What's brewing?

[jazzaD1]

I thought it would be worthwhile starting a thread about what everyone is currently brewing

I have just pitched the yeast in my first 'toucan', using:
2 coopers kit cans, one draught and the other real ale
1kg coopers brew enhancer 1 (a mix of dextrose and maltodextrin)
500g light malt extract (dry)
Danstar Nottingham yeast
I will dry hop with some Galaxy hops, a few days into fermentation, although i'm still working out how much to use

It turned out a bit darker than I expected, but

I ended up with an original gravity of 1.070, I am expecting an alcohol level of 6.6% in the keg, 7.0% in a bottle

I am a fan of IPA style beers, and tasting this tonight, i don't think it will disappoint, quite bitter, but not overpowering

I was originally just going to use the 2 cans and some malt extract, but I noticed the brew enhancer that came with my coopers brewing kit and decided to throw that in also

Here is a pic:

[adonuff]

Hi
One of the conditions when I was allowed to get my Keg system was I make Ginger Beer. The brew I have fermenting at the moment was a Morgans kit with Lactose, brewing sugar No. 15, Grated ginger boiled for 10 mins. It's working well and should have quite a kick when finished, the laundry is filled with a ginger aroma.

Looking forward to trying it out if it tastes as good as it smells Think everyone will be happy

[Redback]

Hi
One of the conditions when I was allowed to get my Keg system was I make Ginger Beer. The brew I have fermenting at the moment was a Morgans kit with Lactose, brewing sugar No. 15, Grated ginger boiled for 10 mins. It's working well and should have quite a kick when finished, the laundry is filled with a ginger aroma.

Looking forward to trying it out if it tastes as good as it smells Think everyone will be happy

When you do another Ginger Beer in the future add some Chilly to it, makes it taste very nice indeed.


Very easy, my daughter has been using this recipe for a while now, also Landyandy has tried this with great results.

Daves ginger beer recipe
5 gallons water
1-1 1/2 lbs. ginger root, coarsley chopped
17 cups sugar
4 lemons, sliced
3/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 packet champagne yeast


Boil as much of the water as will fit in your largest pot.

Squeeze in lemons and add squeezed bits.

Add ginger root and cream of tartar.

Add as much sugar as you can if there's room.

Simmer gently for 20-30 minutes.

Put remaining sugar, if any, in 5 gallon plastic pail or similar.

Pour water mixture over.

Add remaining water to 5 gallons and cool to lukewarm.

Taste - this will approximate the taste of the finished product. If necessary add more ginger or ginger powder.

Dissolve yeast in a cup of the mixture, then stir it back in.
Cover and ferment for 7 days at 65-70�F.

Siphon into sterilised bottles (I use 2-litre pop bottles). Cap. Age upright for one week at 60-65�F then store in cool place at 60�F or less.

If necessary release pressure in bottles occasionally to prevent explosions! Take care when opening bottles - can be very lively!!

Drink as is (will be 5-7% alc. by volume). Is also very good, but deadly, mixer for gin on a hot summer's day.

I added 1 tsp. finely chopped Habenero Peppers to one batch - was excellent taste and good for clearing sinuses!!!

I have been making this for years, many of my friends are now making it too.

WARNING;

DO NOT USE GLASS BOTTLES WHEN BREWING GINGER BEER

Baz.

[adonuff]

Thanks Redback

We will give it a go, sounds dangerous? especially mixed with gin!

[LandyAndy]

Currentley drinking a toucan brew myself.2xCoopers Stout and 1kg brew enhancer2.Its nice and you almost have to chew it
Coopers Real Ale is my standard brew,love it,not much available in the way of homebrew supplies here.Limited supplies in Narrogin 35ks away,Perth is 165ks away.Local general store stocks Coopers Lager and Real ale,no brew sugars.
Andrew

[poleonpom]

Back into brewing after 15 odd years. My little boy used to help me way back then, and he helps me now as a strapping 19 year old as he can now drink his way through it!

I have stayed with kits to get back into it, but plan a full-mash Newcastle Brown Ale in the near future, so far I have:
San Miguel - adjusted lager kit with added hallertau and golden syrup
Coopers Red - such a great kit
Burton Ale - bottling in a minute as we're fast running out of the rest!

Jonathan

[jazzaD1]

A couple of nights ago, i put the toucan brew into a keg, and started another.
This one is a Coopers Pale Ale kit, with 7g Galaxy hops boiled for 10 minutes and 6g added just as the heat was turned off. I did this to increase the bitterness and to add some aroma, and you can definitely tell they are in there, Galaxy hops go a long way! Also added to the wort was 1kg of Coopers brew enhancer 2

I collected the yeast from the last batch, rinsed it, and used about 1/4 of it to pitch into this new brew. It was Nottingham ale yeast, at $6.50 a pack at my local homebrew shop, I will be recycling it as much as i can! Because there was a lot of yeast pitched at the beginning, and it was already hydrated, it kicked off in under 2 hours, I was very impressed.

Initial tasting reveal that it is going to be a very light tasting beer, there doesn't seem to be much 'body' to it. It is only going to have about 4.2% alcohol in the keg, which will be a change from my usual stronger brews. I could add some light malt extract to it but i don't want to spend any more on this brew.

Original gravity was 1.040, I'm expecting a finish about 1.010 or 1.008

The best improvement I have made to my brewing so far has been adding an aquarium heater to the fermenter, and I am controlling it with a PID controller. It controls a solid state relay, and has a resolution of 0.1 degrees C. When left to its own devices, where my fermenter is located it only sits on about 12 degrees, now the heater is in there I keep it at 18 degrees. It speeds the fermentation along nicely and keeps the yeast working where it is most efficient.

[LandyAndy]

I was in the city on friday so I treated myself to a couple of "premium" brew kits from a brew shop.Just finished putting them on to ferment.
Brewcraft Dublin Dry Stout(Guinness)


Brewcraft Ginger Beer(with extra fresh ginger)


Andrew