My first success

[Veeagra]

I've just broke the seal on my 5th brew - a Coopers bitter made up with DME, some chocolate malt and crystal malt grains, some fuggles pellets boiled for 15 mins and dry hopped with some cascades. Its been in secondary for 2 weeks and I couldn't wait any longer to try it.
IT'S CHUFFING LOVELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm so proud, even my wife admitted it tasted like real real ale. The only problem is I'm at my inlaws and didn't bring enough with me. Probably a blessing in disguise as I could happily drink this all night.
At last I've made a beer that I don't wince when I sup and kid myself that I'm enjoying it!
So if you're on your first ever batch and it's rank just keep trying and soaking up the advice on the forum and you'll be alright.
Cheers!
V.

[Frothy]

Congrats veeagra. Great beer can be made with extract Do you think the grains made the difference?

Frothy

[Veeagra]

Hi Frothy,
Yes absolutely, they've given it a really lovely sort of coffee taste is the only way I can describe it. The hop pellets have worked wonders too, the aroma is amazing. Those cascade hops really have a distinctive smell don't they?
I feel like I'm back in Blighty, propping up the bar in the Evening Star in Brighton!
Cheers,
V.

[prodigal2]

Sounds cracking V, a fair bit of experimentation going on there with a kit.

[Bigster]

All aboard - Next stop AG

[Garth]

nice one v, its great when you get a good result, well done

[Kev.]

Well done, enjoy the fruits of your labours.

[Jim]

Nice one, V. There's nothing like tasting a great brew and knowing you made it yourself.

[Veeagra]

Yea, and no hangover either!

[BIGTRACTOR]

same as me mate. if it wasn't for this forum i'd have probably given up by now. as soon as i learnt to use dme or lme instead of sugar there was no loking back! what a difference it makes!

by the way, love the t-shirt (where did u get it from) i'm an avid river cottage fan. i've probably watched all the dvd's about fifty times over! to the dismay of the missus and kids!

[BIGTRACTOR]

sorry, just clicked on your link. will be getting one as soon as i get some funds in my paypal account. (been overspending on homebrew supplies)

[bitter_dave]

Excellent stuff It's worth persevering with the homebrew lark, as I've found out myself after a few false-starts

I feel like I'm back in Blighty, propping up the bar in the Evening Star in Brighton!

That's a great pub Did you used to live in Brighton then Veeagra?

[Veeagra]

Yes I used to live in Kemp Town. Before then I lived above the Escape when I was a student years ago.
How is Brighton? Do you go to the Star at all? I miss that pub, it's the main reason I tried brewing
Cheers
V.

[bitter_dave]

Yes I used to live in Kemp Town. Before then I lived above the Escape when I was a student years ago.
How is Brighton? Do you go to the Star at all? I miss that pub, it's the main reason I tried brewing
Cheers
V.

I don't get to go to the Evening Star as much as I would like, as I can never convince my mates (who either drink Harveys or Lager ).

I used to live in Hanover until a year ago, which was great for drinking purposes - the Greys at the end of my road and the Charles Napier up the hill. I've also lived close to Kemptown which I really liked. If you lived in kemptown you probably went in the Hand in Hand from time to time; the sad news is that Bev Robbins, the landlord and brewer, died last July, which was obviously very sad

[Veeagra]

Oh dear that's a shame. I hope someone with the same enthusiasm takes it over and it doesn't turn into some bland trendy bar. I did used to like a pint of kemp town bitter.
Hanover is great for a pub crawl though isn't it? I really like the Greys even if the landlord does support swindon town fc!