Hello from Manchester

[Mick_Brews]

Hi All

I have been poking around the forum for a few days and though it was about time I registered and said hello!

Been brewing for about 3 months now, after months and months of reading, started out with All-Grain as didn't fancy brewing with Extract. First couple of batches have come out ok, no disasters yet...

Recently ordered a keg so excited to start using that as soon as my Sour Orange IPA has finished fermenting and hoping it is much better than bottling for a couple of hours!

Looking forward to getting to know some of you and learning a few 'tricks of the trade' as you all seem a friendly knowledgeable bunch

Mick

 

[An Ankoù]

Welcome Mick.
You've come to the right place, for sure. I wouldn't have thought sour orange IPA was beginners' stuff, so well done you. What sort of keg are you thinking of getting?

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Welcome

 

[Mick_Brews]

Welcome Mick.
You've come to the right place, for sure. I wouldn't have thought sour orange IPA was beginners' stuff, so well done you. What sort of keg are you thinking of getting?

Thank you

I decided on the Sour as a local craft brewery nearby sell one that is amazing, but at £4 per can I decided to find the recipe and give it a go myself. Should be ready for packaging this weekend and a little taste test yesterday showed promise so I think I may have got lucky jumping in with it. I used Philly Sour yeast by Lallemand rather than kettle souring so a bit of a cheat really

I ordered a 9.5L Corny Keg from GetErBrewed which arrived last week so just sat waiting to be filled up now. I wanted it to be somewhat portable rather than having the big 19L that I couldn't take anywhere, had an old SodaStream bottle lying around so got a mini regulator and an adapter to fill it from a 6KG Co2 bottle to save some cost. Each batch should leave me with enough to bottle and share with friends and family (When we are allowed to go out again).

 

[Banbeer]

Welcome to the forum @Mick_Brews, kegging is definitely the way to go, I started using them last year and has been the best thing I've done so far, apart from building the kegerator of course, happy brewing

 

[Mick_Brews]

Welcome to the forum @Mick_Brews, kegging is definitely the way to go, I started using them last year and has been the best thing I've done so far, apart from building the kegerator of course, happy brewing

Thank you!

Everything I have read has pointed to a much preferred method of packaging. 60+ bottles per batch takes an age! I think 30 ish shouldn't be too bad as at least it is only half the pain.

Next step is finding somewhere to build the kegerator, I already have my temperature controlled fridge but fast running out of room with acquiring new kit. It's not too bad at the moment in the man cave with the weather being so cold, so at least I have a good few months planning to get it in place for the summer.
I was planning on ripping a cupboard out in the kitchen in place for another fridge and then I could put the tap directly on the worktop but the Mrs wasn't a fan of the idea!!

 

[An Ankoù]

Welcome to the forum @Mick_Brews, kegging is definitely the way to go, I started using them last year and has been the best thing I've done so far, apart from building the kegerator of course, happy brewing

Nah, get an old Wilco pressure barrel off Gumtree. Hours of fun for all the family.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Welcome to the forum

 

[Gerryjo]

Thank you

I decided on the Sour as a local craft brewery nearby sell one that is amazing, but at £4 per can I decided to find the recipe and give it a go myself. Should be ready for packaging this weekend and a little taste test yesterday showed promise so I think I may have got lucky jumping in with it. I used Philly Sour yeast by Lallemand rather than kettle souring so a bit of a cheat really

I ordered a 9.5L Corny Keg from GetErBrewed which arrived last week so just sat waiting to be filled up now. I wanted it to be somewhat portable rather than having the big 19L that I couldn't take anywhere, had an old SodaStream bottle lying around so got a mini regulator and an adapter to fill it from a 6KG Co2 bottle to save some cost. Each batch should leave me with enough to bottle and share with friends and family (When we are allowed to go out again).

Hi Mick and welcome to the forum..
Just reading about your soda stream adapter and mini regulator as I've been looking to do something similar myself and wondered if you have the links available as you seem to have yours working a treat.

 

[Mick_Brews]

Hi Mick and welcome to the forum..
Just reading about your soda stream adapter and mini regulator as I've been looking to do something similar myself and wondered if you have the links available as you seem to have yours working a treat.

Hi Gerry. thank you for the welcome.

I have bought one of these to refill the Sodastream bottle: CO2 CLUB BAR REFILL CONNECTION TANK SODASTREAM SODA CYLINDER ADAPTER W21.8-14 | eBay

It can be a little fiddly to refill as the newer Sodastream bottles have a non return valve to stop you filling them this way, the trick is to open the valve on your big bottle very slowly until you hear the gas flowing and then open up fully, little video I saw to show the process: Fill your CO2 Sodastream cylinder yourself - YouTube

if you find that to be too much of a pain, you can buy a replacement Sodastream bottle nozzle but I found it simple enough with enough patience. CO2 Pin Valve Nozzle Replacement Tool For SodaStream M18 Tank Brass Adapter | eBay

 

[Mick_Brews]

This is the link to the regulator: Sodastream CO2 Mini Gas Regulator Gas Line Corny Cornelius Keg Charger Ball Lock | eBay

 

[gavp1979]

Welcome to the forum @Mick_Brews. Depending whereabouts in Manchester you are I have found Mastergas decent for gas bottles, think it was £30 deposit and around £15-£18 for a refill depending of it is CO2 or Nitrogen mix

 

[Mick_Brews]

Welcome to the forum @Mick_Brews. Depending whereabouts in Manchester you are I have found Mastergas decent for gas bottles, think it was £30 deposit and around £15-£18 for a refill depending of it is CO2 or Nitrogen mix

thank you for the welcome.

Master gas is the place I get mine from too, only about 15-20 minutes away from me. Cheers for the mention though :small

 

[BlackRegent]

Welcome to the forum @Mick_Brews. Depending whereabouts in Manchester you are I have found Mastergas decent for gas bottles, think it was £30 deposit and around £15-£18 for a refill depending of it is CO2 or Nitrogen mix

@gavp1979 Was that price for a 6 kilo bottle? Thanks

 

[gavp1979]

@gavp1979 Was that price for a 6 kilo bottle? Thanks

Yes