Small home brewery

[chefgage]

The thing i did not realise was the the different vessels used for the different steps in the process. I was used to just one bucket that did the lot not three different ones!

[chefgage]

Decided to have an afternoon making a start on the control box.

[simon12]

I am going to try my 1st batch tomorrow using the cheapest equipment I could find including
Boiler
33L plastic food grade bucket from the home brew shop �9.96
The element from my spare kettle (�5 tesco one)
Plastic tap from the home brew shop �3.48
Mash tun
24l Cool box from Ebay (annoyed I saw then for less in Tesco day I ordered it)
Plastic tap from the home brew shop �3.48
Bazooka screen from the home brew shop �6.30
I was looking to buy a stainless setup like yours but if kept getting more expensive so I decided to have a go as cheap as possible and if it gets used enough I will invest in a 100l boiler and a 70l mash tun.

How are you getting on with yours do you have any finished product yet?

[Scroogemonster]

I've been all grain brewing for about 6 years! I use an old cool box with a fitted tap and a straining bag, along with an old water boiler (Burco) and a length of copper pipe/hosepipe for cooling. It's a little bit complex and time consuming to begin with (6 hours as opposed to 1 hour with a kit) but the results are superb. I easily make beer better than that you get in the pub for about 30p per pint. The spent barley and hops are FAB for the compost bin.
The best places for consumables are the hop & grape in Darlington and The Malt Miller in Oxfordshire (top quality and service & great prices!)
If us have any questions let me know ( I brew 4-500 pints a year - various styles... I even brewed commercially once with a friend 4000 pints in a day!!!)
Good luck
SM

[ButternutSquash]

Do update the thread as it is interesting. I live near a brewery, and collect spent hops for compost. Spent malt is sold to farmers as cattle feed.

[chefgage]

The stainless project has been put on hold for a little while. I have decided to re-do the control box. It will be bigger with connections that means i can remove the cables from the box when not in use. The box will also have various lights and switches to make life easier. Recieved some of the new bits yesterday so hoping to get the box built in the next couple of weeks

[Gattusso]

Good luck in your brewing venture will it be for sale to gyo forum members

[simon12]

My 1st all grain brew day went well and I have it fermenting as I type. If anyone wants me to post details add a post stating if you think I should start a new thread or post here.

[petep]

I've been giving this some serious consideration the last week or two, mainly because I'm looking for my niche in the local community and it seems that nobody is making moonshine around here. I've disappointed one farmer by saying I'll only be making beer.

Yesterday I was at a car boot sale and found a load of wicker covered clay flagons but I decided against buying them on the grounds that I haven't got a proper plan yet. I'm regretting letting them go now. Perhaps they'll be there next week as he seemed like a trader.

Where did you get the grain from? It shouldn't be a problem for me as it grows all around my place but I don't know the farmers yet so can't really get my hands on it direct from source.


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[simon12]

I got my grain from the home brew shop The Home Brew Shop UK | Homebrew | Homebrewing note you need grains that have been malted and kilned not just raw barley. I also got most of my equipment there and did the 1 day course there.

[Epicurus]

Having purchased the basic beer kit equipment and had some success followed by a leaky barrel seal on my second batch, I would like to invest in the proper equipment and do a proper job.
I love the OP's set up but before I do anything could someone please recommend the definitive home brew beer book for making British ales; it needs to have a detailed account of the process and equipment rather than endless recipes.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, I am in Gloucestershire, so if there are any courses in the locality that can be recommended I'll give that a go too.

Thanks.

[chefgage]

I have a book thats quite good, probably not the best but it gives plenty of detail about the process from start to finish with lots of pictures!!

It also details lots of info about yeasts and grains with a fair bit of the science behind it. There is of course many many recipes with sections on british, american, belgian beers etc... I am not home at the moment and i cannot remember the name of the book but will post the title when i get home.

[Epicurus]

Thanks Chefgage. That's kind of you.

[simon12]

Did you get yours up and running yet? I just bottled my 5th batch the other day.

[chefgage]

Thanks Chefgage. That's kind of you.

sorry for the late reply! The book i mentioned is Ultimate homebrew book
isbn number 978 1 908170 24 8