equipment for newbie

Wysh · Jul 19, 2016

http://www.home-brew-supplies-uk.co...ter-kit-for-5-gallons-beer-cider-or-wine.html

Right looking at getting started, I'm gonna bin all my old gear apart from anything I think might be usable as it is 20 plus years old. I'll still retain the brown glass and clear glass demijohns as they'll be ok.

Thinking of getting the above kit as a starter and will probably bottle initially. Any watch points with the above items? I'll probably get an IPA kit or similar as a starter.

Leon103 · Jul 19, 2016

Surely you can get that kit cheaper if bought seperatly?

Wysh · Jul 19, 2016

Leon103 said:
Surely you can get that kit cheaper if bought seperatly?

Could be, although it is advertised as 4 or 5 pound cheaper than buying separately.

I just thought that getting a 'complete' basic kit like that would save me faffing around trying to make sure I had all the bits.

chewie · Jul 19, 2016

Slightly cheaper at geterbrewed http://www.geterbrewed.com/geb-complete-starter-kit-for-brewing-beer-cider-and-wine/ . Add in the geterbrewed discount code (posted in the sponsors forum) for a further 5% of at checkout, GEB's are 33l fermenters compared to Abbot's 30l.

The homebrewcompany also have a discount code (in the sponsors forum), you need to workout exchange rates to see if they are cheaper, you can choose what size of fermenter you want. http://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/beer-cider-starter-equipment-c-4.html.

Always add in the postage costs before you buy, it's also worth considering anything else you will want or need like syphons for your demi johns, bungs and airlocks, if you have no home brew shop near you i would pickup a 1/4 or 1/2 litre of star san maybe some extra fermentables if you plan on doing any single can kits.

Wysh · Jul 19, 2016

Thanks Chewie.

Will prob go with that, I think it'll be a good starting point.

Extra fermentables? What are they, starter tins?

May get a 'heavy' was always partial to that when I went up North, always felt well hard sauntering up to the bar and asking for "a pint of heavy"

chewie · Jul 20, 2016

Beer kits usually come in either 1 or 2 can kit form, the one can kits need extra fermentable ingredients added to them to increase there strength/taste, most Coopers kits are 1 can and need things like brew enhancers, dextrose or malt extract added. Two can kits are mostly ready to go although you can add in extra stuff if you want. If its kits you plan on doing then take a read thru the beer kit reviews A-Z thread to get an idea what other members are adding and what kits to try out or avoid. http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=61597

Dutto · Jul 20, 2016

Wysh said:
http://www.home-brew-supplies-uk.co...ter-kit-for-5-gallons-beer-cider-or-wine.html

Right looking at getting started, I'm gonna bin all my old gear apart from anything I think might be usable as it is 20 plus years old. I'll still retain the brown glass and clear glass demijohns as they'll be ok.

Thinking of getting the above kit as a starter and will probably bottle initially. Any watch points with the above items? I'll probably get an IPA kit or similar as a starter.

The kit looks okay to me.

You may save a few quid by shopping around (local Wilco springs to mind) but the effort may make you lose the will to live.

I recommend that you go ahead whilst you are still keen and brew ...

... a two-can kit (e.g. Woodfordes Wherry is currently on offer at Wilco) ...

http://www.wilko.com/cider+beer-brewing/woodfordes-wherry-bitter-kit-3kg/invt/0207610

... and FOLLOW the Kit Instructions to the letter.

By the end of August you will be enjoying your first home-brewed beer ... :thumb:

... but you will probably have tried it well before then ... :whistle:

... and hopefully have the second brew underway!

Wysh · Jul 21, 2016

Right, going with the original Abbot's starter kit, two fermentation buckets with bits and bobs.

http://www.home-brew-supplies-uk.co...ter-kit-for-5-gallons-beer-cider-or-wine.html

Unfortunately I spoke to the lady at Get er brewed and due to postal costs to Guernsey it's not really viable for me to buy from her. With doing a bulk order from Abbot's the delivery charge is only ÃÂ£6.50.

I've ordered an On The Rocks Berry Cider for Mrs Wysh with 1kg Brewing sugar.
A Muntons Gold Old English Bitter. Nothing needed for this kit but I think I've seen 'spraymalt' suggested for bottling rather than sugar?
And a John Bull Porter kit. Should I get Brewing sugar or Enhancer?
Also got some Starsan cleaner stuff
100 caps and a capper.

Anything else I need or don't need before I press the button?

Wysh · Jul 21, 2016

Right, going with the original Abbot's starter kit, two fermentation buckets with bits and bobs.

http://www.home-brew-supplies-uk.co...ter-kit-for-5-gallons-beer-cider-or-wine.html

Unfortunately I spoke to the lady at Get er brewed and due to postal costs to Guernsey it's not really viable for me to buy from her. With doing a bulk order from Abbot's the delivery charge is only ÃÂ£6.50.

I've ordered an On The Rocks Berry Cider for Mrs Wysh with 1kg Brewing sugar.
A Muntons Gold Old English Bitter. Nothing needed for this kit but I think I've seen 'spraymalt' suggested for bottling rather than sugar?
And a John Bull Porter kit. Should I get Brewing sugar or Enhancer?
Also got some Starsan cleaner stuff
100 caps and a capper.

Anything else I need or don't need before I press the button?

IainM · Jul 21, 2016

Wysh said:
Right, going with the original Abbot's starter kit, two fermentation buckets with bits and bobs.

http://www.home-brew-supplies-uk.co...ter-kit-for-5-gallons-beer-cider-or-wine.html

Unfortunately I spoke to the lady at Get er brewed and due to postal costs to Guernsey it's not really viable for me to buy from her. With doing a bulk order from Abbot's the delivery charge is only Ã¯Â¿Â½ÃÂ£6.50.

I've ordered an On The Rocks Berry Cider for Mrs Wysh with 1kg Brewing sugar.
A Muntons Gold Old English Bitter. Nothing needed for this kit but I think I've seen 'spraymalt' suggested for bottling rather than sugar?
And a John Bull Porter kit. Should I get Brewing sugar or Enhancer?
Also got some Starsan cleaner stuff
100 caps and a capper.

Anything else I need or don't need before I press the button?

Hey Wysh,
I wouldn't bother priming with spraymalt. It gets sticky quickly just with the humidity in the air, and its a pain to work with. The quantity used for priming is so small that it won't make any discernible difference anyway, so just go for sugar. For the John Bull kit, definitely go with enhancer over sugar, it makes a big difference.

Congrats on getting started with brewing. You won't regret it. :thumb:

chewie · Jul 21, 2016

Wysh said:
Anything else I need or don't need before I press the button?

The only other thing that i can think of is a spare hydrometer, these only cost a few quid but half a seconds inattention and it will break. If you plan on making wines then consider the wine kits or WoW's and get the stuff you need added to your order. The WoW thread http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=49462, your beer making equipment will do for wine making to, the only extras are the yeasts, nutrients, preserves, sulphites and pectolase.

Wysh · Jul 21, 2016

IainM said:
For the John Bull kit, definitely go with enhancer over sugar, it makes a big difference.

Muntons Beer Enhancer or Coopers Beer Enhancer 2?

IainM · Jul 22, 2016

Wysh said:
Muntons Beer Enhancer or Coopers Beer Enhancer 2?

Either will do.

Wysh · Jul 22, 2016

Brewerstew said:
Try having a look at hoodbrewsupplies.co.uk They have everything from a basic pan to whatever you want. Also they are doing a sale on grainfathers.
I know that's a big investment but they are supposed to be 'the dogs'

I don't want to go too expensive just yet. If it all goes **** up and I find it's not really for me I don't want to have a hobby that is 'in the red'.

It'll be easier for me to offload a small, relatively inexpensive amount of equipment and recoup some of my losses than offloading hundreds of pounds worth of gear.

BeardySi · Jul 22, 2016

chewie said:
The only other thing that i can think of is a spare hydrometer, these only cost a few quid but half a seconds inattention and it will break. If you plan on making wines then consider the wine kits or WoW's and get the stuff you need added to your order. The WoW thread http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=49462, your beer making equipment will do for wine making to, the only extras are the yeasts, nutrients, preserves, sulphites and pectolase.

This.

Always have a spare hydrometer and a spare thermometer. Can save a lot of heartache.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

Wysh · Jul 22, 2016

chewie said:
The only other thing that i can think of is a spare hydrometer, these only cost a few quid but half a seconds inattention and it will break. If you plan on making wines then consider the wine kits or WoW's and get the stuff you need added to your order. The WoW thread http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=49462, your beer making equipment will do for wine making to, the only extras are the yeasts, nutrients, preserves, sulphites and pectolase.

I still have some brown and clear demijohns left over so will use those for wine. I'll rescue any bits and pieces I can and buy the rest.

Baby steps for now, partly because I think that is the sensible thing to do and partly because being short staffed at work I have little free time and what free time I have is spent on renovating our house.

Wysh · Jul 22, 2016

Well it's done.

Order placed, just have to wait for the goodies to arrive now.

Wysh · Jul 22, 2016

Dutto said:
The kit looks okay to me.

You may save a few quid by shopping around (local Wilco springs to mind) but the effort may make you lose the will to live.

I recommend that you go ahead whilst you are still keen and brew ...

... a two-can kit (e.g. Woodfordes Wherry is currently on offer at Wilco) ...

http://www.wilko.com/cider+beer-brewing/woodfordes-wherry-bitter-kit-3kg/invt/0207610

... and FOLLOW the Kit Instructions to the letter.

By the end of August you will be enjoying your first home-brewed beer ... :thumb:

... but you will probably have tried it well before then ... :whistle:

... and hopefully have the second brew underway!

Unfortunately they do not deliver to the Channel Islands, bummer. However there is a company called ship2me that can deliver items to us from a UK address. I may give them a go.

Wysh · Jul 23, 2016

Jeepers, the kit hasn't arrived yet and I'm already filling out another order.

Holy frick this could be an expensive hobby!!

Dutto · Jul 23, 2016

Wysh said:
Jeepers, the kit hasn't arrived yet and I'm already filling out another order.

Holy frick this could be an expensive hobby!!

Ah, but only until you reach "Critical Mass"!

This is when you have enough beer lined up on the shelves to last you six weeks; and it's all ready to drink!

At this stage, you can pick and choose your "Beer of the day." and take a week or more to decide "What next?"

It's a lovely feeling and it looks like this. :thumb: :thumb:

(BTW, the photograph doesn't show the King Keg or the three MKs I had at the time.) :grin: :grin: :grin:

equipment for newbie

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