HOW TO PLAN AND MAINTAIN A STEADY BEER PRODUCTION LINE

[mancer62]

How do I go about planning making and maintaining a steady beer production line? I am assuming it takes on average 8 weeks from making to pouring (is this a realistic assumption?) I have at moment Coopers Dark Ale been fermenting for 9 days. I also have an unopened Coopers English Bitter and an unopened Coopers Stout. For dispensing I have 1 x king keg top tap, 1 x basic budget barrel, and 24 x 500ml bottles. Anyone kind of guide me along the lines of establishing and maintaining a regular flow (on basis of maybe drinking approx 20 pints per week). I would ideally like to have 2 or maybe 3 beers ready to drink at same time. :

 

[rpt]

Bottles are best for this as you can keep a few of each brew. I get them from the supermarket - they are a bit more expensive but come with free beer.

 

[Robbo100]

+1 for bottles.

You don't need to wait until the whole of the last batch is completed before you start the next brew!

I asked all my work mates to keep their 500ml bottles and swapped one bottle of home brew for every 6 empty bottles. I did buy about 60 bottles to get me started though (because I am impatient).

It is best to remove the labels from the second hand bottles, which I did by putting them in an old FV with lots of hot water and some steriliser. Most labels peeled of, I then used a wire wool brillopad to get the glue off. It was much easier than I thought it would be!

 

[Dronfieldbrewer]

It really depends on how thirsty you are....Bottles are fabulous for this as they are plentiful and cheap..I tend to use Cornelius Kegs...I have 2. These are fabulous as you can force condition in a beer and serve quite quickly. ...so

I brew 50 litres, 19 goes in a Cornelius keg, the rest I bottle. As soon as the keg is empty then start on bottles,and set off your next batch of beer.

If you want more choice of beers then do the same with another keg..and so on

 

[Baz Chaz]

I'm another that bottles all my beer, didn't take long to get a good supply of bottles, probably have 3-400 in total now so have a good 'stock' of beer in.

When the weather starts to warm a little I'll start building up the stock again, but with cupboards full of bottles its easier to keep an eye on how things are looking.

Each 'section' holds a 23ltr brew, so this cupboard (above) has 4 sections with a 23 ltr brew in it,

There's another cupboard, which is the 'current' or older stock, I never get down to just one full cupboard, as soon as one is getting down, start filling it up again and start emptying the other :

Oh aye :wha: there's a few boxes set aside, being saved for a 'special occasion' as well :lol:

 

[Wezzel]

I've got three pressure barrels. When one is just being filled, one is a month in and the other two months in (which is perfect for drinking). As soon as one barrel is nearing empty I get another brew on and keep the whole process rolling. I'm not a big drinker do one brew a month works fine.

I would love to bottle some but don't really have the storage space.

 

[carl_saint]

I don't tend to bottle unless I have a little extra. I've got 6 Cornys in rotation, try and keep 4 full all the time and I tend to brew most Sundays!

 

[RobWalker]

2L bottles are good if you plan on drinking 4 pints in a night often...makes bottling fast at least.

3 kegs are a good idea too. with 2 you can't mature stuff properly or keep a flow going. as a minimum if you have 3, you should be able to drink them in order of maturity...

 

[wilsoa1111]

just to point out that 20 pints a week is approx double your RDA(having 2 non drinking days in a week)... just sayin is all - cos i always stick to my RDA :grin:

 

[BigYin]

just to point out that 20 pints a week is approx double your RDA(having 2 non drinking days in a week)... just sayin is all - cos i always stick to my RDA :grin:

I prefer to be guided by the Australian RDA (it's twice ours :thumb: - must be correct, since a Government said so.. right?)


Now, I've trotted this little gem out a few times - I work in the pensions industry, and the pension industry is ruled by actuaries - people who understand horribly complex statistics - and, among other things, they set the prices of annuities.

Annuities are what you buy when you retire - you use the accrued pension fund to buy as many annuities as possible. the price of those annuities is tailored to YOU - so your age, lifestyle etc - all the risk factors that contribute to determining how long you are likely to live.

this is all worked out using mortality tables - basically, shed loads of data on what age people die at, and what their lifestyle was.

When it comes to alcohol consumption (assuming all other things are equal - weight, smoking etc etc) the LONGEST life expectancy is for those who drink 40 - 55 units a week. Yep, you read that right.

And you know who has almost the LOWEST life expectancy? Tee-totallers!!!

In fact, to have the same shorter life expectancy as a non drinker, you have to exceed 65 units a week routinely throughout your adult life!!!

So, bugger the 20 units a week - aim for around 45 units, don't get fat, stay fit, don't smoke, stay off sugary, processed foods, and you have a good chance of living far longer than if you stick to the UK recommended weekly alcohol consumption guideline :mrgreen: :drink: :drink: :drink:

 

[carl_saint]

just to point out that 20 pints a week is approx double your RDA(having 2 non drinking days in a week)... just sayin is all - cos i always stick to my RDA :grin:

So, bugger the 20 units a week - aim for around 45 units, don't get fat, stay fit, don't smoke, stay off sugary, processed foods, and you have a good chance of living far longer than if you stick to the UK recommended weekly alcohol consumption guideline :mrgreen: :drink: :drink: :drink:

Amen to that! With you all the way BigYin!

 

[bigboots]

I bottle probably 5 or 6 litres of each 27 litre brew into 1 litre bottles, for sharing if someone calls. ( Makes your guest feel more comfortable if they are drinking from the same bottle as you !).Especially if they are slightly sceptical of home brew. :shock:
Currently have 33litres of modified Nelson's Revenge about to be bottled, aiming for 8.8/9% approx :thumb:
Also just started 28 litres of apple wine, aiming for 14.5% :thumb:
:

 

[bottler]

just to point out that 20 pints a week is approx double your RDA(having 2 non drinking days in a week)... just sayin is all - cos i always stick to my RDA :grin:

Good god im going to die

 

[Kinleycat]

Brew till you drop!!!
Get as much on the go as you can, once you can get in front (which I'm trying to do at present) stash half, use kegs, utilise your fermenting buckets.
I started 27th December and up to press I've got 40+ litres into bottles 20 litres going into a keg on Wednesday (ish), turbo cider on the go and ginger beer when I get my bucket free during the week.
I'll probably try a mild kit then or a bitter kit or two and then have a month off to sample some stock!!

 

[RokDok]

just to point out that 20 pints a week is approx double your RDA(having 2 non drinking days in a week)... just sayin is all - cos i always stick to my RDA :grin:

I prefer to be guided by the Australian RDA (it's twice ours :thumb: - must be correct, since a Government said so.. right?)


Now, I've trotted this little gem out a few times - I work in the pensions industry, and the pension industry is ruled by actuaries - people who understand horribly complex statistics - and, among other things, they set the prices of annuities.

Annuities are what you buy when you retire - you use the accrued pension fund to buy as many annuities as possible. the price of those annuities is tailored to YOU - so your age, lifestyle etc - all the risk factors that contribute to determining how long you are likely to live.

this is all worked out using mortality tables - basically, shed loads of data on what age people die at, and what their lifestyle was.

When it comes to alcohol consumption (assuming all other things are equal - weight, smoking etc etc) the LONGEST life expectancy is for those who drink 40 - 55 units a week. Yep, you read that right.

And you know who has almost the LOWEST life expectancy? Tee-totallers!!!

In fact, to have the same shorter life expectancy as a non drinker, you have to exceed 65 units a week routinely throughout your adult life!!!

So, bugger the 20 units a week - aim for around 45 units, don't get fat, stay fit, don't smoke, stay off sugary, processed foods, and you have a good chance of living far longer than if you stick to the UK recommended weekly alcohol consumption guideline :mrgreen: :drink: :drink: :drink:

+1 to that

RD