Jim's Beer Kit

Bloody hell Rookie, how long are they going to last, and how will you keep them fresh and usable?

If you can’t solve the problem with the existing stat I would recommend an Inkbird or similar, you simply plug the mains of the fridge freezer into it and pass a small probe through a wall. Setting the temperature is simple and accurate, you just leave the existing stat set how it is. I’ve been usin...

I remember doing "London Bitter" early80s, late 70s from Boots, Dare i say it tasted fine to me. How times have changed, For the better really. Used to use the Boots genuine brewers yeast sachets which came in liquid form which where in their ESB kits but sold separately as well in my extract brews...

Definitely a typo, they are one of my local brew ingredient suppliers, and have been around for years. All of the latest batches of hops I’ve bought have the same dash instead of a decimal point, one batch was Galaxy which specifies 12-20% which gives it away really!

Hop spider? I recently started using the spider again, but I'm relaxed about hop pellets going in the fermenter. If you don't have any big leaf hops the pellet bits don't need a filter, they settle into a lump at the bottom of the kettle, especially if you give it a good swirling. I find they help ...

Have you tried a springer filter? For me, it works well with pellet hops. That’s a new one to me, could you enlighten me as to what it is and does? I’ve used a hop spider before, and still have one somewhere, but I found I had to compensate for the lack of movement of the hops around the boiler. Do...

I’ve just checked the bag I have, unfortunately it’s designed for mashing and the base is far too course. The one you advised to look at, the mesh is around .010” in old money, I can see why it works. I take it you don’t force any wort through the bag, and thanks for the advice on disposing!

Thanks for that JonB, I have a similar bag that I was going to use in my mashtun but never got round to it, I’ll check on the mesh and maybe give it a try. I’ve found using pellets they are much easier to dispose of, down the sink in one go!

Generally I brew with whole hops with a bazooka filter and never have a problem. I’m finding some hop varieties I can only get in pellet form, and as most of us know they clog the filter. Wanting to move more to using pellets, I managed to get in touch with Rob at the MaltMiller, who was very helpfu...

Just up the up the road is the Titanic anchor replica that was made in the area. I live not to far away and I have never been in there :roll: Put them on your bucket list! Up until the pandemic I used to be a regular in Ma Pardoes and have spent a bit of time in the Bull and Bladder also. Ma Pardoe...

You could try these people, I used to use them for cup seals and o rings when I was in business. They have a hell of a range and used to be very helpful.
barnwell.co.uk I don’t think they have a viewing website, but have branches throughout the uk.

For what it’s worth I use Graham’s water treatment for Burton pale ale for a draught Bass clone. The main difference in the treatment is the addition of far more Magnesium sulphate than if I were treating water for bitters or pale ales. I accept that my water profile is maybe a lot different to your...

Interesting this. If it’s the same Youngs Home brew as the one in my neck of the woods (West Midlands), they are a well established company of many years selling only to trade customers. Many of their products I’ve bought indirectly. Perhaps they are spreading their wings and supplying us public. I ...

I like CML Firm - less atttenuative and adds a little flavour. Tbh, their "four" is good if not better than s-04 https://www.crossmyloofbrew.co.uk/yeast-specs Yes, the Firm is probably worth a try. I also use S04 it drops like lead, but the lower attenuation of London gives me a little more flavour...

I’ve recently discovered Lallemand are discontinuing London yeast. I use this yeast frequently, its inability to ferment all the sugars in the wort gives me a full bodied taste that I prefer in my pale ales and bitters, gravity tends to stop at around 1016. I think Windsor will do the same, but I’m ...