Newbie says thanks for help

[Bodders]

I have just completed my first home brew for 25 years - Coopers Real Ale - and I tasted the first sample bottle last night. It’s only been 10 days in the bottle but I was v.pleasantly surprised that it not only looked and smelt good, but actually tasted good as well. I think it will improve with a few more weeks conditioning, but it does seem well on the way.

So I wanted to use this opportunity to say a big thank you to this forum and all the posters for being such an excellent source of advice and brewing wisdom (not to mention humour). I have been browsing for a couple of months before I started brewing, and picked up several tips which saved me time, money and effort. These tips include :
• Picking up empty cider bottles for free at your local pub (50 so far)
• Using a bench capper – made life so much easier
• Using a bottling stock when filling the bottles – much better than siphoning.
My next batch will be Cooper Lager, and I will then be able to use my bottle tree & rinser, and I am thinking of getting a second FV for racking, as the first brew got a bit cloudy when I bottled it – although it has cleared now.
My aim is eventually to produce something as good as my home town’s local brewery – Harveys. A long way to go yet, but I think I’m hooked already.
Once again, thanks everybody for all your help so far
Bodders

[Parva]

Just beware that the all-grain side will come calling soon enough if you retain your passion for brewing and that's when the fun really begins!

[mickhew]

No problem mate, keep posting your queries. I'm in Lewes too, can't beat a pint of best in the Harvey Tavern.

[Bodders]

Just beware that the all-grain side will come calling soon enough if you retain your passion for brewing and that's when the fun really begins!

I think it's already arrived - I just went to Argos to buy a couple of the £3.25 kettles so that I can strip the elements out to use in a boiler. However, one step at a time..

[Deneeve]

lookin' good.. keep it up compardre!!!