Perfect way to keep price per pint down.

[Clint]

It's a great way to spend a chill out day...
Like today....the Mrs has just left for her emporium..won't see the kids til dinner time...so I can brew,prepare tonight's curry and generally laze about...then have a swift tidy up before the wife gets back. Just in time for beer o'clock.

 

[OldSchoolSi]

It's a great way to spend a chill out day...
Like today....the Mrs has just left for her emporium..won't see the kids til dinner time...so I can brew,prepare tonight's curry and generally laze about...then have a swift tidy up before the wife gets back. Just in time for beer o'clock.

No that sounds like my kinda day! Enjoy that fella.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

That's exactly the kind of thing, or learning to fix/renovate stuff instead of paying somone to do it. Whilst it is partly about the money it's definitely also about the satisfaction of the process.

Yes, I always do pretty much everything myself. I do this partly because labour is expensive, partly because I like to know the job’s been done well, but mostly because I love doing things myself. When I redesigned our garden I did all the design, sourced all the materials, and did all the work. I also did everything manually - I did use a cement mixer. Took me all summer but I had a great time doing it and I’m very happy with the result.

 

[Clint]

Oh to be fit....any amount of "hard labour" or excessive bending sets off my sacroiliatis...I washed and polished my car a few days ago and been a bit wrecked since...

 

[OldSchoolSi]

Yes, I always do pretty much everything myself. I do this partly because labour is expensive, partly because I like to know the job’s been done well, but mostly because I love doing things myself. When I redesigned our garden I did all the design, sourced all the materials, and did all the work. I also did everything manually - I did use a cement mixer. Took me all summer but I had a great time doing it and I’m very happy with the result.

That's the spirit! Like yerr style.

 

[OldSchoolSi]

Oh to be fit....any amount of "hard labour" or excessive bending sets off my sacroiliatis...I washed and polished my car a few days ago and been a bit wrecked since...

Oh to be fit....any amount of "hard labour" or excessive bending sets off my sacroiliatis...I washed and polished my car a few days ago and been a bit wrecked since...

That really sucks dude, sorry you're suffering with this.

 

[OldSchoolSi]

I have about 100 bottles and I hate having to clean, sanitise, fill and cap except the fliptops whereas the kegs are easy cleaned, filled and 19l of beer with less hassle.

Quick question on keg use. Obviously carbonation level will be lower, would it be sufficient to get a lightly carbonated IPA style beer without it tasting too flat?

 

[Nicks90]

Yes, I always do pretty much everything myself. I do this partly because labour is expensive, partly because I like to know the job’s been done well, but mostly because I love doing things myself. When I redesigned our garden I did all the design, sourced all the materials, and did all the work. I also did everything manually - I did use a cement mixer. Took me all summer but I had a great time doing it and I’m very happy with the result.

Totally understand this, we bought an old farmhouse 4 years ago and have been doing it up ever since. I'm not a builder, sparky, plumber or decorator, but there is nothing I haven't managed to do yet!
None of it is rocket science (not insulting trades people btw), but it just takes a skilled amateur maybe 4 times as long to do a proper job. That's the difference, a tradesman can make a living doing this stuff, I'd go broke very quickly at the speed I work!

 

[terrym]

Really happy with this as a solution, especially seeing as it's also less space than having as many bottles kicking about. I figure I can always bottle a few as I put the rest in the keg. That way I'll have a few to give to friends etc. Thanks for the advice.

Don't buy a PB, especially a cheap one, they require fettling and lots of faffing to ensure they are leakproof, and then in the end they can fail, and all you can do is to recycle them. That's my experience anyway, and of others on here. And they are only really suitable for low carbed beers. I wont be buying any more thats for sure. If you are thinking of bulk storage I suggest you go to a corny system which many on here have which costs more but appears far more reliable.

 

[OldSchoolSi]

Don't buy a PB, especially a cheap one, they require fettling and lots of faffing to ensure they are leakproof, and then in the end they can fail, and all you can do is to recycle them. That's my experience anyway, and of others on here. And they are only really suitable for low carbed beers. I wont be buying any more thats for sure. If you are thinking of bulk storage I suggest you go to a corny system which many on here have which costs more but appears far more reliable.

Appreciate your thoughts on this, if you don't mind could you post a relevant link to the corny system stuff please. I'm keen to make sure I'm not buying the wrong things. Thanks again for your help.

 

[RichardM]

I'm especially not including 'research' time

Or time spent on the quality assurance process of the finished brew.

 

[Arcs]

Cornys....I wonder...the "cost" if you bought bottles...19l ...38 X 500ml bottles...the absolute PITA... cleaning,sterilising,storing...38 bottles...how many bottles does the average bottler own?..I'm on a mission to fill all my empties as I never want to run out of HB again...today I've got 200 full....there must be at least 100 empty hiding in the shed...

Tbh, I see your point there, but I hate doing bottles. Even my pressure barrels tend to be a pita sometimes. Gonna ditch the bottles sooner or later because of space issues and get that corny and perhaps just keep a few bottles for the overflow for the 25 litre thang

Bottling was fun in the beginning of this hobby that was new to me. But after over a year of doing it, the ennui of repeating the task becomes extremely arduous to say the least. Keg 4tw unless you like 50 PSI beer

 

[OldSchoolSi]

Totally understand this, we bought an old farmhouse 4 years ago and have been doing it up ever since. I'm not a builder, sparky, plumber or decorator, but there is nothing I haven't managed to do yet!
None of it is rocket science (not insulting trades people btw), but it just takes a skilled amateur maybe 4 times as long to do a proper job. That's the difference, a tradesman can make a living doing this stuff, I'd go broke very quickly at the speed I work!

Great for the wallet, good for the soul fella.

 

[OldSchoolSi]

Or time spent on the quality assurance process of the finished brew.

Legit!

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Oh to be fit....any amount of "hard labour" or excessive bending sets off my sacroiliatis...I washed and polished my car a few days ago and been a bit wrecked since...

I will admit, I was far more fit at the end of the project that at the beginning!

 

[labrewski]

Right, now we are talking! This forum has been really helpful, which is a bit of culture shock as my previous experience of forums (mountains biking) was often a bit up itself. Thanks.

I know some people go to the local chippy and ask for the buckets they get oil in they are perfect for fv and just get dumped other wise

 

[Clint]

I'm usually fatter after the projects I get into ..

 

[MickDundee]

Right, now we are talking! This forum has been really helpful, which is a bit of culture shock as my previous experience of forums (mountains biking) was often a bit up itself. Thanks.

I know a few people who do/did take part in down hill mountain biking. They are all good guys but I did get the impression it could be a bit cliquey.

This forum is definitely very supportive. I’ve had a run in or 2 with rude people who think they are God’s Gift to brewing on a few brewing FB groups and that kind of thing would never happen here (unless you venture into The Bridge sub-forum).

 

[Clint]

Happens everywhere...I've even had people being arsey on the bank when fishing...
I was fly fishing one day and catching a few,the chap next to me was struggling and asked me what fly I was using etc. So I took time out,went over had a look at his set up,adjusted his leader and gave him a couple of flies and a bit of instruction on how to fish them....after a few casts he was into a fish and thanked me...his mate a few pegs down did a running piss-take,not in a funny way either,directed at me throughout...until I asked him had he always been an arsehole...and if he wanted a fly off me to try he was very welcome..

 

[OldSchoolSi]

I know some people go to the local chippy and ask for the buckets they get oil in they are perfect for fv and just get dumped other wise

That's frugal and a good recycling opportunity too.