Brewing Outside!

Gulpitdarn · Jan 22, 2019

I wonder how many of us brew OUTSIDE!
I've read where some do and probably they are in warmer climates. Here, yesterday (mid January) it was just above freezing but what a great time I had. I'm lucky to have a very nice flat piece of Welsh Slate cost me £12 from the Gloddfa Ganol slate mine in Blanaeu Ffestiniog years ago, bought specially for a BBQ using old left over bricks.

All clean after a wipe down and I was then ready to go... No need to worry about spillage, the rain will wash that away and there was some from the strainer bag that leaked while straining out hops from the mash machine into large stainless steel pot. There were grains both used and unused scattered around.... basically I just did not care! I was outside, birds will clear up and these, wifes feathered friends were loving the used grains...

The smell outside was simply just wonderful, people walking past did have a curious peek.

I reckon the amount of steam produced would have been terrible in our cold kitchen.

These guys certainly appreciated a warm sweet meal. I was not sure if to let them eat the lot, missus was not so keen, what do you think?

AdeDunn · Jan 22, 2019

I did it in the summer, including a late night brew. Only real downsides were having to listen to the neighbours (we have particularly scummy neighbours here, in the they get regularly raided by the police vein...) yawping at their kids, having to breath their drugs fumes, oh and what to do with the water from my immersion chiller (I put my boiler too far away from the drain.... lol).

Was good other than that. No problems with steam, and super easy to clean up after. It was very very confusing though when I added the hops, just as a neighbour lit a spliff... For a moment I thought "Blimey! These Saaz are a bit dank!" before I twigged....

Oh, and my wife has agreed that I need a new table/stand before I brew out there again.... lmao

Gulpitdarn · Jan 22, 2019

Brilliant! I'll have to try an all night brew, will use Moonshine for light. :laugh8:

Dutto · Jan 22, 2019

I always do the "boil" outside.

After seeing the tools and walls in my garage dripping with water (I could almost hear the tools starting to rust) I now pick a wind-free day and move everything under the lean-to at the back of the garage.

I used to do everything on the same day, but now do the "Mill and Mash" inside on Day One and then do the "Boil and into FV" on Day Two.

This way I can brew all year round; if I keep an eye on the weather.

Horners · Jan 22, 2019

I find it much easier to do it all outside as you can drip stuff around with abandon and so try to plan brew days for dry weather. If weather is bad, I tend to set the boil up just inside the doors of the brew cave with a massive fan directing the steam outwards.

Dutto · Jan 22, 2019

Gulpitdarn said:
............... These guys certainly appreciated a warm sweet meal. I was not sure if to let them eat the lot, missus was not so keen, what do you think?

Chickens generally know when to stop eating, however they may not know that 90% of the nutrition has been removed from the grain (in the form of fermentable and non-fermentable sugars) so "small doses" will probably be better for them.

beertrap · Jan 22, 2019

I brew outside all year, but must wait for days that are above -6 c.

I use propain and built a shelter around the brew kettle to ensure a good rolling boil. Also heat water on our wood fired cook stove. Saves on the gas bill, a bit more work than in the warmer months, but worth the agrivation for good home brew.

Brewing Outside!

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