Hi all

[Gazdadude]

Hi all I'm brand new to the hobby and looking for tips to get started I've ciders and ales so looking to get started with them I'm also wondering what equipment I need to get started

 

[jof]

Welcome.
There is so much information here I'm going to ask you a few questions to work out where to point you.

Are you just looking into brewing your own? Maybe to save some cash?
Has someone given you a kit as a present and you are not sure where to start?
What sort of budget are you on? (You dont need to spend hundreds on shiny stainless steel equipment)

How patient are you? Don't believe the beer kit hype that it only takes 2 weeks, you should allow a minimum of 6 weeks if you want nice clear beer.

 

[Gazdadude]

I'm expecting it to take months to fully brew

Around £70 to 80 is my initial budget I don't have any gear yet it interests me and want to give it ago I love craft beer and cider so over time would love to learn to make my own

I'm struggling with mental health and looking for a hobby

 

[The Baron]

Welcome to the forum

 

[jof]

I'm expecting it to take months to fully brew

Around £70 to 80 is my initial budget I don't have any gear yet it interests me and want to give it ago I love craft beer and cider so over time would love to learn to make my own

I'm struggling with mental health and looking for a hobby

A common way to start is to get a starter kit (usually as a Christmas or Birthday present)
But it sounds like you time to consider your options and research what route to take.

Kits are a good way to learn the ropes and a good route if you don't have much time.

Basic equipment can be found second hand, often free by people who got said starter kits & it didn't work out for them.

If you want to try all grain, we have people making 1 & 2 gallon batches in large pans on the kitchen stove.

In the old days we would pick up a book from the library or charity bookshop, indeed some people prefer this to searching through the internet.

Another consideration is where to get the ingredients.
Kit brewing supplies are available from Wilko & The Range.
There are not many physical homebrew shops left so unless you are lucky enough to live near one, then your probably looking at ordering online.

I would put links to threads in, but I find that very difficult when using a phone rather than PC to access the forums

 

[Gazdadude]

I was thinking of picking this up a set off Amazon

 

[jof]

There are loads of threads on here where people ask 'where do I start'
Thats why I wondered if you were going beer kit in cans or the all grain way, so I can try & point you in the right direction.
(& I plugged in my laptop so I should be able to link to stuff a bit easier)

 

[Gazdadude]

I'm mainly interested in cider to start then moving on to beer

 

[Gazdadude]

I'm looking to pick this up BJ #3 Kit - Premium Winemaking Equipment Set (6 Bottles Size) BJ #3 Kit - Premium Winemaking Equipment Set (6 Bottles Size) : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

 

[jof]

Ah, thats a great start point.

I can't recommend any cider kits, but if you want to experiment, A good start point would be to try making cider from cartons of apple juice.
How to make Turbo Cider.

I would be tempted to start with a 5l (1 gallon) batch and see how it works out.
You can use the big 5l spring water bottles you get from the supermarket to ferment in, as they work out cheaper than buying demijohns & if you don't want to drill the lid & fit an airlock, other clever people on here suggest covering opening with clingfilm, securing with elastic band & make a small slit in the cling film to allow the CO2 out during fermentation.

 

[Gazdadude]

Ah, thats a great start point.

I can't recommend any cider kits, but if you want to experiment, A good start point would be to try making cider from cartons of apple juice.
How to make Turbo Cider.

I would be tempted to start with a 5l (1 gallon) batch and see how it works out.
You can use the big 5l spring water bottles you get from the supermarket to ferment in, as they work out cheaper than buying demijohns & if you don't want to drill the lid & fit an airlock, other clever people on here suggest covering opening with clingfilm, securing with elastic band & make a small slit in the cling film to allow the CO2 out during fermentation.

Thank you so much

 

[jof]

You can search the forum & find such gems as:

Your go to kit apple cider?

and

Why Turbo cider over a kit?

But probably the most important thing is to make sure all your equipment is sterilised/sanitised so you don't end up with gallons of vinegar

 

[gyurmaember]

Well, let me tell you how it's started, i had a potentially lethal condition, i wasn't supposed to drink, i wasn't supposed to do too much at work. I've read a couple of books, I've browsed the forums quietly for a year or so, digesting the information others posted. And than the big day came, the doctors reduced the dose of my meds, and I bought everything needed.
I don't know exactly how much I spent on my kit, I know at what point I've stopped counting. But it was worth it. And worth every penny I spend additional bits and bobs. You can save the price of a decent kit in 2 years time, if you're wise.

 

[HockleyPete]

I was thinking of picking this up a set off Amazon

Amazon prices will be alot higher than a specialist homebrew online retailer for both kit and ingredients...

Worth looking around before you part with your cash

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Forum sponsor GetErBrewed do this cider kit and it includes a cider kit -

https://www.geterbrewed.com/beginne...edients-for-23-litres-of-cider-get-er-brewed/

The Cider Starter Kit Includes:​

• 1 x 33 Litre graduated GEB fermenter
• 1 x Grommet and bubbler airlock
• 1 x Tap with 2 rubber seals for each side of the fermenter wall
• 1 x Bottle Filling Stick - this attaches to the tap when ready to bottle and is spring loaded for easy bottle filling
• 1 x Stick on thermometer stripe to monitor fermentation temperature in the fermentation bucket
• 1 x 100g of steriliser
• 1 x Beer Spoon 50 for mixing
• 1 x Packet of caps (100)
• 1 x Bottle Capper
• 1 x Hydrometer
• 1 x MJ Craft Series Cider Pouch from the Cider Kit Section - Will allow you to produce 23 litres
• 1 x 1kg of Brewing Sugar
• 1 x Sachet of Priming Sugar for priming your bottles

You can collect and reuse your own glass bottles as we have included a capper and caps.

 

[IceQueen]

hi,

welcome

if you want to bottle the cider, do yourself a favour and buy a bench capper. way better to use , more stable, and i didnt manage to brake one, wich i cant say about the one in the picture above.

for the plastic bottle fermenters, screwing the lid only half way works too. no need for clingfilm or other things. and if you need to tranzport it, just screw it tight.