Home brewing

[fitterhans]

Anyone every try brewing beer at home? I tried ginger beer once and want to try it again. I recently got some barley malt at the grocery store really cheap and want to try brewing beer. I am shying away from buying any equipment/kits, but if anyone has any suggestions for the basic stuff I should try and get, let me know.

[HeavyMetalMe]

How did your ginger beer turn out? Ginger beer is delicious.

[fitterhans]

Well, forgot to let the yeast water cool before adding it to the ginger/sugar mix, so it lacked a little bit of carbonation. Also, without cream of tarter, the drink smelled a little stinky, but tasted great. I want to try again, and I think it will turn out much better with the cream or tarter and a little more carbonation.

[Navin_Johnson]

Yeah, I used to homebrew quite a bit. You'll need some basic equipment -- either a glass carboy or a plastic pail, stopper with airlock, thermometer, and then a means for bottling/kegging. I know you said you're avoiding buying equipment, but some really is very useful to have.

For ingredients you'll probably want to start with a liquid malt extract + grain rather than a full grain recipe (you could do all liquid extract but it's just as easy to put the "sock/teabag" of grain in), so you'll need those, some ale yeast (unless you plan to lager), hops, and corn sugar.

I've been too busy the last few years to do any brewing myself (beyond my regular job I'm working on a dissertation and I have two more kids than I did before) but it was fun when I did it and the beer was always very good.

Good luck!

[jackspicer]

Good Eats is THE BEST cooking show, Alton Brown is so
Ive learned alot of great of stuff from him, He makes cooking so fun!

[Navin_Johnson]

good call jackspicer on the Alton Brown episode. Although some might quibble with it as they get more into beermaking, I think that episode is an excellent beginning primer on homebrewing.

In general Alton Brown's show is quite excellent and fun to watch. He's also a pretty nice guy. I met him at a book signing several years ago when I lived in Chicago.

[lordofduct]

I sooo thought this was going to be a different topic about home brewing.

[blaix]

I sooo thought this was going to be a different topic about home brewing.

Hah, same here. Came in expecting talk on creating/downloading indie games and POW bathtub moonshine!

Both topics are fantastic though. Homebrewing (beer) sounds intriguing...

[Niode]

I really want to get into home brewing. My Fiancee is going to start brewing cider in the cellar. I'm going to see how well that turns out before doing mine.

I'm planning on trying some stout at first and then start experimenting with flavours. Like coffee or Chocolate or even some herbs and spices.

[fitterhans]

Thanks for all the suggestions! Looks like a project I have some more research to do before purchasing anything, and then maybe I can give it a try this fall.