Hopefully the first of many. Muntons Imperial Stout.

[friedaweed]

Ok so here goes.

Apparently Wednesday is the day to brew so I've got my Munton's Imperial Stout off to a start tonight. I'm doing it as the kit states but making it 3 pints short for a bit of body (F**k knows if that'll make any odds but as you all know the thirst to tweek is strong in most of us Padawans and I didn't want to add any sugar, treacle, chicken bones, weetabix, raisons or voodoo spells).

I've used tesco's Ashbeck mineral water that's on offer at the mo for £2 for 8 lts as mine usually stinks of chlorine mid week. Again I have no idea if this will make much difference but who cares, it's my brew and chlorine makes me gip :)

The mineral water was at room temp so the hot water ratio suggestions supplied with the kit left it a bit warm so i've cooled it off in the sink and have pitched the yeast at 20.

I have been fortunate to have the stirring support of master brewer Finn McBride age 6 whom I am sure will make many a good stout when his time comes.

I'll be needing all your help and advice for certain over the next few weeks :hmm:

 

[Cononthebarber]

Great stuff, well done on your first batch...if I'm anything to go by my "try" of homebrewing a few months ago has meant I am now glued to this forum and constantly reading/thinking/dreaming about brewing! My doctor says I don't have a drinking problem...brewing however... :hmm:

 

[friedaweed]

Great stuff, well done on your first batch...if I'm anything to go by my "try" of homebrewing a few months ago has meant I am now glued to this forum and constantly reading/thinking/dreaming about brewing! My doctor says I don't have a drinking problem...brewing however... :hmm:

Ta
Yup it's very addictive and I'm a bit compulsive when it comes to learning new things myself. It's that autistic gene in us blokes me thinks :twisted:
It's the forum that's inspired me. I was looking for bread yeast ideas as I make my own sour dough and before i knew it i'd stumbled on this place and we're making turbo cidre tomorrow night :rofl:

The kids are loving it.

 

[Davybarman]

Hi and welcome brewer!

Enjoy and fun!!
:

 

[31bb3]

hi and welcome you could have added some dark spray malt when mixing the ingredients in this would have given some more body to the kit aswell the beauty of hb is you can mess about with what you have and you will be suprised dont be afraid to experiment

 

[friedaweed]

hi and welcome you could have added some dark spray malt when mixing the ingredients in this would have given some more body to the kit aswell the beauty of hb is you can mess about with what you have and you will be suprised dont be afraid to experiment

Thanks Eddie.
I'm a right dabbler myself but I wanted to just get this one under my belt. I've been reading this forum till my eyes are struggling to stay open and love the ideas you guys have. Thanks for the encouragement.

Anyway it's bubbling away :party: The kids are dancing round the kitchen singing "We're making beer, we're making beer" :)

 

[EskiBrew]

Well done on your first brew F :thumb:

I've used tesco's Ashbeck mineral water that's on offer at the mo for £2 for 8 lts as mine usually stinks of chlorine mid week. Again I have no idea if this will make much difference but who cares, it's my brew and chlorine makes me gip :)

Strictly speaking, bottled water is not sterile as many people think. Tap water is more likely to be sterile because of the chlorine treatment however that can lead to off tastes if not removed. If you have a spare tub large enough, you can fill it with tap water the evening before brewing - by the next day most of the Chlorine will have vented naturally leaving behind some Chloramines. If you want to take it further, you can treat your tap water with half a campden tablet (crush it between spoons and sprinkle in) which will remove the Chlorine and Chloramine quite rapidly.

Let us know how you get on with this brew :

 

[calumscott]

I'll be very interested to see how this turns out, I was allowed one of these for my birthday but I did this...

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=27712

...to it! :lol:

 

[Vossy1]

Hope it turns out to be a great brew f :drink:

 

[friedaweed]

Well done on your first brew F :thumb:

I've used tesco's Ashbeck mineral water that's on offer at the mo for £2 for 8 lts as mine usually stinks of chlorine mid week. Again I have no idea if this will make much difference but who cares, it's my brew and chlorine makes me gip :)

Strictly speaking, bottled water is not sterile as many people think. Tap water is more likely to be sterile because of the chlorine treatment however that can lead to off tastes if not removed. If you have a spare tub large enough, you can fill it with tap water the evening before brewing - by the next day most of the Chlorine will have vented naturally leaving behind some Chloramines. If you want to take it further, you can treat your tap water with half a campden tablet (crush it between spoons and sprinkle in) which will remove the Chlorine and Chloramine quite rapidly.

Let us know how you get on with this brew :

:thumb: Thanks for the advice on the water.
It's bubbling away like a trojan now and there's a mighty fine foam head on it :grin:

I'll be very interested to see how this turns out, I was allowed one of these for my birthday but I did this...

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=27712

...to it! :lol:

Now that's a bonkers brew :rofl:

 

[friedaweed]

20 hours in the tub and it's kissing the lid :rofl:

Realised I've made my first brewing miscalculation. :hmm: Instead of adding 19.5 lts of water I just filled it up to the 19.5 ltr mark not taking into account the volume of the wort. :wha: So i'll be 6ish pints short of the recommended 40.

Will this make much difference Jedi brewers?? Will the stout have a noticeable gain in body?

I'm amazed at how quick it's all kicked off. :)

 

[Cononthebarber]

Don't worry about it, you will have increased ABV and as its more concentrated the flavours will likely come through stronger. I have made a few kits shorter by 3 litres and always tasted grand! Its looking like its going great, the hardest part is just leaving it along to do its thing

 

[calumscott]

Don't worry about it, you will have increased ABV and as its more concentrated the flavours will likely come through stronger. I have made a few kits shorter by 3 litres and always tasted grand! Its looking like its going great, the hardest part is just leaving it along to do its thing

+1 :thumb:

You'll end up with a slightly stronger, fuller flavoured pint!

 

[friedaweed]

Thanks guys that's what I was hoping to hear.
]
Now for the wait :whistle:

 

[friedaweed]

Job Done :party:
Had to have a taster. Thick, comforting and rich with a tint of liquorice straight out the fermenter :)

I'll just have to keep my Hands off it now and let the magic happen.

Just pitching the yeast on a muntons Old English Bitter one now. I think I may have the bug :whistle:

 

[Cononthebarber]

Nice one the beer looks good :thumb: I like your labels as well :)

I just had a bottle of my own stout the other night and it was real good, having trouble not opening anymore! I might just have to brew more instead :lol:

 

[oldstout]

Job Done :party:
Had to have a taster. Thick, comforting and rich with a tint of liquorice straight out the fermenter :)

I'll just have to keep my Hands off it now and let the magic happen.

Just pitching the yeast on a muntons Old English Bitter one now. I think I may have the bug :whistle:

STOP RIGHT THERE!!!!! :whistle:


This is a routine visit from the STASH POLICE :?

A mighty fine effort and pictorial for your first brew F :clap: :clap: :clap: and what looks suspiciously like the start of a STASH to me :hmm:

Continue in this vein and it would be rude not to pop over to my world famous 'Show us your stash' thread and join the rest of us who like to show our brewing efforts off :lol: :lol: :lol:

Welcome to the forum :thumb:





:

 

[friedaweed]

Nice one the beer looks good :thumb: I like your labels as well :)

I just had a bottle of my own stout the other night and it was real good, having trouble not opening anymore! I might just have to brew more instead :lol:

Ta
I've called it the "Black Stuff" (Like a kiss from Yosser Hughes)

Job Done :party:
Had to have a taster. Thick, comforting and rich with a tint of liquorice straight out the fermenter :)

I'll just have to keep my Hands off it now and let the magic happen.

Just pitching the yeast on a muntons Old English Bitter one now. I think I may have the bug :whistle:

STOP RIGHT THERE!!!!! :whistle:


This is a routine visit from the STASH POLICE :?

A mighty fine effort and pictorial for your first brew F :clap: :clap: :clap: and what looks suspiciously like the start of a STASH to me :hmm:

Continue in this vein and it would be rude not to pop over to my world famous 'Show us your stash' thread and join the rest of us who like to show our brewing efforts off :lol: :lol: :lol:

Welcome to the forum :thumb:





:

I've cleared the garage out today to ensure there is room for expansion and a BIAB set up. I don't know why i didn't do this years ago
I love that thread. Very inspiring :clap:

 

[oldstout]

Nice one the beer looks good :thumb: I like your labels as well :)

I just had a bottle of my own stout the other night and it was real good, having trouble not opening anymore! I might just have to brew more instead :lol:

Ta
I've called it the "Black Stuff" (Like a kiss from Yosser Hughes)

Job Done :party:
Had to have a taster. Thick, comforting and rich with a tint of liquorice straight out the fermenter :)

I'll just have to keep my Hands off it now and let the magic happen.

Just pitching the yeast on a muntons Old English Bitter one now. I think I may have the bug :whistle:

STOP RIGHT THERE!!!!! :whistle:


This is a routine visit from the STASH POLICE :?

A mighty fine effort and pictorial for your first brew F :clap: :clap: :clap: and what looks suspiciously like the start of a STASH to me :hmm:

Continue in this vein and it would be rude not to pop over to my world famous 'Show us your stash' thread and join the rest of us who like to show our brewing efforts off :lol: :lol: :lol:

Welcome to the forum :thumb:





:

I've cleared the garage out today to ensure there is room for expansion and a BIAB set up. I don't know why i didn't do this years ago
I love that thread. Very inspiring :clap:

I thanngyowwwwww :lol:

Popped your cherry on a stout eh :wha: :wha:

:hmm: :hmm: :hmm:


:whistle:



Don't remember that :whistle: