Thinking of Christmas 2014!

[Vallyred]

Good morning all.

I'm practically a newbie to HB and currently on my second kit (Ruby Red) but was wondering what everyone would suggest for kits to get going to keep in bottles for NEXT Christmas.

I am planning on getting a Stout going once my FV has given up the Ruby, so allowing a month for the stout I could get my Christmas 2014 brew going at the end of January or start of February.

I'd love to hear your suggestions.

: in advance.

VR

 

[bobsbeer]

How about a Barley Wine?

 

[alanywiseman.]

Brewferms Christmas Ale is amazing after maturing for a year.

 

[ericmark]

My problem is bottles and storage. I keep all bottles which can contain beer or wine shed is not yet full but although once you have been brewing for some time you may have the bottles required I have a real problem getting enough to span 4 months never mind 11 months. Each time a do a special be it a wine kit or beer as I did with Ginger beer it removes bottles from circulation and reduces the time normal beer can be left in the bottle.

What I would like to know is freezing point of beer? All in a unheated shed so how cold can it get before I need to put heating on. I would guess OK to -2 degrees C but to transfer into house to keep warm would be a problem.

 

[naturals]

What I would like to know is freezing point of beer? All in a unheated shed so how cold can it get before I need to put heating on. I would guess OK to -2 degrees C but to transfer into house to keep warm would be a problem.

Throw a blanket over it or surround it in polystyrene and I'd expect the temperature around the beer wouldn't drop below freezing.

 

[Robbo]

Apart from various of other places in the house where i keep wine and beers (to which I'm getting my butt chewed, off the missus) A lot of my brews is in the attic.....the temperature there never goes below 2 degrees celcius no matter how cold it is outside and I also use the cupboard under the stairs.

 

[gitsurfer]

I'm in a similar boat - new enough that there wasn't time to get a Christmas brew on for this year. I've bought the Beers of the World Belgian Christmas Ale to brew in February for next December. It'll reach 4.5 to 5% ABV with a 10 litre brew length. I'm going to add Belgian candi syrup to boost the ABV - not decided how much but might aim for 6%. Will then bottle in 330ml bottles.

 

[alanywiseman.]

I'm in a similar boat - new enough that there wasn't time to get a Christmas brew on for this year. I've bought the Beers of the World Belgian Christmas Ale to brew in February for next December. It'll reach 4.5 to 5% ABV with a 10 litre brew length. I'm going to add Belgian candi syrup to boost the ABV - not decided how much but might aim for 6%. Will then bottle in 330ml bottles.

Excellent choice. It is one of the best kits i did :thumb:

 

[gitsurfer]

I'm in a similar boat - new enough that there wasn't time to get a Christmas brew on for this year. I've bought the Beers of the World Belgian Christmas Ale to brew in February for next December. It'll reach 4.5 to 5% ABV with a 10 litre brew length. I'm going to add Belgian candi syrup to boost the ABV - not decided how much but might aim for 6%. Will then bottle in 330ml bottles.

Excellent choice. It is one of the best kits i did :thumb:

Thanks, it's nice to see a positive opinion of the kit. I've not seen much about it, though what I have seen has been encouraging. Did you stick to the instructions or fool around with it?