Homebrew

[Mac]

Hey Gallagher,

You can put say 25g of your preferred hops into a coffee plunger of hot water for 15 mins and just add it to the wort.

Or you can get some malt extract (I used to prefer dry extract) and add 100g per litre of water. Use say 500g in 5 litres of water, dissolve it and bring to the boil (careful of boilovers).

Add your hops to the 5 litres and boil for 20 mins. Let cool a bit and add with the rest of the can. To prevent too much hop material in the wort you can buy "hop socks" or strain it after boiling.

Once at fermentation temperature add your yeast as usual.

Be careful with sanitation and don't be scared to splash the wort into the fermenter when it's at room temperature. Yeast love oxygen and it will improve your yeast growth.

IMO the most important part of the process is sanitation and fermentation temperature. If I'm brewing an ale I keep a constant 18*C with a temp regulated fridge.

 

[Mac]

For anyone wanting to know more about getting into brewing or brushing up on things John Palmer has the full 1st edition of his book "How To Brew" available for free on the link below.

There are a few things peculiar to the American way of brewing but it's a first class intro to brewing.

[link text](http://www.howtobrew.com/)

 

[gallagher]

Hey Gallagher,

You can put say 25g of your preferred hops into a coffee plunger of hot water for 15 mins and just add it to the wort.

Or you can get some malt extract (I used to prefer dry extract) and add 100g per litre of water. Use say 500g in 5 litres of water, dissolve it and bring to the boil (careful of boilovers).

Add your hops to the 5 litres and boil for 20 mins. Let cool a bit and add with the rest of the can. To prevent too much hop material in the wort you can buy "hop socks" or strain it after boiling.

Once at fermentation temperature add your yeast as usual.

Be careful with sanitation and don't be scared to splash the wort into the fermenter when it's at room temperature. Yeast love oxygen and it will improve your yeast growth.

IMO the most important part of the process is sanitation and fermentation temperature. If I'm brewing an ale I keep a constant 18*C with a temp regulated fridge.

That's awesome Mac, cheers . I'll check out that link

 

[Mac]

Just one more thing. If you are using dry yeast about 15 mins before you are going to pitch it get a small bottle of water (the normal type you buy) and being careful with sanitation, cut the corner off the yeast sachet and pour it into the bottle that has about half the water left.

The yeast will initially float on the top but slowly sink to the bottom. When it's all sunk give the bottle a good swirl and pitch into the wort.

The hydration allows the cell walls of the yeast to become efficient at allowing nutrients etc to cross the cell wall from the start.

Sanitise the yeast packet, the scissors, the bottle and your hands while you do this.

 

[JB]

Any tips on adding hops to a kit and kilo?

Hi Mate,

When using a kit, try adding dry hops at day 4, then follow your normal routine & see how you like the result.
Once you've tried that you can then experiment (if you weren't happy with the result above) by dry hopping earlier or later during fermentation. It'll also depend on quantity of hops you used initially. If you're using a standard beer kit that makes 23 litres, you should add around 50g of hops (for a Pale Ale).

The best Pale Ale I've brewed using a kit was achieved by adding the dry hops at day 4 and then also transferring that hop bag to the keg. Beer was a little cloudy but boy it tasted good! It was my own Hazy!!
Cheers!!

 

[gallagher]

Any tips on adding hops to a kit and kilo?

Hi Mate,

When using a kit, try adding dry hops at day 4, then follow your normal routine & see how you like the result.
Once you've tried that you can then experiment (if you weren't happy with the result above) by dry hopping earlier or later during fermentation. It'll also depend on quantity of hops you used initially. If you're using a standard beer kit that makes 23 litres, you should add around 50g of hops (for a Pale Ale).

The best Pale Ale I've brewed using a kit was achieved by adding the dry hops at day 4 and then also transferring that hop bag to the keg. Beer was a little cloudy but boy it tasted good! It was my own Hazy!!
Cheers!!

Cheers mate. What pale ale kit did you use? I'm using the coopers.

 

[JB]

Any tips on adding hops to a kit and kilo?

Hi Mate,

When using a kit, try adding dry hops at day 4, then follow your normal routine & see how you like the result.
Once you've tried that you can then experiment (if you weren't happy with the result above) by dry hopping earlier or later during fermentation. It'll also depend on quantity of hops you used initially. If you're using a standard beer kit that makes 23 litres, you should add around 50g of hops (for a Pale Ale).

The best Pale Ale I've brewed using a kit was achieved by adding the dry hops at day 4 and then also transferring that hop bag to the keg. Beer was a little cloudy but boy it tasted good! It was my own Hazy!!
Cheers!!

Cheers mate. What pale ale kit did you use? I'm using the coopers.

I've been using the Black Rock Riwaka can and adding various combos of Galaxy / Cascade / Citra hops. But just yesterday I sampled a brew at the Brew Shop Kirrawee that was far superior. It was one of their fresh worts (Amarillo), with 100g of Simcoe hops (added at day four) and a US05 yeast. If you can't get to Kirrawee they have stores at Peakhurst & Cambelltown.
Wort detail: https://www.thebrewshop.com.au/esb-fresh-wort-kit-amarillo-ale.html

I'd been around the corner at Sunday Road for a couple beforehand. They're well worth the visit if you're out this way. Gives you something to aspire to.....

 

[gallagher]

Any tips on adding hops to a kit and kilo?

Hi Mate,

When using a kit, try adding dry hops at day 4, then follow your normal routine & see how you like the result.
Once you've tried that you can then experiment (if you weren't happy with the result above) by dry hopping earlier or later during fermentation. It'll also depend on quantity of hops you used initially. If you're using a standard beer kit that makes 23 litres, you should add around 50g of hops (for a Pale Ale).

The best Pale Ale I've brewed using a kit was achieved by adding the dry hops at day 4 and then also transferring that hop bag to the keg. Beer was a little cloudy but boy it tasted good! It was my own Hazy!!
Cheers!!

Cheers mate. What pale ale kit did you use? I'm using the coopers.

I've been using the Black Rock Riwaka can and adding various combos of Galaxy / Cascade / Citra hops. But just yesterday I sampled a brew at the Brew Shop Kirrawee that was far superior. It was one of their fresh worts (Amarillo), with 100g of Simcoe hops (added at day four) and a US05 yeast. If you can't get to Kirrawee they have stores at Peakhurst & Cambelltown.
Wort detail: https://www.thebrewshop.com.au/esb-fresh-wort-kit-amarillo-ale.html

I'd been around the corner at Sunday Road for a couple beforehand. They're well worth the visit if you're out this way. Gives you something to aspire to.....

A few thousand klms away unfortunately lol. Ben thinking about trying a FWK. I'll see how my attempt at hopping comes out

 

[Tigerwould]

Just got given Kegerator from the family for my 50th. Awesome present. It’s basically 2 home brew kegs in a bar fridge with beer taps on top.

I used to do a few home brew’s in my 20’s. The bottling was fun but I never stuck with it.

My brother made his own home keg system. He just bought a second hand bar fridge for $50 , drilled hole at the top for the taps and a hole at the back for the gas.
Mine was expensive (but awesome) around $650 new. Plus $115 for each keg (got 2) plus $70 for the refillable gas bottle.
In the long run it will pay off.

At this stage (early days) I’m just brewing the cheats way. Buying the wort kits (pre made) then adding yeast. In 2 weeks you have a 19 litre keg of awesome beer. I was drinking a IPA last night. It was sensational.
Today I’m going to make a pain beer for my mates the just like Tooheys ect.


This what I got - “2 Tap Series X Kegerator - Allstar SS Homebrew Draught Pack”. And loving it.

 

[bathursttiger1]

Just got given Kegerator from the family for my 50th. Awesome present. It’s basically 2 home brew kegs in a bar fridge with beer taps on top.

I used to do a few home brew’s in my 20’s. The bottling was fun but I never stuck with it.

My brother made his own home keg system. He just bought a second hand bar fridge for $50 , drilled hole at the top for the taps and a hole at the back for the gas.
Mine was expensive (but awesome) around $650 new. Plus $115 for each keg (got 2) plus $70 for the refillable gas bottle.
In the long run it will pay off.

At this stage (early days) I’m just brewing the cheats way. Buying the wort kits (pre made) then adding yeast. In 2 weeks you have a 19 litre keg of awesome beer. I was drinking a IPA last night. It was sensational.
Today I’m going to make a pain beer for my mates the just like Tooheys ect.


This what I got - “2 Tap Series X Kegerator - Allstar SS Homebrew Draught Pack”. And loving it.

Happy 50th, hope you have many more.

 

[tigger]

Just got given Kegerator from the family for my 50th. Awesome present. It’s basically 2 home brew kegs in a bar fridge with beer taps on top.

I used to do a few home brew’s in my 20’s. The bottling was fun but I never stuck with it.

My brother made his own home keg system. He just bought a second hand bar fridge for $50 , drilled hole at the top for the taps and a hole at the back for the gas.
Mine was expensive (but awesome) around $650 new. Plus $115 for each keg (got 2) plus $70 for the refillable gas bottle.
In the long run it will pay off.

At this stage (early days) I’m just brewing the cheats way. Buying the wort kits (pre made) then adding yeast. In 2 weeks you have a 19 litre keg of awesome beer. I was drinking a IPA last night. It was sensational.
Today I’m going to make a pain beer for my mates the just like Tooheys ect.


This what I got - “2 Tap Series X Kegerator - Allstar SS Homebrew Draught Pack”. And loving it.

Good stuff.

I've got three taps on my kegerator. You can just squeeze three 19 litre kegs into them. I've currently got a pilsner, a stout and a mid strength ale on tap, plus a nut brown ale and a basic "no frills" lager conditioning in my back fridge.

If you get a pressure rated fermenter, and brew under pressure, you can transfer from your fermenter to your keg without any risk of the brew being tainted by exposure to oxygen. It just cuts out one of the risk factors.

I use StellarSan for sterilising my equipment. You don't have to rinse it off. Just ignore the foam that it leaves behind (it's actually a good yeast nutrient). It doesn't leave any residual steriliser flavours in your beer.

I do all grain brewing but, like most people, I started with the packaged wort kits. It's a good way to start.

Please let us know how the first brew turns out.

 

[gallagher]

Just got given Kegerator from the family for my 50th. Awesome present. It’s basically 2 home brew kegs in a bar fridge with beer taps on top.

I used to do a few home brew’s in my 20’s. The bottling was fun but I never stuck with it.

My brother made his own home keg system. He just bought a second hand bar fridge for $50 , drilled hole at the top for the taps and a hole at the back for the gas.
Mine was expensive (but awesome) around $650 new. Plus $115 for each keg (got 2) plus $70 for the refillable gas bottle.
In the long run it will pay off.

At this stage (early days) I’m just brewing the cheats way. Buying the wort kits (pre made) then adding yeast. In 2 weeks you have a 19 litre keg of awesome beer. I was drinking a IPA last night. It was sensational.
Today I’m going to make a pain beer for my mates the just like Tooheys ect.


This what I got - “2 Tap Series X Kegerator - Allstar SS Homebrew Draught Pack”. And loving it.

Awesome present!!! I've converted a chest freezer that fits three kegs. Can get a bit dangerous having lots of beer on tap though 🤕

 

[Tigerwould]

Just got given Kegerator from the family for my 50th. Awesome present. It’s basically 2 home brew kegs in a bar fridge with beer taps on top.

I used to do a few home brew’s in my 20’s. The bottling was fun but I never stuck with it.

My brother made his own home keg system. He just bought a second hand bar fridge for $50 , drilled hole at the top for the taps and a hole at the back for the gas.
Mine was expensive (but awesome) around $650 new. Plus $115 for each keg (got 2) plus $70 for the refillable gas bottle.
In the long run it will pay off.

At this stage (early days) I’m just brewing the cheats way. Buying the wort kits (pre made) then adding yeast. In 2 weeks you have a 19 litre keg of awesome beer. I was drinking a IPA last night. It was sensational.
Today I’m going to make a pain beer for my mates the just like Tooheys ect.


This what I got - “2 Tap Series X Kegerator - Allstar SS Homebrew Draught Pack”. And loving it.

Good stuff.

I've got three taps on my kegerator. You can just squeeze three 19 litre kegs into them. I've currently got a pilsner, a stout and a mid strength ale on tap, plus a nut brown ale and a basic "no frills" lager conditioning in my back fridge.

If you get a pressure rated fermenter, and brew under pressure, you can transfer from your fermenter to your keg without any risk of the brew being tainted by exposure to oxygen. It just cuts out one of the risk factors.

I use StellarSan for sterilising my equipment. You don't have to rinse it off. Just ignore the foam that it leaves behind (it's actually a good yeast nutrient). It doesn't leave any residual steriliser flavours in your beer.

I do all grain brewing but, like most people, I started with the packaged wort kits. It's a good way to start.

Please let us know how the first brew turns out.

Cheers. Will do. The yeast says 9-22c ideally 12-15 C. Today’s is 28C. Ive got it in spot that is 22C which is right on the limit. So not ideal but I couldn’t wait. Had to give it a crack. It gets down to 16 at nights. If i keep it between 16 and 22 I’m hoping it will turn out ok.

 

[tigger]

Just got given Kegerator from the family for my 50th. Awesome present. It’s basically 2 home brew kegs in a bar fridge with beer taps on top.

I used to do a few home brew’s in my 20’s. The bottling was fun but I never stuck with it.

My brother made his own home keg system. He just bought a second hand bar fridge for $50 , drilled hole at the top for the taps and a hole at the back for the gas.
Mine was expensive (but awesome) around $650 new. Plus $115 for each keg (got 2) plus $70 for the refillable gas bottle.
In the long run it will pay off.

At this stage (early days) I’m just brewing the cheats way. Buying the wort kits (pre made) then adding yeast. In 2 weeks you have a 19 litre keg of awesome beer. I was drinking a IPA last night. It was sensational.
Today I’m going to make a pain beer for my mates the just like Tooheys ect.


This what I got - “2 Tap Series X Kegerator - Allstar SS Homebrew Draught Pack”. And loving it.

Good stuff.

I've got three taps on my kegerator. You can just squeeze three 19 litre kegs into them. I've currently got a pilsner, a stout and a mid strength ale on tap, plus a nut brown ale and a basic "no frills" lager conditioning in my back fridge.

If you get a pressure rated fermenter, and brew under pressure, you can transfer from your fermenter to your keg without any risk of the brew being tainted by exposure to oxygen. It just cuts out one of the risk factors.

I use StellarSan for sterilising my equipment. You don't have to rinse it off. Just ignore the foam that it leaves behind (it's actually a good yeast nutrient). It doesn't leave any residual steriliser flavours in your beer.

I do all grain brewing but, like most people, I started with the packaged wort kits. It's a good way to start.

Please let us know how the first brew turns out.

Cheers. Will do. The yeast says 9-22c ideally 12-15 C. Today’s is 28C. Ive got it in spot that is 22C which is right on the limit. So not ideal but I couldn’t wait. Had to give it a crack. It gets down to 16 at nights. If i keep it between 16 and 22 I’m hoping it will turn out ok.

If the temp starts to climb wrap a wet towel around your fermenter and keep it wet. The evaporation from the towel will cool the fermenter down. Works on much the same basis as evaporative air conditioning.

All the best with it.

 

[Tigerwould]

This one made a beautiful drop.

 

[cochise]

This one made a beautiful drop.

I might give it a run.

 

[Tigerwould]

This one made a beautiful drop.

I might give it a run.

I added half a litre of freshly brewed coffee towards the ends of fermentation.
Basically made a large plunger of coffee. Let cooled to room temp, added it in.
Great winter beer to take your mind off the WTs loss to the storm.

 

[cochise]

This one made a beautiful drop.

I might give it a run.


I added half a litre of freshly brewed coffee towards the ends of fermentation.
Basically made a large plunger of coffee. Let cooled to room temp, added it in.
Great winter beer to take your mind off the WTs loss to the storm.

I only drink stout lol

 

[Tigerwould]

This one made a beautiful drop.

I might give it a run.


I added half a litre of freshly brewed coffee towards the ends of fermentation.
Basically made a large plunger of coffee. Let cooled to room temp, added it in.
Great winter beer to take your mind off the WTs loss to the storm.

I only drink stout lol

Yum. I only added 2 litres of water (plus the coffee) to the wort kit.
If you add 4 litres of water….it more of a Porter.


 

[cochise]

This one made a beautiful drop.

I might give it a run.


I added half a litre of freshly brewed coffee towards the ends of fermentation.
Basically made a large plunger of coffee. Let cooled to room temp, added it in.
Great winter beer to take your mind off the WTs loss to the storm.

I only drink stout lol


Yum. I only added 2 litres of water (plus the coffee) to the wort kit.
If you add 4 litres of water….it more of a Porter.


Nice clean head.