Another Lockdown New-brewer

[NormanHurst]

You forgot Patience and an understanding wife/partner.

The patience is killing me. Luckily my wife isn't just yet!

 

[Viamphie]

Ahh All Grain (AG). Thanks. It’s obvious now I know.

 

[Gerryjo]

Hi and welcome to the forum... AG - All Go, flat out and hours of work but worth it..

 

[AnimatedGIF]

Go for it. I'm sure you'll enjoy the process and it is very possible to do it in a normal kitchen with minimal specialist equipment. The alchemy of turning a bag of crushed barley into beer with no more than water, heat, hops and yeast is fascinating.

That's what I only recently realised. No huge 20L mash tun or kettle required to try it out. If it goes well and I enjoy it, I can then upgrade to make larger batches.

 

[nixhaz]

For small batches you can use a 10l food grade bucket and drill/cut a hole in the top of the lid for the airbung. I've got a few 5L ones on the go for cider and ginger beer too.
We get the 5L ones at work for about £1 each. If anyone wants any I can send out at cost.

 

[Session]

Welcome! I am new here too. I've done 6 kits now and enjoyed each.
I'm contemplating going AG and considering starting with 5L batch on the stove, so it is pleasing to see you've had some success yourself. I shall likely be using a 5L Ashbeck water bottle as my FV as my only other option would be my 30L FV.

I started with 5L batches on my stove and loved it. My mates who brewed ‘normal’ sized batches were always ribbing me for the tiny batch size, but it meant I brewed every week and learnt loads in a short space of time. The main difficulty with smaller batches is keeping the mash temp consistent, but I got around that by insulating my pot with a yoga mat and putting it in my oven. The oven was off, but it has great thermal insulation so kept everything very steady. After a couple of batches I’m sure you’ll have dialled in your system and found solutions to some interesting problems you hadn’t anticipated!
I’m sure we’d all be happy to help if you get stuck or have any questions.

 

[darkbright]

Welcome!

I think you just have to pick the best starting point for you individually and have a go. I started with a couple of kits and then made some wine and then moved to all-grain. However, there are loads of different routes to suit your pocket, space at home, wife's hatred of your hobby or whatever.

I find the whole thing intriguing. Some brewers are just after the cheapest, drinkable pint. At the other end of the scale, there are the people who want to make a perfect beer and will spend thousands of pounds on equipment to do it. There is everyone in between those two extremes also. All are equally valid.

Enjoy!

 

[Rogermort]

Welcome to the forum Norman. I'll warn you, home brewing is a very expensive way of saving money on beer.

 

[Paul Roberts]

Did you scale down a recipe from 23l to 5 or make one up?

Curious

 

[NormanHurst]

Did you scale down a recipe from 23l to 5 or make one up?

Curious

Not sure who the question is aimed at but I found the 5L recipe I used on a thread on here - a simple SMaSH based on 1kg of pale malt. It's a completely stripped back recipe but simple enough to get started even if you have only a basic grasp on the processes and theory.

 

[Binkei Huckaback]

Given the number of recent recruits, I sometimes wonder if the regulars on here look on us lockdown newbies the way seasoned marathon runners do at overweight joggers in January dragging their New Year's Resolutions round the local park - knowing that we will disappear as soon as the pubs reopen!

Anyway, I am one of those New Year joggers in every sense. Driven to brewing by lockdown boredom but so far having a lot of fun. I plan to stick around.

I've worked in drinks marketing and sales - mainly wine - for nearly 20 years but making my own was limited to sloe gin and cassis. Delicious but very simple.

Decided (foolishly?) that AG was the only way to start brewing. The intellectual challenge of doing it from scratch to see how it all worked was a big driver.

Found the forum by googling 5L batch recipes as I realised the stock pot wouldnt manage much more. I am now 2 brew days in and have already upgraded the stock pot.

Brew #1 - 5L Citra SMASH yielded a mighty 6.5 x 500ml bottles. Should be ready in a week or so. Fingers crossed.

Brew #2 - similar but 11.5L and Cascade. It's burbling away nicely in a water bath.

I look forward to learning and perhaps even contributing in the future.

To your very good health!
Norm.

I sometimes feel a bit sorry for people who post thinking brewing is quick and easy. Also those who ask on brewing forums (not necessarily this one) for recipes for Fosters/Carling etc and receive the digital equivilant of laughter and chips thrown at them. They get scared off, never to return. Those who sneer seem to forget they're on a homebrew forum and not a craft beer forum.

Anyway, welcome and happy brewing!

 

[hemanresu]

Welcome! I am new here too. I've done 6 kits now and enjoyed each.
I'm contemplating going AG and considering starting with 5L batch on the stove, so it is pleasing to see you've had some success yourself. I shall likely be using a 5L Ashbeck water bottle as my FV as my only other option would be my 30L FV.

Hi Norm
Dont forget to leave some headroom for the krausen