Jim's Beer Kit

Not yet but am moving in that direction. Bought a Revisionist dark IPA from Tesco to see.

I would say give it a go. Nothing ventured nothing gained

The same happened with mine. De scaling helped for a while but eventually had to bypass the thermostat bit. Worked fine after that.
If you look for a new lead, mine has a small cut out bit that a lot of normal kettle leads do not have.

This one may fit (not tried one though) http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Brewferm-Tap.html This one does fit, just tried it http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PLASTIC-TAP-AND-BACK-NUT-Home-Brew-Homebrew-Beer-Cider-Barrel-Keg-Waterbutt-Wat-/281470826824?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Food_SM&hash=item4188f7f94...

gibbiem wrote:It's a proper auto syphon. Surely you can just buy the tube though?

Sure most Home brew shops sell lengths of hose.

Replace the hose and give the rest a good sterilise and clean

Manngold wrote:Where did you get your 2.5 L pressure barrels from matey?

Got mine about 15 years ago but I believe The Home Brew shop in Aldershot have them listed. Just to confirm they are about 12 litres / 2.5 gallon.

Defo try to reproduce Ghost Ship. Went on a tour of Adnams last Sunday and that was the best taster, even from a can. I tend to start with a clone recipe, from GW books or from the various forums, and then adapt from there to get what I like. Some of the adaptions are trial and error and don,t alway...

One thing I have done is get a 2.5 gallon PB then split a brew between bottles and barrel less bottles to clean and fill and next to no head space in the PB. Same problem with leaky cap (and PRV if rubber band type) but at least there is only half a brew at risk.

I'm with 647ozzy. Not worth the risk at a vulnerable stage.

Tubing is difficult to dry completely. I soak in VWP after and before use with plenty of rinsing in cold water. Have also got some stars san so will be using that in addition to the above in future.

I have a few caps with the blue silicone seal and thought spares would be available, but after much searching, as you say, couldn't find any. Homebrew suppliers do sell a replacement square section seal for 2 inch caps and this may work.

With a plastic tap you should be able to file down the thread to create the flats. You would have to make sure though that the overall diameter is correct and that any filing does not go into the body go the tap. Not familiar with burro boilers but I have a boiler with a similar looking tap (without...

Not tried either of these yet but would portably go with which ever takes your fancy. It is unlikely either will taste exactly like the original but offer a good starting point. If bottled they would probably be ready to drink after 3 or 4 weeks but would benefit from keeping for a couple of months....

I would say that should be fine.
I have done a few dark beers (mild, wheat beer, lager and porter) and conditioning time has been from 2 weeks to 8 months depending on how quick I can keep my hand off them. I would say they are better after a month or so.

This company seem to do a lot of different caps

http://www.vital-parts.co.uk/caps-14-c.asp

Just to show that with a bit of fettling the bag in a box can take secondary fermentation without releasing any pressure: http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa136/394cbadger/Brewery/DSCF4879.jpg and they fit in the beer fridge: http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa136/394cbadger/Brewery/DSCF4881.jpg

As an alternative to corny kegs etc. I do the following I have a beer engine set up in my shed and use 12.5ltre pressure barrels as the beer source. I have tried simply letting air in as the beer is drawn, which actually worked fine over a week, but now have a midget widget connected to supply just ...