New member from Slough

[Desi_Rable]

Hey everyone, my name's Sunny, I'm from Slough, and I'm extremely new to this. Just starting out, looking to take my first steps into brewing (and/or distilling), and hoping to get some helpful advice, feedback, and healthy banter from the members of this forum. Haven't even been drinking that long, to be honest- only abandoned teetotallism in the last few years, but I've been making up for lost time a bit, broadening my horizons and expanding my palette in this regard. Here's to a happy Bonfire Night; if ever there was an appropriate time to celebrate someone's attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament, eh...?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Welcome to the forum Sunny.

 

[An Ankoù]

Welcome Sunny, from sunny Brittany. So what are you going to start with? What do you like to drink? Distilling's pretty much out of the question as it's illegal in Slough (and the rest of the UK) without a license and loads of other stuff that make it much cheaper and easier to go down to the supermarket and buy a bottle of your favourite poison.
Happy Bonfire Night. Where are the Guy Fawkeses of today, when we need them.
We don't celebrate it here in France, of course, nevertheless, I'm just about to build a bonfire and get the beer and chestnuts out in readiness.

 

[Desi_Rable]

Welcome Sunny, from sunny Brittany. So what are you going to start with? What do you like to drink? Distilling's pretty much out of the question as it's illegal in Slough (and the rest of the UK) without a license and loads of other stuff that make it much cheaper and easier to go down to the supermarket and buy a bottle of your favourite poison.
Happy Bonfire Night. Where are the Guy Fawkeses of today, when we need them.
We don't celebrate it here in France, of course, nevertheless, I'm just about to build a bonfire and get the beer and chestnuts out in readiness.

Thanks. Not quite sure what I'm gonna start with- I've got a couple of books, including an antique book of "home-made wines, beers and tonics", written and compiled before WW2, which I could try a few of the recipes from. But I'm also fairly interested in a few other potential options; a Polish friend/drinking buddy of mine recently introduced me to Grodziskie, and that's piqued my interest in exploring the potential of smoked craft-beers. As for what I like to drink, I typically go for ales and beers, but I'm ready and willing to try practically anything at least once, and there've been very few which I've actively disliked.

 

[An Ankoù]

A word of advice, if I may: put the old books away for historical interest only. Some of the recipes, especially the instructions relating to bottling can be lethally dangerous. I'd recommend you get a more modern book like Greg Hughes, or Graham Wheeler. There are plenty of early editions, even secondhand, on Amazon.
Smoked craft beers are not really the easiest starting point. English Ales are easier to brew successfully than lagers and, since you like Ales and beers, they'd make a good starting point.
Good luck.
You'll be happy to learn that I'm sat out next to the bonfire just about to start the third of the strongest pints I can find in my collection.

 

[chillipickle]

Welcome sunny, i used to know a sunny from slough...avit?

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Hello and welcome :-)

 

[Gerryjo]

Hi and welcome to the forum...