The origin of this thread was when someone asked the question "what is the least equipment I need to brew beer ?". Turns out you need very little, in fact less than I'm going to use here because this methods adds a little to the absolute basic. For this brew you need these ingredients :-
A 500g packet of Dark Dried Malt Extract
1/2 packet of Newcastle Dark Ale Yeast
About 10 grams of East Kent Gold Hops
A 5 litre bottle of still water
and this kit :-
Pan
measuring jug (although you can just judge it)
Funnel if you are not steady handed
5 1 litre fizzy drink bottles
Pour out about 700ml of the water into a pan and put in the hops. Boil for about 10 minutes.
While it's boiling put the Malt Extract into the water bottle and give it a shake. The water/DME mix should be below the shoulder of the bottle.
When the hops are 'done' pour enough of the liquid into the bottle to just go above the shoulder and give it a shake to mix. Then add the 1/2 packet of yeast and give it another shake.
That's it made.
Now loosen the lid so that it is just on and put it somewhere warm. It will probably volcano over on the second day so make sure it is standing on something like a dinner tray to catch the spill.
By day 4 it should have stopped bubbling. To confirm it has stopped tighten the lid, wait for about 10 minutes and then loosen it again. If it hisses it is still fermenting.
When it has definitely stopped tighten the lid and stick it in the fridge for two days. This will drop most of the yeast out of the beer and make it clear.
After two days in the fridge, put a level teaspoon of sugar in 5 clean one litre fizzy drink bottles. If you are steady handed you can simply pour it in, if not use a funnel.
Put the bottles somewhere warm and wait for them to get fizzy (when the bottles become stiff). Depending on the temperature this will be around 5 days.
Put a bottle (or two) in the fridge, let it go cold and then drink it.
The taste will not win any prizes but it is certainly drinkable.:razz: When I made the above recipe I had my first bottle 9 days after mixing it but you need to let the process run its course and it could take longer than that.
The Malt Extract, Yeast and Hops can all be substituted for whatever you fancy. You can also mix different Malt Extracts, I mixed Dark with Amber to make something like and ESB colour.
Enjoy:wink:
A 500g packet of Dark Dried Malt Extract
1/2 packet of Newcastle Dark Ale Yeast
About 10 grams of East Kent Gold Hops
A 5 litre bottle of still water
and this kit :-
Pan
measuring jug (although you can just judge it)
Funnel if you are not steady handed
5 1 litre fizzy drink bottles
Pour out about 700ml of the water into a pan and put in the hops. Boil for about 10 minutes.
While it's boiling put the Malt Extract into the water bottle and give it a shake. The water/DME mix should be below the shoulder of the bottle.
When the hops are 'done' pour enough of the liquid into the bottle to just go above the shoulder and give it a shake to mix. Then add the 1/2 packet of yeast and give it another shake.
That's it made.
Now loosen the lid so that it is just on and put it somewhere warm. It will probably volcano over on the second day so make sure it is standing on something like a dinner tray to catch the spill.
By day 4 it should have stopped bubbling. To confirm it has stopped tighten the lid, wait for about 10 minutes and then loosen it again. If it hisses it is still fermenting.
When it has definitely stopped tighten the lid and stick it in the fridge for two days. This will drop most of the yeast out of the beer and make it clear.
After two days in the fridge, put a level teaspoon of sugar in 5 clean one litre fizzy drink bottles. If you are steady handed you can simply pour it in, if not use a funnel.
Put the bottles somewhere warm and wait for them to get fizzy (when the bottles become stiff). Depending on the temperature this will be around 5 days.
Put a bottle (or two) in the fridge, let it go cold and then drink it.
The taste will not win any prizes but it is certainly drinkable.:razz: When I made the above recipe I had my first bottle 9 days after mixing it but you need to let the process run its course and it could take longer than that.
The Malt Extract, Yeast and Hops can all be substituted for whatever you fancy. You can also mix different Malt Extracts, I mixed Dark with Amber to make something like and ESB colour.
Enjoy:wink: