Just wondering if there are and what are you or will you be brewing in the future. Living here in the south east of the states it is quite hot and humid most of the time and my only real times I can brew occur between November and early March as this is the time my house is always at 68* F. I know I could buy rubbermaid containers and use ice bottles but where I live space is already an issue, plus I have to be respectful of the wifey. But come late autumn and winter, its go time. Ill be brewing a Brown Ale, and my take on a Double Pale ale using oak chips in the secondary fermentation come first of November. Cheers all.
Yes sir! I just finished a batch of a west-coast style IPA. It was still quite warm here so the fermentation was lively. I hope I don’t get too many of the fruity esters from the yeast. I like 'em, just not sure if they fit with the IPA style. If they are there I’ll just have to call it Banana Hurricane IPA.
Nice!!! You know the best thing I learned about homebrewing. Found a site where you can print off free labels, use a paint brush and dip it in milk, paint the paper label you printed off from the computer and allow to dry. Wont smell or anything, and will hold like glue once dried, when the bottle is emptied, run under warm water, peel off, and clean and sanitize the bottle and reuse. Well thats not the best thing, lol, but maybe the most interesting. I am thinking ill probably brew earlier this year as im getting the itch, maybe a saison since they do well in warmer temperatures.
@Grim , can I get that label link?. Saison you say, that will be a nice addition to your Autumn days. I don’t get on that well with Belgian styles, there is a sweet spicyness in them that I can’t get my head around. I do love Faro Lambics, though. I could drink gallons of that lovely stuff. I’d like to try and brew one, one day.
I love home brewing! Have a batch of wine going at the moment, but most recently brewed a brown ale and a saison from a recipe I came up with about a decade ago for a Scarborough fair saison (parsley, sage, rosemary & thyme). It’s a great hobby, but it does help if your significant other is out of the area during the boil stage - mine isn’t quite so fond of what she calls the gym sock smell. It’s a great way to always have beer on hand!
Also, one wee thing that I love about home brewing - like snuff, there are a few friends who are willing to try it, but most keep faaaaaar away; which is perfectly fine by me 
@Willymac I love to make wine too! Boiling wort smells like heaven to me, as does the bubbling from the fermentation. Maybe I’m part fruit fly. I’ve also made mead, cider and a failed attempt at Sake.
Hahaha - @thorgrimnr I agree! I love the smell as well 
Sometimes I just sit at the airlock to catch the little whiffs of scent coming off during fermentation. I’ve also thought about trying Sake a few times before… I had visions of a disaster and haven’t quite made the plunge yet
@thorgrimnr I’m at work at the moment but I can try to post the link o free label creator later tonight.
I’ve made beer 3 or 4 times with success. I made root beer twice, and both times it was explosively disastrous. 
@Grim Yes. In fact I have some 20 year old home brew that still wins awards. Started brewing same time as Larry Bell and used to sell him supplies.
@jpsavage - Larry Bell of Bells Brewery? Too cool!
Never tried but saw this kit on sale at local Off Licence. Has anybody tried this or similar?
Never tried but saw this kit on sale at local Off Licence. Has anybody tried this or similar?
Kits have a bad reputation amongst home brewers. You can do it yourself easily without all that jazz. I make my own wine, ‘prison’ style. Just brew up whatever fruit, veg or herbs you like, add sugar, yeast and nutrient, put in the demijohn and 3 week later, drinkable home brew for about 20 pence a bottle.
@AllanH My uncle gifted me the kit seen here, similar to yours: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSyPHydbQ4N2hDhjjrOD5cvdKWcfxD7oHW3Z8kwRqZZi4OqRfCV It worked out just fine, but I’ve only brewed the batch that came with it. I’ve not gotten around to trying again, although I should. I just need to get the supplies.
@AllanH The beer machine is really quite a fun little product. I used it frequently when I started. The kit beers that are meant to go in this are not very good, but you can certainly do a small extract brew of your own and ferment it in the beer machine. The beer machine makes a nice mini fermentor and draught dispenser all in one go. I’ve stopped using mine as It takes up some room in the fridge and having to buy CO2 dispensers for the rig became a cost I’d rather not have. It is well made though. If it makes you interested in learning to brew, it’s a good thing.
Thanks lads for the comments! Maybe I give that beer machine a try just to see what brewing is like. Friend of mine is planning to go big with his brewing, he did a week long micro-brewing course in Cork and hopes to make a few bob of his hobby in future.
@AllanH even if you use the tins of hopped malt syrup designed for the beer Machine you will at least have some beer you can say you made yourself. If you enjoy that, it may lead you on to extract brewing and then to full grain. Your friend sounds like a great resource!
I made my own beer years ago from canned extract and I’ve had my equipment sitting neglected in the basement. This summer my gooseberry bush exploded with fruit so I decided to dust things off and have a go at making gooseberry wine. I had to buy a bit more equipment but I’m all set to start it tomorrow. I think this will be the first step in becoming more self-sufficient as far as the simple pleasures in life go. I already have a tobacco patch planned for next year. Any tips for the wine greatly appreciated
Pro tip from experience, keep the fruit solids out of your primary. Juice it and filter the juice. I once used canned cherries in my primary, and the little bits floated to the surface and got all manky. Had to toss out the entire pail. Very tragic.