Any Homebrewers around? | FerrariChat

Any Homebrewers around?

Discussion in 'Drink, Smoke, and Fine Dining' started by Blue@Heart, Oct 18, 2012.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Blue@Heart

    Blue@Heart F1 Rookie

    Jun 20, 2006
    3,889
    Yellowknife, NWT
    Full Name:
    David
    Hey folks,

    Just figured I'd throw this one out there as I haven't seen a thread on it yet.

    Does anyone around here brew their own beer/wine/mead/cider/whatever?

    I'm not a fantastic brewer yet but I've really been enjoying the hobby and just investing in a small two tap/three keg setup, so I'm gonna be doing it for a bit.

    I haven't brewed anything super fancy yet, still stuck doing extract brewing and refining my process. I simply don't have enough space to do full boils or store the mashing equipment (I mostly do beer). I do have a dessert mead that I'll be giving away for christmas to friends and family.

    My last beer was a highly hopped brown ale, it was supposed to be a hoppy pale (not enough ibus to be an IPA) but the color came out dark. Still damn tasty!

    Anyone else?
     
  2. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,614
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    I've brewed my own beer, mead and wine.

    It's a lot of fun. Can be very disappointing when 6 gallons of wine get oxidized.

    If anyone is interested, I would recommend starting with beer, simply because you can drink it the soonest.

    Matt
     
  3. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

    Jun 4, 2008
    33,571
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Rich
    I'm a homebrewer - haven't done it in about 10 years since my oldest was born. Mostly beers (ale style), but always with selected malted barley grains, never the syrup in the can.

    Would love to do more, when I get around to it!
     
  4. koisokok

    koisokok F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 8, 2006
    10,880
    nine 0 two one 0
    #4 koisokok, Nov 7, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

    Jun 4, 2008
    33,571
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Rich
    Caymus - one of my favorites.
     
  6. Ryan S.

    Ryan S. Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 20, 2004
    26,777
    #6 Ryan S., Dec 5, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  7. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,614
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    Wow!

    Why so much headspace in the carboys?
     
  8. I.T. Guy

    I.T. Guy F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 17, 2004
    12,714
    Canada
    Full Name:
    Jason
    I've been thinking about making beer because I love great beer!

    Is brewing like cooking, where when you are good at it home made is better than any restaurant? Or is it a lost cause?

    I always thought home brews tasted like *** but can they really be good? I'd love to try if there is hope - has anyone tasted a great beer from a home brew?
     
  9. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,614
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    Beer making is very easy, and you can make a great beer yourself.

    It's exactly like cooking. Your first attempt or two won't win any prizes. But find a taste you like, and once you get close you can start modifying the ingredients to suit your preferences.

    Look for a beer making supplier in your area. Canada has some brew-on-premises stores.

    As the Nike ad says, Just Do It!

    Matt
     
  10. SamuliS

    SamuliS Formula Junior

    Aug 23, 2008
    336
    Finland, Helsinki
    Full Name:
    Samuli S
    #11 SamuliS, Dec 7, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I have first set of apple cider coming. 25 litres of fresh apple juice from own apple's. Brew'd it and it has now been maturating in bottles for about two months, still four months until it will be "ready". Tasted one bottle last weekend and the taste is great, not overly dry and has nice amount of bubble's. Here is a phone quality picture after the bottling.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  11. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,614
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    Did you add priming sugar after the fermentation for the bubbles?
     
  12. SamuliS

    SamuliS Formula Junior

    Aug 23, 2008
    336
    Finland, Helsinki
    Full Name:
    Samuli S
    Hi Matt.
    Yes, we added two tea spoonful's per 1l bottle and one tea spoonful of citron juice.

    Cheers
    Samuli
     
  13. I.T. Guy

    I.T. Guy F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 17, 2004
    12,714
    Canada
    Full Name:
    Jason
    New hobby!
    Thank you I'm going to try!
     
  14. Blue@Heart

    Blue@Heart F1 Rookie

    Jun 20, 2006
    3,889
    Yellowknife, NWT
    Full Name:
    David
    Excellent! :)

    Do report back, as there's ALWAYS more to learn about, and there's always another success to share! :)

    On the learning front: remember these words: "Relax, don't worry and drink a homebrew" (store bought will do in a pinch)

    Basically it's REALLY easy to make beer, it's even easy to make good beer. And it's really truly very hard to screw it up so bad that it's undrinkable (either through infection or off-flavours). So no matter what the issue (and you will run into issues while you learn your process) remember that in the end, no matter what happens you'll have beer! Oh and you don't "think" you have an infection, you KNOW. If you "think you MIGHT" have an infection, then you don't...just pay attention to cleanliness and you'll be fine....even if the ferment looks ugly.

    If you've got any questions Jason feel free to PM, I'm not the worlds most amazing brewer, hell I barely stayed at a hotel last night, but I'm quite happy to help out a fellow fchatter :)



    Edit to add: I forget to tell you the catch to the whole it's easy to make good beer thing: It's easy to make good beer, but making that same beer over and over and over again all day long and it tasting exactly the same is the hard part ;)
     
  15. Blue@Heart

    Blue@Heart F1 Rookie

    Jun 20, 2006
    3,889
    Yellowknife, NWT
    Full Name:
    David
    Looks Yummy! :D
     
  16. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,614
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    Well said, David!

    Get brewing, Jason!

    Best regards,

    Matt
     
  17. Ryan S.

    Ryan S. Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 20, 2004
    26,777
    NIce bottles too...
     
  18. I.T. Guy

    I.T. Guy F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 17, 2004
    12,714
    Canada
    Full Name:
    Jason
    Thank you Blue and Smiles!
    Christmas shopping for supplies :)
     
  19. SocalBaksh

    SocalBaksh Rookie

    Mar 11, 2010
    45
    Rolling Hills Est,Ca
    Homebrewer checking in.

    New Years day brew: Robust Vanilla Porter
    1/5/13: Jalapeno Cream Ale
    1/6/13: Banana Holiday Bread Ale

    Just put a Delirium tremens clone on tap to carb and I am currently drinking a Citra IPA.
     
  20. atomicskiracer

    atomicskiracer Formula 3

    Mar 30, 2005
    1,709
    Full Name:
    Ryan
  21. steved033

    steved033 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Apr 12, 2017
    7,711
    Atlanta, GA
    Full Name:
    Steve D.
    Resurrecting this to see if anyone is still brewing?

    I got into it during COVID, and really enjoy it. I'm doing one more "kit beer" before I do some recipe beers.

    sjd
     
  22. vincent355

    vincent355 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 8, 2003
    6,325
    Wine Country
    Full Name:
    Vincent
    going to follow along here. I received as a present some equipment, I have yet to use it. But one day i will.
     
    steved033 likes this.
  23. steved033

    steved033 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Apr 12, 2017
    7,711
    Atlanta, GA
    Full Name:
    Steve D.
    Mine sat around for years. I can give you some first time pointers.

    sjd
     

Share This Page