Simple Brewing

[Grant McNab]

Anyone else into Simple Brewing? I mean like no iSpindles, Inkbirds, Brew fridges, etc...
I just make up the kit as per the instructions, bung it all in a (clean and sanitised) bucket with an airlock and wait until it's done. I aim for 2 weeks ferment, 2 weeks carbonation in the bottles, then store in my garage until I'm ready to drink.
Never had any issues with any of my brews, so I don't feel the need to over-complicate things.

Cheers!

 

[Rwilts]

I think a lot of us started that way , I know I did for several years... Nothing wrong with kit brewing

 

[MashBag]

We are singing the same song.

You can do all grain simply too, but the rot seems to set in with the delivery of the first piece of stainless.

I would venture my AG is almost as quick in total time as your kit.
Definitely simple. And definitely clear and ready to bottle sooner.

Big, long, complex brew days are a choice lot a necessity.

I don't own any iSpindles, Brew fridges, kegerators etc. But it is each to there own.

 

[Bitter_Dave]

As said above, each to their own. My brewing is much simpler these days. I am brewing kits and no longer AG. This is primarily because of time/lifestyle issues, but if I'm honest like the simplicity of it.

I have a brew fridge/heater/inkbird setup, but some kind of temperature control is essential in my house as it gets pretty cold and I like the simplicity it brings (set it and forget it). I bottle straight from the fermenter and prime each one using a measuring spoon and funnel.

I only really use a hydrometer (sometimes) on bottling day out of curiosity, and I have no interest in brewing processes that involve using my mobile phone or buying complex gadgets or dispense systems.

 

[jof]

I am also a low complexity ag brewer.
I do have a couple of stainless steel klarstein boilers, but their total cost new was far less than a shiny WiFi enabled AIO system.
Fermentation temperature control is whatever my house central heating is set at. Conditioning temperature is in the garage & serving temperature is how long I put the bottles in the fridge before opening.

But what I would say is you may have to plan your brewing to the seasons. No point in attempting a larger in the summer etc.

 

[Laner]

I do kits and just done first AG BIAB, the only electric piece of kit is an induction hob but do have a pressure fermenter.

 

[klaus]

Anyone else into Simple Brewing? I mean like no iSpindles, Inkbirds, Brew fridges, etc...
I just make up the kit as per the instructions, bung it all in a (clean and sanitised) bucket with an airlock and wait until it's done. I aim for 2 weeks ferment, 2 weeks carbonation in the bottles, then store in my garage until I'm ready to drink.
Never had any issues with any of my brews, so I don't feel the need to over-complicate things.

Cheers!

Been doing this for 30 odd years. Plastic FV, 14L stockpot, under stairs storage, about a 100 bottles, some are 25 years old! Oh, and the bench capper excellent piece of gear.
OK - had a 50L brewpot for some years to do BIAB, but disposed of it now.
I do most brews based on experience, 2+2 timing as you do, most of the time don't take readings ... beer comes out fine.

 

[stubrewworx]

I think my brewing set-up is simple. I mash, boil and ferment in a 12l stock pot.

I do have an ispindle, because I was curious on tracking the fermentation. I now know with Windsor yeast I could bottle after 1 week!

Sure I could take samples but that’s taking from my 7.5l drinking stock. Or I could just wait 2 weeks to be sure…

Eventually I’ll drop the ispindle.

 

[clib]

I put a simple AG post on here (in the how-to forum) about 9 years ago and I'm still doing pretty much the same thing. Brewing is a simple process, no need to complicate it in my opinion. No problem with going down equipment rabbit holes, if you enjoy that sort of thing, but it's not necessary.

 

[Agentgonzo]

I used to. I would roughly measure the grains, and for a few years wasn't even fussed about measuring OG/FG because I knew it would turn out in the 4-5% range and the actual values didn't matter.

But I like toys and tinkering so bought myself some and now enjoy the stats

 

[clib]

I used to. I would roughly measure the grains, and for a few years wasn't even fussed about measuring OG/FG because I knew it would turn out in the 4-5% range and the actual values didn't matter.

But I like toys and tinkering so bought myself some and now enjoy the stats

Most of us have scales and a hydrometer.

 

[Agentgonzo]

Most of us have scales and a hydrometer.

Indeed. I had both of those at the time. I would roughly measure out the grains, know that it would probably ferment to somewhere between (say) 4.2 and 4.8% based on the recipe. And the actual ABV didn't matter so for a while I didn't worry about measuring it.

 

[MashBag]

set it and forget it

 

[lancon]

Does water treatment come under simple?

 

[MashBag]

Yup.
Like the rest of brewing it can be simple. However you can choose to make it complex and longwinded.

 

[lancon]

Yup.
Like the rest of brewing it can be simple. However you can choose to make it complex and longwinded.

Or it's the start of the slippery slope!!!

 

[MashBag]

Or it's the start of the slippery slope!!!

Yup. Gas