hello from belfast

[mattybabsy]

Hello all

Just getting into things here and can't wait. Have done a bit of research through the craigtube videos i found.

Am from Belfast N.Ireland, anyone else from here?

Thinking of starting with the Coopers lager startup kit- wot do ppl think?

thanks
Matthew

 

[HLA91]

Hey mattybabsy welcome to the forum. I personally haven't tried coopers lager but I have tried coopers real ale twice adn the results were good.

 

[DaveMack]

Hiya Matthew ... welcome on board mate .
I've done the full range of Coopers lagers . the easiest to start with is the Aussie one , the European takes a long time before you can drink it ( about 3 months ) ... but all Coopers lagers are 1st class stuff
Try to avoid the Geordie lager which is like soda water ... its very pale and weak .
The Youngs brew buddy is ok but no where as good as the Coopers .

 

[mattybabsy]

thx guys

had a question- I live in not so sunny and warm belfast. Our house doesnt really get above 20 degrees. Will that effect what beers I can do? Am I able to do a larger in that temp? Does anyone have a cost effective way of maintaining the temp while the beer is fermenting?

thanks

matthew

 

[mattybabsy]

another question- just got back from the only 'brewshop' I could find in town. They recommended youngs start up kit. its only £25 or something and includes everything in the coopers minus the bottles. What do people think? Is youngs as good as coopers?

thanks

matthew

 

[Runwell-Steve]

Hi, welcome to the forum :drink:

I don't have knowledge of either of the kits, but the people that do the Coopers ones do seem impressed with them.

The most important place to start is to make sure you have a bucket to ferment in, a spoon to stir it, a hydrometer, a thermometer, and some syphon tubing, and somethig to use to clean and sanitise your equipment.

You will also need some bottles to put your beer in once it is ready.

I wouldn't worry too much about which kit you start with, as once you have the equipment you can brew all sorts of different ones.

As for temperature, you may want to consider a Brew belt, these fit around your fermenter and provide a bit of heat.

 

[DaveMack]

another question- just got back from the only 'brewshop' I could find in town. They recommended youngs start up kit. its only £25 or something and includes everything in the coopers minus the bottles. What do people think? Is youngs as good as coopers?

thanks

matthew

Youngs brew buddy kit is a middle range lager , you can get the boxed kit with everything ( apart from the bottles ) from Wilkinsons for £24 ... so its roughly the same price as the brew shop , i've done one of these ... you will get tipsy on about 4 pints of the stuff

 

[doaky]

Hi matthew

i am from just down the road from yourself in Lisburn! Started brewing bout 4 months ago and have made the coopers canadian blond, mexican cerveza and have just bottled 40 bottles of coopers irish stout! I got a brew belt with my kit cos as you know you cant trust our weather here!
Good luck with it mate and be patient. You'll be dying to get your first batch open but trust me the longer you leave it the better it gets.

Cheers :

Doaky

 

[golder247]

You can't really go wrong with the coopers stuff, although to be fair even the cheaper youngs kit will wipe the floor with anything you buy from a supermarket.

I am loving my coopers lager, very pleasant and bottled my cerveza last night... It tastes bloody lovely already.

Don't buy bottles, collect them from a local pub. I am liking my kopparberg bottles but anything 500ml and coloured will do the job and get some crown caps and a lever capper, apart from that the stuff that steve mentioned.

Relax and enjoy it, you will soon be getting pleasantly ****** for far less with much more enjoyable, tastier beers... happy days!!

if you find that a brew belt is to expensive or difficult to get hold of a large aquarium heater will work just as well.


Happy brewing fella!!

 

[mattybabsy]

thanks for the replies guys- cant wait!!

@doaky- whats been your experience of the belt? have read they're not too great- they work out for you?

you found any brewing shops around apart from natures way?

thanks

Matthew

 

[HLA91]

Welcome

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Welcome. :thumb:

BB :drink:

 

[doaky]

thanks for the replies guys- cant wait!!

@doaky- whats been your experience of the belt? have read they're not too great- they work out for you?

you found any brewing shops around apart from natures way?

thanks

Matthew

The only place is natures way! Few down south who do next day delivery but the woman in natures way deffo knows what shes talking about! The brew belt is great ! Id invest in one!


Doaky

 

[Linton_magic]

Hello

I Live in Antrim and just about to start into brewing from my father in laws old boots kit. You mentioned there is a brewing shop in Belfast can you tell me what it is called and where?

Also good luck with your brew.

Many Thanks
Stephen Linton

 

[doaky]

Hey stephen its on the upper newtonards road! Massive range of stock and great advice! I highly recommend
http://www.4ni.co.uk/39254x919x3_nature ... elfast.htm


Doaky