:29 am

For your questions on bottles have a look at some of the earlier posts, about cleaning and sourcing (recycling depots, function centres etc.)
I use stubbies, which means about 60 per batch and use a bottle washer which has a bowl at the bottom and a push teh bottle down to pump the water, cleaner into the bottle. Takes about an hour and half from start to finish, including bulk priming etc.
Check out the older posts, I have put a link in one of them, plus others have put links for various other cleaners/washers.

Kegging $400 - $500 upwards, the main hurdle I have to going that way.
http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34
BPJ
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Postby Oliver » Friday Feb 11, 2005 10:28 am

Lebowski,

There have been a few posts about ginger beer in the past. Just do a search. There are many commercial cans out there, or you can start from scratch using real ginger. Hops don't feature though.

You don't need to sterilise the pot. The heat will kill any nasties.

Regarding the hops, you might find that they block the valve on the bottling tube when you bottle. But just turn off the tap, remove the tube, take off the valve and clean it. After that initial blockage you shouldn't get another one.

Cheers,

Oliver
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Postby Jeff » Friday Feb 11, 2005 11:16 am

Mate if you rinse/wash each bottle immediately after emptying the brew, allow to drain and store under clean conditions you shouldn't have too many problems. This cuts down on bottling time so that 23 litres only takes about an hour to put away
Life is too short to drink crap
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Postby Dogger Dan » Friday Feb 11, 2005 11:33 am

Gentlemen,

Kegs

10 min tops

Dogger
"Listening to someone who brews their own beer is like listening to a religous fanatic talk about the day he saw the light" Ross Murray, Montreal Gazette
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Postby Shaun » Friday Feb 11, 2005 6:59 pm

I am with Dogger, the cost of Kegging is small compaired to the wasted hours cleaning, time that could be used drinking.

Been there done that would not go back.
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