Shed Brewing

[jerseyfoxcom]

Hi all,

I am looking to turn my shed into a home brewing operation.. Any hints on the best place to start? I want to go for some quality kit that will last - my new mate at the brewery said that this might work out for me :-

[Edit: Can't post link due to spam, but it's here, if you can decipher it! :-]
HomeBrewing - org - Beginning homebrew all grain kit - upgrade 7

Been looking at all the different options, but there a quite a few of them out there. I want something that will give me plenty of quality & quantity, ideally stainless steel rather than plastic.

Thanks in advance, great forum!

Adam

 

[bunkerbrewer]

Here's the kit you tried to link to.

Actually, if you were based in the US, $500 isn't a bad price for that lot, but the shipping costs might be a killer :)

Most stateside AG brewers seem to use propane burners, due to their feeble electricity - so that kit only contains the bare pots. It's more common here to use electric, so if you go that route you'll need power to your shed.

If this is your first time, and you're itching to brew some beer, I'd recommend starting simple, with a 2-can beer kit. You can get a fermenter, pressure barrel or bottles, hydrometer, etc etc for under £80, and get some practice with sanitising your equipment and the fermentation process. While that's in the fermenter for a couple of weeks, that gives you loads of time to research the equipment you want to assemble for AG brewing. It's almost too big a question to ask in one post. IMO, of course.

 

[graysalchemy]

If you are looking at stainless steel there their are plenty posts about peoples builds including a how to by Vossy 1 which is excellent. Most people by their pots of a french or German ebay site here though emailing direct you may get a better price. Search the forum for Nordic Pots.

:thumb: :thumb:

 

[joe1002]

You will also most likely get stung for import tax on that lot.

In addition, you will probably have dificulty finding somewhere that will refill the CO2 bottle.

I would get a few kits under your belt per Bunker's advice to learn the process, sanitising etc then look to build your AG kit per GA's advice re German pots. You will still need all the equipment you used for kit brewing when you move to AG so no wastage :thumb:

 

[jerseyfoxcom]

Thanks guys - some great info here already. I will probably take bunkerbrewer's advice and get myself something small scale to get brewing before I move up to the big stuff. I am guessing I can keep that kit to try out new recipes later anyway?

The end game is a keg of Wheat Beer (a la Hoegaarden) or a pale ale / summer ale.

Many thanks for the help - much appreciated

 

[bunkerbrewer]

Thanks guys - some great info here already. I will probably take bunkerbrewer's advice and get myself something small scale to get brewing before I move up to the big stuff. I am guessing I can keep that kit to try out new recipes later anyway?

Yep, exactly. I started with kits, and still use the same fermenter, barrel and hydrometer. Check out the forum sponsors for a starter kit, e.g. the Woodfordes Wherry is a good place to start.

Calumscott's "OMG" guide is a good read too!

The end game is a keg of Wheat Beer (a la Hoegaarden) or a pale ale / summer ale.

Definitely do-able with all grain brewing :)

Good luck!