• Hi Guest - Come check out all of the new CP Merch Shop! Now you can support CigarPass buy purchasing hats, apparel, and more...
    Click here to visit! here...

Gonna start Home Brewing

MX

MX

Quietly getting back into the cigar culture.....
Joined
Jun 5, 2007
Messages
4,917
I guess living in the land of a thousand beers has started to twist me brain. I have been reading up on all the different styles of beers and brewing don here in Belgium and decided that even though I might not be able to do it better, I can at least try to do it well.

I will be ordering my Home brew kit after payday and hope to have a batch done in time for the 4th of July. If not, at least for the Dog Days of August.

If anyone out there home brews and has any advice or recommendations for a supplier that will ship to an APO please feel free to help me out.

As it stands now, I will be going with a equipment kit by Brewer’s Best that contains a 5 gal secondary fermenter and some upgraded siphoning equipment. Looks like it will cost about $100 to brew my first batch.

Wish me luck!!

Tim
 
The nice part about that initial investment is that almost all of it is reuseable. The best advice is to keep everything clean, and Relax don't worry have a homebrew.
 
Personally, for the most part, I'd skip the secondary. Adds more time, effort and potential for infection with only (arguably) miniscule gains as its tradeoff.

As a beginner, you'll likely be bottling. The bottle conditioning could take longer than the fermentation process. Hopefully, you will brew your batch soon if you wish for it to be bottle ready by July 4th.

Good luck!
 
badhangover said:
Personally, for the most part, I'd skip the secondary. Adds more time, effort and potential for infection with only (arguably) miniscule gains as its tradeoff.

As a beginner, you'll likely be bottling. The bottle conditioning could take longer than the fermentation process. Hopefully, you will brew your batch soon if you wish for it to be bottle ready by July 4th.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

I am really thinking that it will bore like Aug-Sept (BDay Brew) before I get a batch out. And, thanks for the insight on the secondary.

Tim
 
Well, due to some unforseen money issues Iw ill have to back up my first batch. It looks like I will be getting all the stuff I need to brew spread out over 2-3 paydays. You know, with the things that have happened in the last week my wife still has not told me I need to pull the plug on this for now. Jeez I love her!!! I will be ordering from Midwest Supply Co. And will put in the first order tomorrow for the basic brewing equipment. I will follow that up with a few extra thingins like a beer theif and the beer kit, then in the final order I will order some bulk no rinse sanitizer and a few extra gadgits.

I am on the lookout for a bigger pot, the one I have is only 3 gallons and I know I will boil over.

I can not wait.

Tim
 
Not to beat a dead horse, but KEEP EVERYTHING CLEAN while brewing. ;)

Don't make the mistake I made when I used to brew. Turned out some funky beer, the brew store guy figured it was because I didn't sanitize good enough.

Good Luck and enjoy, there's nothing like popping open a beer you've brewed yourself. :thumbs:
 
Not to beat a dead horse, but KEEP EVERYTHING CLEAN while brewing.
Click to expand...
While we're beating dead horses, remember that nothing can be sanitized if it isn't clean!
I would suggest getting on a brewing forum, but more importantly, read a lot!
Last, I'm not sure if they ship to APO, but Austin Homebrew is pretty good!
 
If it's financially possible, be sure to get all glass, not the plastic tubs for fermenting. Plastic is just asking for trouble when it comes to sanitizing and infection.
 
Gonz said:
If it's financially possible, be sure to get all glass, not the plastic tubs for fermenting. Plastic is just asking for trouble when it comes to sanitizing and infection.
Click to expand...
Agreed, with the exception of the (relatively) new "Better Bottles", which alleviate the genuine concern of breaking glass carboys and can also be equipped with faucets to decrease even further the potential for infection. Talkin' about even more $$$, however.
 
Oh, and just wait for the day when you start lusting after stainless steel conical fermenters. Talk about spendin' lotsa scratch. Saving $$$ is definitely not what this hobby is about.
 
I've used plastic buckets and better bottles with great success. Glass can be dangerous without the right equipment and experience.

StarSan is your friend, and should be your No 1 investment. Get some plastic spray bottles at the dollar store and mix up a batch. Spray it on everything and let sit 30 seconds prior to use.

Bottle conditioning should take no longer than 2 weeks. I also highly recommend dry hopping in a secondary fermentation if you are doing an IPA.

Smack packs are a great substitute for a yeast starter for a beginner.

:D

Enjoy!
 
Thanks for all the great advice.

Now some replies:

If it's financially possible, be sure to get all glass, not the plastic tubs for fermenting. Plastic is just asking for trouble when it comes to sanitizing and infection.
Click to expand...

The price of glass is not an issue, the cost to ship glass to an APO is.... :(


Agreed, with the exception of the (relatively) new "Better Bottles", which alleviate the genuine concern of breaking glass carboys and can also be equipped with faucets to decrease even further the potential for infection. Talkin' about even more $$$, however.
Click to expand...
"Better Bottles" the one with the racking adapter will eventually be me choice for all fermentation (Primary / Secondary) but at this time there are a few things that I need to get before I get to that stage.

Oh, and just wait for the day when you start lusting after stainless steel conical fermenters. Talk about spendin' lotsa scratch. Saving $$$ is definitely not what this hobby is about.
Click to expand...

Have you been taking to SWMBO.....this hobby seems like it can get pretty expensive pretty fast, but then again Cigars aint cheap either...

StarSan is your friend, and should be your No 1 investment. Get some plastic spray bottles at the dollar store and mix up a batch. Spray it on everything and let sit 30 seconds prior to use.

Bottle conditioning should take no longer than 2 weeks. I also highly recommend dry hopping in a secondary fermentation if you are doing an IPA.

Smack packs are a great substitute for a yeast starter for a beginner.
Click to expand...

Will be putting in my order of the 3 pound box of starsan when I order my first extract kit around the 15th of the month, and I am going with the activator smack pack upgrade as well.

I would suggest getting on a brewing forum, but more importantly, read a lot!
Last, I'm not sure if they ship to APO, but Austin Homebrew is pretty good!
Click to expand...

I am now a member of Home Brew Talk. And AHS will not ship to an APO, I have been doing all my business with Midwest Supply, so far, over the phone, they have been pretty super.

Thanks again for all the help.

Tim
 
Well the first part of my equipment is here and the second order was placed yesterday. With shipping time and work, looks like the 29 or 30th should be my first brew day.

I have found a great BB for homebrewers, they are almost a friendly as this place (almost).

Still can not wait to get my firt brew under my belt so I can get to my 2nd and 3rd...

Tim
 
Well it is all said and done with, after a 4 hour session the first brew is in the bucket. All went real well, and I am waiting for signs of life from my yeasties.

Hit my SG spot on 1.044. BUt I think the color is gonna be a little dark.

Tasted the gravity sample, real sweet beer, but at least it tasted like beer.

Tim
 
Don't be discouraged about taste right now. Carry it through to the end. Worry about taste when you bottle.

I can smoke cigars in the house, but wifey almost left me over the smell of boiling wort. I got past that by either cooking on the BBQ pit burner, or waiting for her to color her hair as offsetting penalties (odors).
 
My first brew went into the bottels last night. Well that process is no fun, but I guess it is just part of it. Now to wait for the beer to carb.

It looked really nice, fairly clear deep golden red/amber just like an Irish should be.

I will start the second batch, a Spiced Belgium Brown Ale, that I developed myself. THis will take a bit longer at most all steps, as I will be doing a partial mash.

Tim
 
MX said:
My first brew went into the bottels last night. Well that process is no fun, but I guess it is just part of it. Now to wait for the beer to carb.

It looked really nice, fairly clear deep golden red/amber just like an Irish should be.

I will start the second batch, a Spiced Belgium Brown Ale, that I developed myself. THis will take a bit longer at most all steps, as I will be doing a partial mash.

Tim
Click to expand...
Nice Tim ! Did you take a little sample taste when bottling?
I found I hate bottling and some years ago went to kegging . Good luck with your Spiced Belgian.
 
Did I taste a sample.....Of course, it has a great raosted profile, that is not to overpowering.

Here is a LINK to my Belgium Brew day.

Tim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top