Thread: Home Brew

Hi Jon
Yep I throw the supplied yeast plus Saffale(blue pack) yeast,have done for 5 years,always a good result.
On the kegs,you only need to get an extra gas fitting and a T peice for the gas line.
Once you are set up look into getting 2 more kegs,adds quality to the beer.I run 4 kegs,at the moment.2 in the fridge on the gas,only one getting drawn upon,empty 1 swap to the new one add another to the fridge.2 kegs in insulated cupboard ageing.
I also brew 2 brews at once in seperate fermenters,leaving them slightly longer than normal in the fermenter,3 to 4 weeks depending on time available or empty kegs.
The trick to good carbonation is at least 4 days @ 4degC or lower,the beer wont accept Co2 above 4degC.
Andrew

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

Hi Martin
I wouldnt use them "lollies",easy yes,I found them way too slow on the secondary fermentation.
It is possible to "bulk prime",I used to do it.Disolve the correct amount of sugar for the number of bottles in a cup of hot water,tip it into fermenter when you start washing the bottles then bottle as per usual.
Go the kegs,you will love it.MUCH better beer quality!!!!
Ben
Its the Blue Saffale yeast I use.You already know,but for others I also use the supplied yeast included with the brew tin.
Andrew

I am seriously tempted to go the keg. Filling and cleaning nottles is a major PITA. Are there any issues to worry about when using kegs versus bottling ? How long does a CO2 bottle last. Is it easy to fill, seal etc ?

Thanks Andy

Martin

Kegging is easy as long as you follow the same ways as the bottles.

Clean clean clean

When I empty a keg I fill with water and abit of co2 run through the tap for a bit and then tip the rest onto the lawn, but if your next keg is the same beer then you don't have to run it through the line.

Also when you have an empty keg put abit od co2 in and it keeps an air tight seal so no nasties can get in.

I run a full size co2 bottle which sould last around 12 months but you can get the smaller ones from your brew shop with should last between 2-4 months.


Hey Andy what do you run your co2 pressure at??? and have you tried forced carbonation???


Adam

Here is my set up






Total cost including fridge was around the 450 mark.

Its worth the effort to go down this route because once the 3rd keg is empty I will basicly be paying around $15 per carton

Can't wait till I get the 2nd fermenter and start on Guinness


Also I will turn my old bar fridge into a fermenting fridge

Adam

I have learnt heaps from the posts thanks. I'm an old brewer from 30+ years ago and the idea of moving the beer when brewed to another barrel with 3 tablespoons of sugar to decant and remove the lees(?) appeals. I also want to barrel it and save the crappola around washing and filling bottles.

As I am time poor, I wondered are these any good Andy and guys ?

NEW KEGERATOR BEER KEG FRIDGE bar home brewing system - eBay Bar Fridges, Refrigerators, Freezers, Appliances, Home. (end time 13-Aug-08 21:00:00 AEST)

Thanks


Regards


Martin

They are good buuuuuttttt, its the same as what I have done.

All they are is a fridge with a tap on top.

My fridge (430L) cost me $99 from a sencond had joint and the tap was $50 so I am still 350 bucks in front of that thing.

Tonight it took me 5min to move my brew from the fermenter to the keg so if your time poor then just keg then after a week of co2 start drinking


Adam

Originally Posted by agrojnr

They are good buuuuuttttt, its the same as what I have done.

All they are is a fridge with a tap on top.

My fridge (430L) cost me $99 from a sencond had joint and the tap was $50 so I am still 350 bucks in front of that thing.

Tonight it took me 5min to move my brew from the fermenter to the keg so if your time poor then just keg then after a week of co2 start drinking


Adam

Thanks, why the week on CO2. Doesn't it gas it up straight away ?

If you gas at poring pressure (110kpa) it will take about 5 days for the co2 too get into the beer (2nd fermantation) or you can try forced carbonation which takes about a day and a half


Still quicker that 6 weeks or so in bottles


Adam