First Timer with blog - observations gratefully received

[drbell]

Hi all,

I am knew to the work of Home Brewing, and am currently 6 days into my first attempt. I have decided to blog my progress, partly as a record for myself of what I did, so that I might make changes and improve on it in the future, but also for others to read.

It would be tremendously helpful to get some observations/comments/tips on what I have done so far from people with more experience, either on here, or directly on the blog through comments.

If anyone is willing to have a quick glance and give their opinion on what I have done well and badly so far, I would be really grateful. My blog is:

http://bellsbeer.wordpress.com

Thank you,

Dave

[drbell]

Thanks for the reply. Nice to hear things don't seem too bad.
I'm going to check out a home brew shop near me on Saturday. If bottles are cheap there, I am considering buying 40+ and using them for this beer, and perhaps bottles 4 or 5 in the lager bottles and storing them elsewhere in the house to see if they will be ok. Be nice to use them if I can, but dont want to lose a whole batch.

Thanks again.

[Grantie]

Looks great - I will check on it regularly (and Phil's !)

Dont worry too much about messing up - my first attempt went / is going pretty well I think (with a little help and reassurance from the good folks here) and I was sharing your concerns about how clean everything was / messing up by upsetting the beer before pitching.

I am using PETs just now, until I am happy with my priming technique : I'd agree lager bottles may be a little too delicate - I'll probably save up some ale "dead soldiers" over then next couple of months until I have enough for 40 pints which I'll use for my 3rd batch.

[Buzz]

If bottles are cheap there, I am considering buying 40+

I'd go to the local supermarket and buy a shed load of real ale. Much nicer to spend money on full bottles rather than empty ones. Think of all the fun you will have fat-necking them before your brew is ready!

I read in the blog "My current expectations are not high for the beer". Bo***cks to that, it will be grand. Have faith.

[steve_flack]

I've found a handy local source of bottles. I can get 20 500ml brown bottles and the plastic crate for £3. Sadly I have to clean them first.

[booldawg]

Thanks for the reply. Nice to hear things don't seem too bad.
I'm going to check out a home brew shop near me on Saturday. If bottles are cheap there, I am considering buying 40+ and using them for this beer, and perhaps bottles 4 or 5 in the lager bottles and storing them elsewhere in the house to see if they will be ok. Be nice to use them if I can, but dont want to lose a whole batch.

Thanks again.

I had to buy my initial stock of bottles as the pub hadn't come good with my request for old bottles before my first brew was ready.

I think 500ml brown glass bottles were 66p each and came in boxes of 12. Crates are also something worth having when bottling. Also, no matter how many times you stress to people you want your bottles back after they've had a sample of your beer - they never give them back I've lost well over 20 bottles that way - never again....

[drbell]

Interesting idea to ask my local if they are able to sell their used bottles. I might have to try that out. Thanks.

[Grantie]

Just camp at the local recycle point for an hour or two on a sunday (tescos) and offer to take some off people's hands lol

Depends on how far you want to go ...

[daveyk]

Also, no matter how many times you stress to people you want your bottles back after they've had a sample of your beer - they never give them back I've lost well over 20 bottles that way - never again....

Yes I've noticed that too.

To get me started I collected all the bottles I could, also asked around a work... that got me a few.

I did buy 2 dozen from the local brewery too.... they were very helpful.... I managed to get them at cost but felt obliged to buy some full too! Never mind it was good to sample their wares and was 4 new bottles when I was done!

I was going to ask a friend of mine that works in a pub to save them for me... didn't get that far but a wanted add on freecycle has been really good.

I think I'm almost in the position of having enough beer bottled to drink while I keep the brews fermenting and conditioning.... I'll tell you in 6 weeks ish.

I'm not noramlly too bothered about the extra cost but it does feel good keeping the bottles out of land fill..... and if you add the comercial cost of a bottle to homebrew sometimes I think it would be easier to buy the beer and we don't want that.

I don't know about everyone else but I rinse the bottles in 'as hot as I can stand' water. This tends to soak the labels off.... at least it softens the glue.... with the label off, I tend to find a metal pan scourer brings off most the glue... if it is particularly stubbon, the a little acetone helps..... what methods have other people found?

Dave.

[Madbrewer]

Your local may be able to spare there old 'Magners' bottles for free!

I have always been careful not to overprime and therefore not had any injuries or explosions. Although I don't specifically recommend it, using bottles of the type shown might be ok if not overprimed. Though storing in the garage and wearing safety specs when handling would be an idea!

[drbell]

Thanks for the tips. I will definitely try to get hold of some bottles one way or the other.

I will be mixing the sugar directly into the bucket rather than the bottles to help get the priming right, and hopefully during the few hours I leave it for the sediment to settle, it will lessen the pressure in the bottles further.

[drbell]

I managed to get lot sof bottles form work colleagues, so that was really cool. Im fed up of scrubbing bottles already though