It'll be a while before I have the space and money to start (have moved into a "fixer-upper" and the GF is heavily pregnant with child no2) but I am intrigued by the prospect of AG.
I am enjoying the kit-brewing for it's simplicity and the £0.60/pint aspect but I do feel as if I am just tossing ingredients together.
I wish to bone-up on AG to determine if I have the patience, funds and stamina to take this route and have reviewed Daab's site with interest.
Onto my question - I cannot carry the internet with me; is there an AG "Bible" in print that everyone recognises as knowledgeable, that'd take me through theory to equipment to setup, first brew and tweaking?
I really do feel the Dark Side calling - and, if I do my research now, GF may allow me to collar one of our three outbuildings to create an "Hullage Ales" brew-room...
Hoping this is the right forum
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booldawg
The pull towards AG is always very strong! I brewed kits for 5 months before taking the plunge. There are some very good reference points easily accessible from this site; the 'techniques' link at the top of the page covers the all-grain process as does forum members Daab's site and also Horden HillBilly's. both accessible from the 'Links' button at top of page.
I printed off the instructions (only about 4 pages each), read and re-read them until I had the technique weighed off in my head. Other little niggling doubts I just posted on here and jotted down various notes in a note pad. For my first brew day I had simple step-by-step instructions on a single piece of A4 paper.
I did make a few mistakes on the brew day where I'd mis-interpreted information but it looks like the beers coming good. I've learnt everything from this site and hope to improve on each brew. Its well worth it!
I printed off the instructions (only about 4 pages each), read and re-read them until I had the technique weighed off in my head. Other little niggling doubts I just posted on here and jotted down various notes in a note pad. For my first brew day I had simple step-by-step instructions on a single piece of A4 paper.
I did make a few mistakes on the brew day where I'd mis-interpreted information but it looks like the beers coming good. I've learnt everything from this site and hope to improve on each brew. Its well worth it!
Hoping this is theright forum
Hello PMHo810,
there are probably more up to date tomes available, but for a good start point in terms of advice and recipes "Brew your own British real ale at home" by Graham Wheeler and Roger Protz,ISBN1-8524-9138-8, is my starter.
The kit advice is cheap so AG experience can be built up before investing in shiny stuff. Also the hopping rates are a bit conservative, but once tried can be tweaked. Order a copy from the library or I think I've seen 2nd hand copies on Amazon.
Oh and revise the 60p perpint to 25p perpint for AG.
Drinking:Reepham Rapier Pale Ale OG1041
Maturing:Premium Pale OG1040:Amarillo OG1044;J.H.B.OG1042;Lees BitterOG1042;Premium Pale[bottled]OG1042.
Fermenting:Reepham Rapier Pale Ale+OG1044.
there are probably more up to date tomes available, but for a good start point in terms of advice and recipes "Brew your own British real ale at home" by Graham Wheeler and Roger Protz,ISBN1-8524-9138-8, is my starter.
The kit advice is cheap so AG experience can be built up before investing in shiny stuff. Also the hopping rates are a bit conservative, but once tried can be tweaked. Order a copy from the library or I think I've seen 2nd hand copies on Amazon.
Oh and revise the 60p perpint to 25p perpint for AG.
Drinking:Reepham Rapier Pale Ale OG1041
Maturing:Premium Pale OG1040:Amarillo OG1044;J.H.B.OG1042;Lees BitterOG1042;Premium Pale[bottled]OG1042.
Fermenting:Reepham Rapier Pale Ale+OG1044.
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PMH0810
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PMH0810
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PMH0810
DaaB wrote:1) If you want to all grain brew you'll have to give yourself a hard slap and forget all the research nonsense.
You sound like my Mum (long gone now but her maxim was along the lines of "Get stuck in and, if it doesn't work, hit it with a hammer").
I have had permission to "steal" the third outhouse so, sometime around the spring, I'll be able to start.
Thankl you for the sound advice - I'll start collecting the kit and let you know how I get on.
Was approaching it like a science - pleased to hear mistakes are allowed (I think I've just been told off by the Head...
) 
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PMH0810
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Madbrewer
Whilst the Graham Wheeler books really are the best resource (IMO) to get you started, you could also do worse than 'The Complete Joy of Homebrewing' by C. Papazian. You need to adjust the US gallons to litres accordingly though.
The books take you through the process, are written by someone who's enthusiasm comes across well, has some good recipes to try but the equipment available to the U.S is obviously different to that available in the UK (as are hop varieties).
Have read Graham's books cover to cover many times and even so there are parts of the book 'Home Brewing the CAMRA Guide' that come in very useful on brew day. Strike Heat temerature, 20c Hydrometer conversions, & mash tecnique (if doing a stepped mash). I do hope the 'new' book being talked about/considered repeats the basic content in these chapters. My books are getting very dog eared now.
The books take you through the process, are written by someone who's enthusiasm comes across well, has some good recipes to try but the equipment available to the U.S is obviously different to that available in the UK (as are hop varieties).
Have read Graham's books cover to cover many times and even so there are parts of the book 'Home Brewing the CAMRA Guide' that come in very useful on brew day. Strike Heat temerature, 20c Hydrometer conversions, & mash tecnique (if doing a stepped mash). I do hope the 'new' book being talked about/considered repeats the basic content in these chapters. My books are getting very dog eared now.
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PMH0810
Me too - have just surfed for some of the books mentioned in this thread. What a premium they're trading at! £50 to £70 for a 200page paperback?Madbrewer wrote: I do hope the 'new' book being talked about/considered repeats the basic content in these chapters. My books are getting very dog eared now.
Ripe for a reprint I think...
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prodigal2
OK I really ought to throw my hat into the ring so to speak 
I started AG and did my first 10 beers solely from the information gleened via Jim's. The reason I solely relied on Jims was that I wanted to see if a forum like this could provide all the information to get started on AG. And yes there is a abundance of info that can be got here to make the leap, and also there is a wealth of knowledge to get you through your first AG day if you have any problems.
I must admit it can be easy to overload yourself with information that to start your AG journey is plain unnecessary. In the same way you can get a huge gearitis issues when you feel that you need loads of kit to make your first beer.
Ontop of DaaBs site I would recommend reading Jims method pages Here, as it cuts to the chase and shows how simple beermaking is, and is a good basis to get going with(which is what I did).
Gear wise DaaB is spot on with what you need but I will elaborate a tad.
A mash tun could be just a unconverted coolbox, and your lauter tun can be just a grain bag in a Fermenter with a tap fitted. Of course they can be one and the same if you have the time/money/inclination. Though what I am trying to say is there are many ways to make (good)beer at home depending on your DIY skill, finances, or ingenuity, and many a brewing comp has been won by brewers using very simple setups(contrary to the American brewing sites that seem to think, he who has the biggest setup makes the best beer )
All I can say is get the bits you need and get brewing, you really won't regret it
I started AG and did my first 10 beers solely from the information gleened via Jim's. The reason I solely relied on Jims was that I wanted to see if a forum like this could provide all the information to get started on AG. And yes there is a abundance of info that can be got here to make the leap, and also there is a wealth of knowledge to get you through your first AG day if you have any problems.
I must admit it can be easy to overload yourself with information that to start your AG journey is plain unnecessary. In the same way you can get a huge gearitis issues when you feel that you need loads of kit to make your first beer.
Ontop of DaaBs site I would recommend reading Jims method pages Here, as it cuts to the chase and shows how simple beermaking is, and is a good basis to get going with(which is what I did).
Gear wise DaaB is spot on with what you need but I will elaborate a tad.
A mash tun could be just a unconverted coolbox, and your lauter tun can be just a grain bag in a Fermenter with a tap fitted. Of course they can be one and the same if you have the time/money/inclination. Though what I am trying to say is there are many ways to make (good)beer at home depending on your DIY skill, finances, or ingenuity, and many a brewing comp has been won by brewers using very simple setups(contrary to the American brewing sites that seem to think, he who has the biggest setup makes the best beer
)All I can say is get the bits you need and get brewing, you really won't regret it
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Horden Hillbilly
- Moderator
- Posts: 2150
- Joined: Mon May 08, 2006 1:00 pm
- Location: Horden, Co. Durham
- Contact:
The pull towards AG is always very strong! I brewed kits for 5 months before taking the plunge. There are some very good reference points easily accessible from this site; the 'techniques' link at the top of the page covers the all-grain process as does forum members Daab's site and also Horden Hillbilly's. both accessible from the 'Links' button at top of page.
I agree with the above quotes. There is ample info & recipes on these forums for anyone wishing to start ag brewing.To be honest, if all you want to do if figure out of you have the patience, you don't need a book. The whole process will take you around 7-8hrs to start with, if you can soak grains in hot water for 60 mins, strain off the liquid bring to the boil and add hops, use some device to chill the wort or let it cool a little, run off into a fermenter and put in a sink of cold water over night then you can brew all grain, the rest is as per making a beer kit.
PMH0810. click on the uk-homebrew link in my signature to view my website. I have kept it simple, but detailed with loads of pics, it is nice & easy to follow.
Don't forget to check out Daab's website, http://www.18000feet.com/ as well.
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prodigal2
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PMH0810
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Martin the fish
I done about 10 kits in around 6 weeks then went AG. I'm now into my 2nd month of brewing and will be doing my 3rd AG next.
Don't have any books on brewing. Everything i need is here, and things i didn't think i'd need. HH's site is great and straighforward.
It does seem a bit technical and daunting at first but it isn't. Once you've done a couple of brews the hardest thing(for me) is deciding on a recipe. And keeping my hands of my conditioning beer, v hard indeed. Not technically hard but incredible mental strength must be attained.
Don't have any books on brewing. Everything i need is here, and things i didn't think i'd need. HH's site is great and straighforward.
It does seem a bit technical and daunting at first but it isn't. Once you've done a couple of brews the hardest thing(for me) is deciding on a recipe. And keeping my hands of my conditioning beer, v hard indeed. Not technically hard but incredible mental strength must be attained.