Anyone else brew beer?

hahaha next meet i plan to bring a bbq and a case of homemade beer. We were lacking a bbq!!

 

Wow! It's so cool to see so many homebrewers on this site. I started homebrewing years ago, fell in love with craft brewing, stuck with it and now am an assistant brewer at a local brewpub. I haven't done much homebrewing since I started the job, but I can honestly say that I brew at least three times a week!

 

My watermelon wheat came out AMAZINGLY.



One of the best beers ive ever done

 

you had me at brewing. i am a chef but never tried it myself. my good freind does it and i just buy what he tells me to .

 

Unholy, can you post or pm me your recipe? Would love to try that..

 

Yup

Start with a basic Belgian Wheat

6lbs Bavarian Wheat Dried Malt Extract
1.5 Liberty 60mins
0.5 Liberty 5mins

0.5 curacao
0.5 sweet orange peel
0.25 corriander

Ferment with white labs belgian wit ale yeast
Add spices in a hop bag at the last min of the boil and steep for 20 mins

7-10 days into initial fermentation, secondary 2.5-3 of those smaller sweeter pureed, then frozen watermelon. I found it easier to then re-puree the frozen watermelon (freeze to kill bacteria)

Secondary for a good 5-7 days

bottle with a full cup of corn sugar OR just keg that shit

The end

 

hhmmm have to make at least 8-10 batches a year. My favorites are from Northern Brewery like he Baltic Porter and some of the new funky\seasonal brews. Dam I am stuck here at home while GABFEAST is going on.

 

its been too hot to brew in San Diego. I'll put something in my fermenter in october

 

I have been experimenting with Cherries. It works well in Octoberfest Lagers. Boosts the alcohol content pretty well too.

 

Much like food - my interest in beer doesn't start until it is ready for consumption...

 

If anyone likes fat tire, a local homebrew store makes their own clone of it (can be ordered over the net). I've made it a few times and it's really good. Not exactly like fat tire, but damn good. Some friends who don't really like beer and they asked me to make them a case!

http://www.rebelbrewer.com/shoppingcart/products/Fat-Belgian-Amber-Ale-%28extract%29.html

 

Just got my Mr. Beer for my bday and got some Blonde Ale brewing right now.

 

I've been brewing for several years now, but I'm still using extracts.

I have upgraded to kegging, however. That beats bottling.

This past weekend I moved my "Newcastle Brown Ale" clone into the keg and my "Negra Modelo" clone into the secondary fermenter. I'll keg that in about 2 weeks then force carbonate them both.

Maybe next spring I'll build a lauter tun and start all-grain brewing.
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-easy-10-gallon-rubbermaid-mlt-conversion-23008/

 

**** I do not brew myself (at the time), but I have helped different friends brew a couple batches the different ways*****

A friend of mine just finished getting his 3 tier system setup to a 2 tier system with a pump and hot water circulator system. It used to be job for 2 people - but with the pump and the hot water circ system it is an easy job for one person. He has been doing the all-grain brewing for the last 4-5 years.



Sorry about the quality of the pic - I took it with my phone when we were waiting on the water to get to temp to start the mash soak. This pic is from the last batch we brewed before he added his pump and hot water circ.

 

Another brewer here, have been for years, all grain all the time. Also do wine, mead and hard cider. Just finished keggin a Scottish heavy along with an oatmeal stout and just bottled a Syrah. Next I need to bottel a chocolate mead and gettin ready to start a hard cider.

Any other brewers in the area?

Anyone want to learn?

 

My wife bought me a Mr. Beer for Christmas (love that woman!). It is very basic, but so is my brewing knowledge. My first batch is nearing completion, but I used softened tap water and am not expecting much. Next time I will use store-bought filtered water, and add an UME to get a more full-bodied beer.

I like amber beers like Fat Tire and Sam Adams (SA Octoberfest, especially), so that is the style of beer I want to brew. Anyone familiar with the Mr. Beer extracts who can tell me the best way to achieve this?

 

My older brother has gotten pretty good at brewing. Been doing it for a few years now, here are a few pics.

 

A few more outside.

 

Hell yea I want to learn. Not in the area but maybe I'll cross down that way on a road trip to a buddy's wedding in kentucky in july.

How much do you think it costs to get everything you need to start brewing? is there a particular kit you would reccomend? you google home brew kits and you get a million things, but I dont know anything about it so I dont know what is good or not.

Thanks for any help

 

You can start off with the basics for about $200. You can use extract or kit ($20-40), do a partial boil (large stock pot), and bottle (save the non-screw tops). You will need a few other things but it will depend on what you want to do.

Here is a free on-line book to get started with:
http://www.howtobrew.com/sitemap.html

There are also a few forums with lots of members to help out. You might be able to find someone local that can show you.