Search found 18 matches

by RichieD
Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:09 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Cost comparison - kits and grain brewing
Replies: 13
Views: 3591

Re: Cost comparison - kits and grain brewing

Fantastic, thank you, both. I can clearly see how one is drawn into this, deeper and deeper. I am a bit of an insomniac, but since I've started brewing, I genuinely often lull myself to sleep contemplating either the fermentation process, the slow, molecular process of 'worter into beer', or the ger...
by RichieD
Tue Apr 14, 2020 2:08 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Cost comparison - kits and grain brewing
Replies: 13
Views: 3591

Re: Cost comparison - kits and grain brewing

I went on the same journey. I started by thinking if I diverted, say, £150 per year from buying beer, what could I get if I made it myself? I got a fermenting bin and made kits for a year. In 2008 I spent £27 on an immersion chiller, £18 on a 60 ltr plastic bin, fitted Tesco kettle elements and sta...
by RichieD
Tue Apr 14, 2020 1:53 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Cost comparison - kits and grain brewing
Replies: 13
Views: 3591

Re: Cost comparison - kits and grain brewing

Gobuchul, brewing in those quantities is what I need as I find I'm raiding the conditioning cupboard way before I should, so my brews tend to get drunk too early. If I had more quantity with each batch, rather than say 12 or 20 litres with each kit, they could get backed up and have time to conditio...
by RichieD
Tue Apr 14, 2020 10:20 am
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Cost comparison - kits and grain brewing
Replies: 13
Views: 3591

Re: Cost comparison - kits and grain brewing

Thanks all for your replies. Yours, LeeH, made me hoot, and looking at cost of gobuchul's Grainfather kit, I believe it. Last time I used a kit was 1980s and quality seems to have improved massively, and isn't so far off a good pub pint, and is better than a bad pub pint. For now I'll be trying diff...
by RichieD
Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:26 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Cost comparison - kits and grain brewing
Replies: 13
Views: 3591

Cost comparison - kits and grain brewing

Hi, I'm newbie brewer using homebrew kits. Been doing it for about 8 months. I'm keeping fairly detailed MS Access database of the process, and am currently on my 6th kit, having produced around 130 pints. Including everything, ie 2 x kits which cost over £50 each to include fermenting bins, hydrome...
by RichieD
Tue Mar 31, 2020 7:37 pm
Forum: Kit Brewing
Topic: Alcohol Content / ABV
Replies: 8
Views: 2509

Re: Alcohol Content / ABV

Silver and Guy, thanks. In marketing terms, higher alcohol content will probably signify better value and 'better product' I would think, so it does not surprise me if the manufacturers put the highest possible ABV on their products given the possible variables, without telling outright porkies...Ul...
by RichieD
Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:08 pm
Forum: Kit Brewing
Topic: Alcohol Content / ABV
Replies: 8
Views: 2509

Re: Alcohol Content / ABV

Think I might join you in that practise, Nitro :)
by RichieD
Tue Mar 31, 2020 9:19 am
Forum: Kit Brewing
Topic: Alcohol Content / ABV
Replies: 8
Views: 2509

Re: Alcohol Content / ABV

Hi Wanus and IPA, thanks v much for quick replies. I wasn't aware of these other formulae. IPA's seems to give a result closer to the target ABVs in the instructions. Wanus, your suggestion of using less water is a good one, thanks. In fact, I noticed with my latest brew (for 23 litres) that using 4...
by RichieD
Mon Mar 30, 2020 11:42 am
Forum: Kit Brewing
Topic: Alcohol Content / ABV
Replies: 8
Views: 2509

Alcohol Content / ABV

Hi, Question here about claimed ABV of kit brews. One example: I'm current brewing Bulldog Bad Cat Imperial Red. Claimed ABV is 7.5% on the box/packaging. Target starting Gravity from instructions is 1.061 and target Final Gravity will be 1008 - 1014. I am using my own excel database and the common ...
by RichieD
Wed Oct 16, 2019 7:44 pm
Forum: Kit Brewing
Topic: Cheap barrels
Replies: 3
Views: 2689

Re: Cheap barrels

I have three barrels, one king keg and two of the cheaper loop handle on top ones. The two cheaper ones I have had for a couple of years and they have both had pinhole holes in the top near the cap for no reason at all. At the moment I have a really nice tasting flat stout in one and I have just no...
by RichieD
Sun Oct 13, 2019 6:56 pm
Forum: Dispensing
Topic: Bubbles rising from pressure keg tap
Replies: 12
Views: 4465

Re: Bubbles rising from pressure keg tap

Strangely, now I'm right down close to the bottom of the keg, about an inch higher than the tap, it has held its pressure overnight now for 24 hours... Doesn't make sense to me, but I'll do the immersion leak testing when empty.
by RichieD
Fri Oct 11, 2019 6:40 pm
Forum: Dispensing
Topic: Bubbles rising from pressure keg tap
Replies: 12
Views: 4465

Re: Bubbles rising from pressure keg tap

Sure thing, TC. It's a Microbrewery kit pressure keg, not a king keg, though I wouldn't know the difference to be honest. Thanks for your help.
by RichieD
Thu Oct 10, 2019 6:52 pm
Forum: Dispensing
Topic: Bubbles rising from pressure keg tap
Replies: 12
Views: 4465

Re: Bubbles rising from pressure keg tap

Thanks HH, I did do that in fact, but it was still nigh impossible. I managed it by gripping the washer with 2 outsize paperclips and stretching and pulling it over the threads. I thought I would rip it completely, but only a little luckily. Barrel still leaking v bad and can't work out where. I use...
by RichieD
Tue Oct 08, 2019 8:38 am
Forum: Dispensing
Topic: Bubbles rising from pressure keg tap
Replies: 12
Views: 4465

Re: Bubbles rising from pressure keg tap

Thanks TC.
by RichieD
Mon Oct 07, 2019 5:18 pm
Forum: Dispensing
Topic: Bubbles rising from pressure keg tap
Replies: 12
Views: 4465

Re: Bubbles rising from pressure keg tap

Hi Kev, Thanks for your quick reply. First time I've tried to post - think this will link the photo as admin has not allowed me to post directly, I don't think. https://ibb.co/wJn3X7h You can just about see the slight rip in the lower edge of the washer, but I'm sure that isn't the cause of the prob...