Originally posted by Toxxyc
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Brewing noob |Birthday beers
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Originally posted by Dewald Posthumus View PostBest advice we can give you is to brew any beer using any method and the equipment you have on hand. Bottle it by any means possible and try it out, there's no better advice for anyone starting out.
Just do it, brew something!
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Originally posted by AlexBrew View Post
When I started brewing I bought 'big' right from the start and integrated as much of kit I had lying around the house, like a 50 litre Colemand coolerbox became my mash tun - and that defined what other equipment I needed to buy. So, I usually do 45L batches and bottle them all. Usually 24x440s plus 3.5x12 crates SAB 750s - about 40litres gets bottled... and it takes some time - plan for it and make it your own time. Put some music on.. quite relaxing.
I wouldnt start with Mickey Mouse equipment. That eventually gets shelved as you buy bigger better equipment. Brewing a small all grain batch takes amost as much time as brewing a large batch. Ayway that's my point of view.
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Originally posted by hopingmadinZam View Post
Why don't you just recap 2m bottles? I get about 8-9l per crate. Any deposit bottle that isn't twist top typically works fine, just wash them after drinking to avoid the mold on the bottom, sanitise before bottle and you're good.
You say you are brewing in an apartment, electric might be a better option unless you have a balcony, I don't think gas would be ideal in an enclosed space.
As it's your first brew I would keep it pretty simple, as you'll have a steep learning curve, lots to forget. I would do something like 90% pale, 10% , melanoid or dextrin. I love citra so that would be my choice 20g @ 60m and 50g @ 10m or 5m. That should make a pretty tasty pale ale.
I brew in Zambia with no ferm temp control options and I find Kviek incredibly tolerant of temp changes, just put the fermenter in the most temp stable part of your house and you should be fine.
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Originally posted by Maputo_Brew View Post
I do have a balcony and we normally use gas in the apartments. I dont have a gas burner but can make a plan. What's your equipment? Would like to read more of your experience as it seems temp wise we are on the same boat
I would recommend starting with bottling, caps are really cheap R144 for 1000, and a capper ~R250 for the red type which works for me. I'll still bottle some beers cause as was said, it's great to be able to take your beers for a sundowner or a braai which is a pain in the ass if you exclusively keg.
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Originally posted by hopingmadinZam View Post
all-grain, I ship in bulk and crush myself.
I would recommend starting with bottling, caps are really cheap R144 for 1000, and a capper ~R250 for the red type which works for me.
Whats your sparging setup?
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dOriginally posted by Maputo_Brew View Post
What grains are you using? I wanted to try MO but cant find them in bulk, only Pale. Whos your supplier of choice?
Whats your sparging setup?
http://howtobrew.com/book/introductionEveryone must beleive in something, I beleive I'll have another beer
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Originally posted by Maputo_Brew View Post
What grains are you using? I wanted to try MO but cant find them in bulk, only Pale. Whos your supplier of choice?
Whats your sparging setup?
You can buy mo in bulk from here, if they have stock. Just request a qoute.
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Originally posted by Maputo_Brew View Post
Do you mind detailing more of your starting equipment? I see Makro has 50l cooler boxes for like R500. I was going to buy one anyways. LolLast edited by AlexBrew; 13 January 2022, 08:45.
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If I was starting again I would just skip all the aggravation and get a Benoni brew or any of the robozilla knock offs.
If you like DIY I would get:
1x 50L electrical urn
1x 1/2 ball lock
1x thermostat
1x voile bag
skip sparging and do full volume mashing. personally I preferred starting simple and adding stuff to make my brew day easier, it varies per person.
if you prefer 40-50L brews the above will still work but you will need to mash in a coolerbox.
I was dumb and tried to save money by spending a shit load on cheaper stuff, just to end up upgrading in the end.
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Originally posted by Maputo_Brew View Post
What grains are you using? I wanted to try MO but cant find them in bulk, only Pale. Whos your supplier of choice?
Whats your sparging setup?
I mostly brew pretty low strength beer due to the heat 4-5%, either blondes, pales or session IPAs (arguably just a extra bitter pale). I've played around with fruit and haven't been too impressed, you only get a hint of the fruit flavours after the yeast gets to the sugars. I have found that citrus peel works well to impart citrus flavours as it is the oils in the skin and not the sugar to gives off the flavour.
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Originally posted by Maputo_Brew View Post
What grains are you using? I wanted to try MO but cant find them in bulk, only Pale. Whos your supplier of choice?
Whats your sparging setup?
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Originally posted by hopingmadinZam View Post
Sorry forgot to answer your sparge question. I have a very hi-tech complex sparge process so stick with me. I pull the tray (the grid one) out of the oven, I lift my bag of grain and slide the tray under. I then get hot water straight from my tap ~10-20l (depending on batch size) temp is probably 50-60 deg. I pour the water over my grains (using a smaller jug) I flip it around a few times and give it a good squeeze. I can usually taste if there is residual sugar left, when it tastes like water I know I've done a reasonable job. That gives me a consistent mid-80s efficiency, I do crush very fine though. That's it, super complex I know!
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Originally posted by Jitters View PostIf I was starting again I would just skip all the aggravation and get a Benoni brew or any of the robozilla knock offs.
If you like DIY I would get:
1x 50L electrical urn
1x 1/2 ball lock
1x thermostat
1x voile bag
skip sparging and do full volume mashing. personally I preferred starting simple and adding stuff to make my brew day easier, it varies per person.
if you prefer 40-50L brews the above will still work but you will need to mash in a coolerbox.
I was dumb and tried to save money by spending a shit load on cheaper stuff, just to end up upgrading in the end.
Going for a brew kit and adding the urn would that not be an option? My thinking is the kit comes with hydrometer, bottling wand, capper, fermenter, grain bag, spoon. then adding the urn, ball lock, thermostat like you mentioned. All this should come in under R3k right? Beer bottles i can get a case of 12x500ml for R30 each case. so 4 cases do a 20l batch.
There is a 25l urn in pretoria I can get for free. Thanks to Toxycc.
Whats your oppinion? Am i day dreaming?
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Take the urn from me (but work on 20l), buy a grain bag, spoon, hydrometer, thermometer, capper and build your own fermenter using a 25l white food grade bucket, an airlock and a regular plastic tap at the bottom. Buy some hose and a bottling wand and you're done. The lot should cost you under R1k.
Buy a meat probe thermometer to use during brew day for a few bucks more and you're good to go.
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