New starter from Gateshead

[aftermath]

Guys i was wondering if anyone can answer my question ?

i am currently making wine, i have just about everything needed for wine making, from fermenting bins, 1 + 5 litre glass demijohns, filter e.t.c.......

i want to have a go at beer making, i have 2 plastic beer kegs with the small hole in the small lit, also taps on them..

can i use my wine stuff to do beer in ?
i have an old pressure cooker to boil stuff in, will this be ok, its stainless steel and should hold about 2 gallon ?
i like lager ( mainly stella ) and also like some real ales ( like Newcastle brown ale ) what beer kits would you recommend ?
what additions will i need to buy to be successful in beer brewing ?

if you recommend any kits would you please tell me what i would also need to purchase ( hops, sugar e.t.c. ) ?

Thanks in Advance

 

[jonnymorris]

Hi and welcome.

If you're starting with kits you won't need to do any boiling or add any hops as this will have been done for you. If you buy a two can kit (more expensive but generally regarded as superior) you won't necessarily need to add any sugar either (apart from c.100g when barreling). All you will need is a fermenting bin, keg/bottles, syphon tube, thermometer and hydrometer which I'm guessing you already have? If you intend on barreling you'll also need some CO2 and a corresponding valve on the lid of your barrel. Having said that, if you're doing a lager and want fizz I'd recommend bottles.

Can't really recommend any kits myself but someone will be along soon who no doubt will.

 

[carl_saint]

If you go for the 2 can premium kits then you won't need to buy anything else. Basically you just empty the 2 cans into your fermenter, add about 5 litres of boiling water from your kettle and mix to dissolve then add water upto 23 litres, mix like hell then add your yeast and your away!

The woodfordes kits are all excellent and rated highly by most kit brewers. If you go for a cheaper 1 can kit then you would usually need about 1kg of sugar or malt extract and the finished product is never usually as good!

 

[lagerlout]

There are many lager kits to choose from, but I can recommend the Coopers mexican cerveza as a lager drinker myself. It seems to have a pretty good reputation all round.

Also if you're a newcy brown fan Better Brew do a northern brown ale which I assume is in a similar style :

 

[pittsy]

hi and welcome