Makin Beer?

[cgarr]

I guess this is off topic

[svandamme]

look, Beer is important

it's perfectly fine to take up homebrewing , in search of your perfect flavour

but mate, good things cost money , Porsche's do , so does Beer
getting brew for cheaps is not the right motivation for homebrewing if you ask me , that's like looking for a cheap engine rebuild, and ending up with Motorsheister... in the end , you get what you payed for , or you end up paying more than you would have saved if you got the good stuff from the start

[svandamme]

lol , the bottles issue

i just save em up till it's a large pile
then have em come collect em at my home

seriously ... supermarket's here deliver at yer doorstep for like 4 bucks
and they take the empty ones back and pay out the bottle money...

i've never , ever payed the four bucks delivery charge

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by cgarr
Well, maybe its not about the money, Im just tired of taking all those bottles back to the store all the time, plus I think it could be fun while I wait for engine parts!

Move to a state where they don't have that stupid bottle return.

I went to MSU, and fondly remember hoarding enough bottles to return them and get a 40.oz.

[svandamme]

bottle return isn't really stupid , it would be stupid not to do it
bottles are not a throw away product , like so many other things these days, glass does not get worn out from beeing used once, so why not encourage recycling with a return policy?

[red-beard]

Bah!

Fantastic beer can be had for $8-10 per 5 gallons (about 2 cases). It does take an investment in a little equipment and technique.

the HBD (Homebrewdigest) used to be a good source of info. Chalie Papazian's Books are pretty good for a start. If you really want to get good, you need some books on how to from grain.

I have ot tell you, it's much easier than you think, just a bit time consuming. When I had my technique down and was producing every saturday, it was about a 5 hour process from start to finish, including cleaning, and moving the 'other two' batches around.

Drinkable beer can be made in 4-10 days. Really really good ber can be made in about 2-3 weeks.

OTOH, if you want 'cheap' beer without the hassel, buy an old refrigerator, buy a beer tap. a CO2 bottle and regulator and then buy kegs. Cheap beer can be $50/keg. Really really good beer can be $85-90/keg (15 gallons).

James

[TimT]

Ive been homebrewing for years, after a few nasty batches during the learning curve, I learned how to make some outstanding beers.

My beer website

this is the brew system I made out of some old kegs, before this system I made beer in glass 5 gal water bottles (carboys), the keg system is a 10 gallon rims system

[fastpat]

Originally posted by svandamme
bottle return isn't really stupid , it would be stupid not to do it
bottles are not a throw away product , like so many other things these days, glass does not get worn out from beeing used once, so why not encourage recycling with a return policy?

It's different here. First, we have plenty of out in which to throw our trash, and it cost more to clean and sterilize a used bottle than to go with a whole new one.

If, on the other hand, land were in short supply, I'd modify my opinion.

I just moved from California where they charge an exorbitant amount of return fees for bottles. The state doesn't want you to recycle them, they can't keep the money then, so they make it hard to find return centers, and offer no pick up at all.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by cgarr
I guess this is off topic so here goes, Finding that I be Spending too damn much money on beer, anyone making their own? I got a lathe, mill, tig welder etc? Seriously And I dont think you have to wait a gawd awful lone time to make it like wine!!

What svandamme says about the importance of beer is true. Plus, about the time I was really looking into brewing my own, the local brew pub craze took off, saving me the trouble.

Now I can buy fresh local brew about 17 miles from my doorstep.

[red-beard]

RIMS always seemed like too much work. I used a multi-step infusion. I designed the Excel spreadsheet to take into account even altitude changes to the water boil point. It worked like a charm and was extremely easy. I used a Schidling Easy Mash in a picnic cooler. If I did it over again, it would be a Gott cooler with the easy mash.

Triple infusion: 95-130-155 then mash out to 170.

I think the secrets to turn good beer into fantastic beer are sparg water Ph, good water quality and proper fermentation temp for the yeast.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by red-beard
RIMS always seemed like too much work. I used a multi-step infusion. I designed the Excel spreadsheet to take into account even altitude changes to the water boil point. It worked like a charm and was extremely easy. I used a Schidling Easy Mash in a picnic cooler. If I did it over again, it would be a Gott cooler with the easy mash.

Triple infusion: 95-130-155 then mash out to 170.

I think the secrets to turn good beer into fantastic beer are sparg water Ph, good water quality and proper fermentation temp for the yeast.

Oh, oh, oh; you made my head hurt with all that technical jargon.

[1967 R50/2]

I use to make my own. You don't need a TIG, or any of that. You need a couple of old water bottles.

Frankly, I gave it up after a while. It was really good, but there are just too many good beers on the liquor store shelf these days to make it a worthwhile past time.

[jtfreels]

I had wanted to brew my own, then I discovered Belgian ales. I'd never be able to duplicate that.
So its of to the liqour store now and then.

Stijn, no deliveries here

[slodave]

I started at the end of summer. Turned out really good. I have been meaning to brew more during the winter, but the thought of setup/clean up has made me postpone for now.

There is a really good store here in the valley that sells everything needed. The process was fun and watching the brew go through its stages was neet too. Ales are easy to produce. Lagers need a dedicated refridge and thermostat to keep the temp at a presise number. Don't even bother for the late night T.V. beer keg on the counter brew. It stinks.

Dave

[TimT]

I'd never be able to duplicate that.

Sure you can!
You can homebrew some outstanding Belgian style ales, and also Lambiks if that suits your style. There are hundreds of yeast strains available to compliment every flavor and style of beer.

You can even make a starter culture of yeast from your favorite Belgian ale.

The RIMs I built is really easy to use, but a pain to clean. I often brew small batches in 5 gal carboys.

[KevinG]

Dave -

That 'really good store here in the valley' is the home of the Maltose Falcons Homebrewing Society. We are having a club meeting this Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00. The tasting this month is American Ales (Pale, Amber and Brown), along with the annual Chili cook-off. The meeting is open to anyone with an interest in homebrewing, and the only cost is $5 if you want lunch (Chili this time), free otherwise. Be prepared to pace yourself, the Falcons are not known for making small beers.

Hope to see you there.