Dalbyj
Chief of Staff
Hope Springs a Kernal
Posts: 2,378
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Post by Dalbyj on Jun 20, 2007 16:00:48 GMT 12
Well after finally winning an auction for home brew gear on TM ( I kept being out-bid at the last minute lol) ... I picked up the barrell and bottles (twisting my ankle quite badly whilst doing so) ... I have started my first brew of beer. Just a Coopers Dark Ale can - but its a start! It's in the biggest closet with a small heater keeping it nice and warm. I'll let you know how it turns out! It had better be pretty good, after all the trouble I went to! lol *edit - typo ![:-[](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/embarrassed.png) *
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Post by meandog on Jun 20, 2007 16:03:06 GMT 12
;D If you can scrounge an element out of a water bed they are ideal and you can put two barrels on it. ;D ;D
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Dalbyj
Chief of Staff
Hope Springs a Kernal
Posts: 2,378
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Post by Dalbyj on Jun 20, 2007 16:11:34 GMT 12
;D If you can scrounge an element out of a water bed they are ideal and you can put two barrels on it. ;D ;D Good to know! Actually my parents have just gone from a waterbed to an innerspring ... *wonders what they did with the element* MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! ;D ;D
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Post by meandog on Jun 20, 2007 16:52:11 GMT 12
![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) The type of heaters that the HB shops sell are a flexible band type that go around the tank, they are over $40 ea and you need 1 for each tank. This way is far cheaper and if you are unable to get one from your parents, well a wanted ad on Zillion might get results. Don't tell them what you want it for and the price will be right. LOL. ;D ;D Did you put a sterilising solution in the tank before making up your brew???
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Dalbyj
Chief of Staff
Hope Springs a Kernal
Posts: 2,378
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Post by Dalbyj on Jun 20, 2007 19:50:16 GMT 12
Did you put a sterilising solution in the tank before making up your brew??? Definitely ... my husband tells me horror stories of a friend of his who used to brew his beer and wine in an old washing machine - without even cleaning it out between brews That friend actually gave us a bottle of home made wine as a wedding present ... it was so disgusting we couldn't even use it as vinegar!
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Post by meandog on Jun 20, 2007 19:55:48 GMT 12
![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) Yep my old man use a washing machine bowl as well, a bit of old rag wrapped around a wooden bung and driven into the two holes at the bottom. No wonder his brews were crap. LMAO. Come to think of it there were a lot of those bowls around and that type of machine was relatively new so where were these bowls coming from? Methinks a bit of pilfering may have been going on at the F&P factory. LMAO.
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Dalbyj
Chief of Staff
Hope Springs a Kernal
Posts: 2,378
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Post by Dalbyj on Jun 20, 2007 19:57:29 GMT 12
![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) Yep my old man use a washing machine bowl as well, a bit of old rag wrapped around a wooden bung and driven into the two holes at the bottom. No wonder his brews were crap. LMAO. Come to think of it there were a lot of those bowls around and that type of machine was relatively new so where were these bowls coming from? Methinks a bit of pilfering may have been going on at the F&P factory. LMAO. More than likely!!
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Post by ivyplus on Jul 24, 2007 20:05:02 GMT 12
Hello Meandog! Just good news I want to share with you. Yesterday a friend of ours gave us a distillery and today I started a sugar/water/yeast brew (25 liters) and want to start distilling! Another friend offered me to show me how to use this distillery. Do you have any good hints? I thought I might try to make liqeurs with natural flavours. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
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Post by meandog on Jul 24, 2007 20:26:56 GMT 12
![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) Not sure what sort of hints you require, the most important thing during fermentation is to run your wash at about 26-28 degrees C, it is a lot higher temp. than what one has for beer. A good finings is advisable. When it comes to using the still the supply of cooling water is critical, to the extent, that I set up a header tank and gravity fed the still as here on town supply, just a tap turned on in another room can fluctuate the temperature, which will give you less spirit. I am unfamiliar with natural flavourings, I do want to try in the near future honey as one. I have pohutakawa honey which is the real McCoy as it came from Rangitoto Island where only pohutukawa grow. A good carbon filter is also a must, I have heaps of carbon if you need any, as my filter is a modern completely sealed unit and throw away filter cartridges. You can have the carbon for what I paid for it about $18 plus freight. I bought it off TM before I got my filter and realised after I did not need it.
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Post by meandog on Jul 28, 2007 14:08:46 GMT 12
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Post by OasisNZ on Jul 28, 2007 18:19:43 GMT 12
![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) Yep my old man use a washing machine bowl as well, a bit of old rag wrapped around a wooden bung and driven into the two holes at the bottom. No wonder his brews were crap. LMAO. Come to think of it there were a lot of those bowls around and that type of machine was relatively new so where were these bowls coming from? Methinks a bit of pilfering may have been going on at the F&P factory. LMAO. More than likely!! Christine is parked up with a hotty and told me to say gidday for her, LOL, she has added some old brownie cake to the water yeast sugar brew, it seemed to do the trick, it's brewing hard out now... We have no idea how this still works yet Capt, it's an older looking home made job, so maybe we will need the carbon, Christine says hold on to it for now, and she will get back to you ASAP... ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) How's your beers going Dalbyj? We just bottled 25 litres for our "Octoberfest" this year, hey, you guys should come up for that! ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
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Dalbyj
Chief of Staff
Hope Springs a Kernal
Posts: 2,378
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Post by Dalbyj on Aug 6, 2007 21:09:11 GMT 12
Christine is parked up with a hotty and told me to say gidday for her, LOL, she has added some old brownie cake to the water yeast sugar brew, it seemed to do the trick, it's brewing hard out now... We have no idea how this still works yet Capt, it's an older looking home made job, so maybe we will need the carbon, Christine says hold on to it for now, and she will get back to you ASAP... ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) How's your beers going Dalbyj? We just bottled 25 litres for our "Octoberfest" this year, hey, you guys should come up for that! ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) Christine parked up with a hotty? Does she have a 'bit on the side', then? ;D ;D ;D Beers are going good, I've just bottled the second lot - a lager this time. Hubby insisted on trying the first brew (dark ale) even though it was only bottled less than a month ago - I had a sip and thought it tasted TERRIBLE but he said its fine, just needs time to mature. And yes, I told him he should have waited 3 months!!!
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Post by meandog on Aug 7, 2007 7:11:01 GMT 12
;D Yes Dalby you will notice a remarkable difference if left 3 months or more. Did you use plastic or glass bottles? If plastic don't keep it more than 10-11 months, if glass you can leave it for years. LOL. Bet ya have not got the willpower to leave it for years. LOL. ;D ;D
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Dalbyj
Chief of Staff
Hope Springs a Kernal
Posts: 2,378
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Post by Dalbyj on Aug 7, 2007 9:06:40 GMT 12
I used plastic ... but I bet it will all be well gone by the time 10-11 months is up! ;D
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Post by meandog on Aug 7, 2007 11:54:33 GMT 12
![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) I made an exceptionally nice brew (it was like nectar from the gods) so I kept 3 bottles for 18 months, sadly they were plastic and I reckon sewer water would have tasted better. So I learn't the hard way. LOL.
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Post by ivyplus on Aug 8, 2007 21:51:55 GMT 12
![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) I made an exceptionally nice brew (it was like nectar from the gods) so I kept 3 bottles for 18 months, sadly they were plastic and I reckon sewer water would have tasted better. So I learn't the hard way. LOL. I will keep this in mind. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) But I don't think we can keep it longer than a few weeks! Is anyone into stilling? Since I got this still from a friend I am reading a lot about stilling and I ask people who know about it. Surprisingly most make a tasteless "moonshine" and add flavours. In Europe they mainly make schnapps out of fruits, e.g. plums, cherries, grapes.. and each fruit gives a different flavour. A friend of mine told me he made schnapps out of elder flowers. It was so good that he wouldn't share it with anyone! ;D Today I planted about 5 elder trees and I certainly will try this schnapps.
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Post by meandog on Aug 14, 2007 10:24:01 GMT 12
;D This is an email sent to me today that others may be interested in.
Greetings
RealBeer.co.nz is at the bleeding edge of technology again with the very recent launch of Beer Club groups on Facebook.com
The RealBeer.co.nz Forum are booming with a huge community of beer lovers posting on a daily basis.
The blog now has five people from around New Zealand posting the last news about all things beer that is relevant to a New Zealand beer drinker.
Life is more than pale fizzy lagers.
Our Blog - Regular Updates Thanks to your enthusiasm and the joy of technology (with our frequently updated blog), Realbeer.co.nz hasn't had much need to send you many emails. But we thought we'd take this chance to check you're still as keen on finding out about the great things happening in beer as we are to tell you.
So if you could update your details with us, we'll make sure you know what's happening in the growing NZ beer scene and overseas.
And as you know, we don't distribute our email list or send unsolicited junk!
Simply add your email address here
Add your email to the blog
Facebook While you're surfing round the net, make sure you check out Facebook, the biggest thing since myspace. Sign up and check out our friends, the like minded beer-lovers of the Beer Club community.
Feel free to add them as a friend, they're a friendly bunch and are about to get active in proving their slogan "Good Beer, Good Times" to be true all around NZ.
You can find them here:
Facebook This Way - Beer Club Me
SOBA - Society Of Beer Advocates If you haven't heard yet there is a new consumer group actively promoting good beer in New Zealand called SOBA.
What is SOBA about?
* To promote awareness of beer in all its flavour and diversity * To protect and improve consumer rights with regards to beer and associated service * To promote quality, choice and value for money * To campaign for greater appreciation of traditional crafted beer * To seek improvements in all licensed premises and throughout the brewing industry * To act as an independent resource for both the consumer, the pub trade, and the brewing industry
If this sounds like a bit of you check out the website and become a member.
Become a SOBA member
Epic Pale Ale - Best Beer in New Zealand If you haven't heard yet, Epic Pale Ale is the best beer in New Zealand.
Why such a bold statement?
The Listener last week had a feature on the Best of New Zealand - the Best Beer - Epic Pale Ale.
Epic Pale Ale won Supreme Champion Beer at the 2006 NZ International Beer Awards too.
Never heard of it? Check out the Epic website
Epic Pale Ale - WTF?
So since it has been some time since we last sent you an email and the new anti-spam laws about to kick in, in the next few weeks, we just wanted to check you still wanted to receive email from RealBeer.co.nz from time to time.
You need to opt-in or opt-out from this email newsletter. Please do so now.
And don't forget there is a whole bunch of beer tastings coming up around the country in the 4 - 6 weeks. See the forums and Facebook.com for details.
Cheers Luke Nicholas RealBeer.co.nz
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Post by ivyplus on Aug 14, 2007 21:51:14 GMT 12
Rhubarb Wine. This is a very old recipe and will need altering to suit modern day methods:For every 6lbs of rhubarb stalk, take 1 gal of cold boiled water. Wipe each stalk then cut into short pieces. Weigh & crush them well in a tub, pour over the cold water & leave in the tub for 4-6 days stirring well every day. Then strain and for each gal of liquid add 4lbs of sugar loaf sugar & the juice & peel of a lemon.Stir until the sugar has dissolved. As soon as the hissing noise ceases,strain into a cask,filling up to the top. Put in the bung tightly and leave for 3 months before bottling. A piece of sugar candy may be added to each bottle when bottling. Sounds very interesting Meandog. As soon as the rhubarb is ready I will try it. I wonder if this could be even stilled?
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Post by ivyplus on Aug 31, 2007 20:16:17 GMT 12
Today I had a look at the Vodka Maker at Bin Inn.
Does someone know about this device? Could I distill wines? Is it safe to use?
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Post by meandog on Aug 31, 2007 20:27:57 GMT 12
![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) Can't help you on that one Ivyplus, but I would not bother to use it for making Vodka, I feel that the still is the way to go. I thought you had all the gear for wine making? ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
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