FOAK: Beer/Lager Home brewing kits?

As per subject line - I think it's time to give it a go and try and poison
myself. Anyone got any recommendations for starter kits or equipment
suppliers and the ingredients mix kits?

TIA

Buzby

 

I don't really understand this because aren't you still making a "pattern"
beer if you use a kit?

ie the same is the bloke down the road and the same as the factory churning
out all of them?

Or it to do with the fact that the instructions go out the window once
you've successfully got drunk on the fumes/other beer/whatever and therefore
every batch is unique?

 

I don't really understand this because aren't you still making a "pattern"

Heh - in reality thats probably the sad truth.

What I'm really after is some feedback on the equipment - what works, what
doesn't and where to get it.

If anyones got some good recipes/methods even better.
..

 

Use glucose rather than sugar.

Don't bother mashing your own brew, it's hard work, takes ages and
stinks. Buy a decent quality kit Caxtons is good, or Boots is OK.
Start by making a lowish ABV by either finding a suitable kit or just
reduce the amounts of glucose in the instructions.

Use a 5 gallon beer sphere rather than bottles, saves time and you can
condition the beer with CO2 if you have a party and the pressure drops.

HTH

 

Buzby wrote

Don't attempt to make a /strong/ beer until you know what you are doing
and have identified whose wife, amongst your newly acquired circle of
friends, you fancy the most.

 

Unican is OK as well
I only make 4.5 gallons and put it in 2 litre plastic pop bottles, clear
ones so that I can see the sludge in the bottom.
I have never tried glucose what difference will that make? I have tried
several varieties of brown sugar and those are quite nice.

 

I prefer blondes, glucose leaves less of a tang than sugar in the lighter
beers such as IPA IME.

 

Buzby wrote

Generic Beer from memory:-

Malt: 1lb/gallon,
Hops: A handful a gallon
Yeast: 1 level spoonful a gallon
Water: Slightly less than a gallon a gallon.

Vary the quantities according to your personal preferences.

An optional half a spoonful of marmite per 5 gallons as yeast food is an
economic alternative to pills and, trust me on this, goes completely
undetected by any alcoholic, even those who claim to "throw up at just
the merest hint of it in a properly made egg and tomato sandwich."

Mix, wait, drink.

 

tallbloke wrote

Edme is it, the malt makers? Are they still in business? Their bitter
was nice, the lager was shite.

I always wanted one of those. I used the plastic barrels and gave them
light pressure by adding a little sugar when the finished beer went in.

 

Yes. Don't know. Yes.

Secondary fermentation is a must, just nice to be able to add some CO2
as needed.

 

Spring water from the west side of the Malvern Hills
makes better beer than tap water.
Just ask a local where the pipe is.

 

tallbloke wrote

5 cubic feet is all you need.

 

Aha, a word smith.

 

I do a bit of home-brewing now and again and would recommed buying
"The new complete joy of homebrewing" by Charlie Papazian - its about
£7 off amazon. It will teach you loads about the entire process and
rapidly turn you into a beer expert.

Rec.crafts.brewing is a good source too. As for equipment I use
leyland homebrew - do a search on goolge they are the cheapest I have
found so far.