alexander72 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 sounds like a plan Kuga Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User0083 Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I say chaps, it sounds a lot easier to go to the pub. Back down in Devon I was paying £1.50 a pint of guest ales, "Goldy's" has six to try, four cider's, normal stuff on tap (Guiness, fosters, strongbow, smiths) but the six ales/four ciders are all cask. He takes off worst selling one each month and replaces it with a new one (both cider and ale). Had home brew back in singly flat's on camp. But one inspection they were found and nobody risked it since! Wasn't too bad for home brew, but not a shade on Devon/Dorset ales! Was considering a kit to do stuff from things we've grown and bottle them, but never lived at same address over 8 months for last fifteen years, so be something else to move each time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Verona Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 In Sheffield there was a micro brewery who had won the CAMRA best ale for several years, This was National and regional. The chief brewer was telling me he was p********, er fed up as the boss hadn't even said thanks let alone given him a bonus. I mentioned this to one of the farmers in Bradfield and within 3 months one of his barns was fully equipped for brewing ale and the brewer was his partner. They have now won best ale for several years. So, if you're in Sheffield try a pint of Bradfield Blonde. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KugaWestie Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 I am trying to come up with a way to put the fermenting vessel in an unheated garage, but think that through winter the brew would be too cold even when stood on a heating plate. The only way to heat the garage would be electric heaters, which is not really an option as it would be expensive. One thought i have had is to make a cupboard and put the FV inside it on the plate. It could be an insulated cupboard I guess Any bright ideas anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 How warm does it need to be? could you not make an insulated box/cupboard, maybe with one of those frost rad's in, just to keep the ambient air temp up a bit, then use your heating mat or whatever? I know I've used the lightbulb in a cupboard idea in the past to stop paper and chemicals (dark-room stuff) from being affected by the cold over winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Verona Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Can't you brew inside the house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KugaWestie Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 How warm does it need to be? could you not make an insulated box/cupboard, maybe with one of those frost rad's in, just to keep the ambient air temp up a bit, then use your heating mat or whatever? I know I've used the lightbulb in a cupboard idea in the past to stop paper and chemicals (dark-room stuff) from being affected by the cold over winter. That is the sort of lines I am thinking along. It needs to be around 20-24C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KugaWestie Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Can't you brew inside the house? I can, but wherever it goes the kids will knock it, and keep unsettling it There is only one possible location in a cupboard where we store things like boxes of cereal, some files, and some dried foodstuff. But then I would need to find a home for these! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KugaWestie Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 I know - I must build a cellar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Verona Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Only problem I had with my kids was stopping them from drinking the stuff! Know what you mean, build a small cupboard with a small heater in it. Are we all invited round for a tasting session when it's ready? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Wood Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Regarding home brew forums to join, I'd recommend this one: http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/ Lots of friendly advice available on there. Throw away the instructions that came with the kit and follow their guides. Once you've got a few kits under your belt, I'd urge you to try brewing from the grain in whatever form you can manage. I never got stellar results from kits but trying "all grain" really opened my eyes to how good a home brew could be. Only been doing it a year, but I'll never brew another kit. Here's a thread on my first attempt, with a description of the kit I put together: http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=24471 Regarding temperature control, I ferment all my beer in the garage. I've tried the following methods of controlling the temperature, all with good results: 1) Stand the fermentation vessel in a large bucket of water, put an aquarium heater in the bucket. 2) Put a well sanitised aquarium heater straight into the fermentation vessel 3) Stand the fermentation vessel on a thick sheet of ali with a couple of high power metal clad resistors attached to it to act as heating elements. Control temperature with a PID controller, with a temperature probe in the fermentation vessel In all cases it's worth chucking a blanket / duvet over it to keep flies, etc. out and to give a little insulation. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man On The Clapham Omnibus Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 I am trying to come up with a way to put the fermenting vessel in an unheated garage, but think that through winter the brew would be too cold even when stood on a heating plate. The only way to heat the garage would be electric heaters, which is not really an option as it would be expensive. One thought i have had is to make a cupboard and put the FV inside it on the plate. It could be an insulated cupboard I guess Any bright ideas anyone? For a while I used an aquarium heater. It was old as brewing heater, but aquarium heater was what it was! Worked well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigals Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 Thanks kevin forum booked marked. This could become my new hobby at this rate. Will be trying to bottle the next brew and will be slowly building up my equipment. As I go. I think come winter a simple box made of 50 mm solid sheet insulation poped over my brewing bench might keep it up to temp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Verona Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 OK, that's two tasting partys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigals Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 Two tasting party's = two good hangovers :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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