Jan147 Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 (edited) Re made as in sloe gin, sorry could not get the quotes to work!! Yes it is made in the same way but drink after 3 months, not in my house it isnt! I leave for at least a year before I filter it for the first time, and then filter it again after a few weeks before I bottle it. I use the supermarket branded gin and with the flavour/colour from the fruit get the colour I require. The blackcurrant one was just made this way, however the raspberry one was another story. I went into a home brew shop and saw a prohibition Gin kit and decided to make it. Quite a challenge to make as you have to add numerous (12) sachets to it, charcoal etc, filtered a couple of times but when it had finished it was literally "gin" clear, i then added the raspberries and some sugar and it has been resting ever since last summer. Even when I was filtering it the smell of juniper was unreal. Think I got high on the fumes alone! Edited May 21, 2009 by Jan147 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 My younger brother started brewing at home when we were teenagers, kept it up, then bought a license which led to a career Buffy's Brewery i live in the next village, pulham market, last year Buffy had a beer tent at our village music festival on the green, i can kind of remember a session on the "polly's folly" until my missus twigged that i was on my 10th pint and dragged me home, she tells me that i invited about 15 people home and cooked a BBQ, cant remember any of it though, top draw ale mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peely Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 I brewed my first ever 40 pints and bottled it in the middle of March... Its all gone now. I'm just about to start another load of lager tomorrow morning. Can't beat 40 pints for a tenner!!!! The only advice I will give, even though it has already been given, is to make sure everything is spotless and steralised. I've never done cider before but am interested to hear how it turns out.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 ......... i can kind of remember a session on the "polly's folly" ............. cant remember any of it though, top draw alemikee Thanks Mikee Do you know how Polly's Folly got its name? Roger was invited to supply University of Norwich Student's Union, and took along a new ale that he was developing for them to try. The Student Union secretary, a young lass called Polly, was found comatose the following day, under the barrel - so he had an instant name for his new beer It can rather creep up on you!! He used to do an 8X strong ale, which really felled you after a couple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 amature, ive had several goes on your brothers brews and they are all first class, he did tell me the tale of poor old polly at the SU, his place is literally just down the road, about 3 mins in the car, since reading this home brew thread i had considered popping round and getting some pointers and a few bits to have a go myself mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted May 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 All the kit is here, just soaking the lot now to get rid of the plastic smell. Will have it steralised and going before I go to sleep tonight. Going to have to reconsider the placement of the fermentation bucket as I didn't realise just how heavy 5 gallons of anything is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted May 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 All set up, just have to wait the longest 4-8 days of my life now. Don't she look luvly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 All set up, just have to wait the longest 4-8 days of my life now. Don't she look luvly! how is the brew progressing, mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
death from below Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 I've really fancied doing home brew for ages now and this post has got me goign I need some assistance I want to make home brew wine but I want a kit that includes everything(except the sugar I suppose) as I am a lazy sod and can't be bothered to go ordering seperates left, right and centre I would like a kit that is on the inexpensive side and one that knocks up the wine in a reasonably short space of time and that I can re-use after the initial bought(appreciate I will have to buy base products after the first brew) Any suggestions my dear friends. DFB (thanks in anticipation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peely Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 I've really fancied doing home brew for ages now and this post has got me goign I need some assistance I want to make home brew wine but I want a kit that includes everything(except the sugar I suppose) as I am a lazy sod and can't be bothered to go ordering seperates left, right and centre I would like a kit that is on the inexpensive side and one that knocks up the wine in a reasonably short space of time and that I can re-use after the initial bought(appreciate I will have to buy base products after the first brew) Any suggestions my dear friends. DFB (thanks in anticipation Get down to Wilkinson stores. They sell a load of starter kits for wine and beer. Thats how I started on the beer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
death from below Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Ah yes, the poor man's Marks & Spencers.....thanks for the tip, would never have thought of good old W's.....I shall have a bimble down 2moro......mind you saying that, my local Wilkinsons in bang in the centre of Basildon Town Centre....I'll probably get shanked up by some Chav when they clasp their rat like eyes on some 'free' alcohol potential. Cheers mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Does anyone know if Wilkinson's stocks all of the home brewing stock that it has on it's website in larger stores? If so I feel a shopping trip coming on tomorrow to invest in a bung with an airlock, some steriliser and a siphon kit. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Most Wilko's will have the essentials for wine and beer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 So that sorta stuff would be in stock then? Excellent. I'm intending on giving the turbo cider a go. If I get it on the go tomorrow, it should be ready by about the time my post final exam hangover has cleared. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 Harris Filters will mail you (next day) anything and everything in the Home Brewing line! Worth having a look at their website. Have dealt with them and them alone for over thirty years. FC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peely Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 This link is to a good site also... A bit expensive, but the 'beer database' is good as it gives you an idea of what commercial beer the chosen home brew will taste like. www.brew-it-yourself.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 HEEEEEEEELP! I have started making turbo cider. However there is a problem... me. I've added the first 4l of apple juice into the DJ along with the yeast started off in a smidgen of water. My SG reading is 1.042. Now, if in a couple of days when I add the remaining carton, (or at least what will fit in as it's looking like the DJ will overflow if I add another entire carton) I take it the SG will change again? Now, at what stage should I be adding some sugar? I understand that the the (SG-FG) / 7.45 will give me the alcohol content? So is it a case of adding some sugar at the stage when the hydrometer is settled and the cider is clear and waiting for the reading on the hydrometer to change again? Also can I keep the hydrometer in the DJ to save faffing around removing it and sanitising it before taking another reading? Sorry for all of the newbie questions. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 (edited) Ollie, You can keep track of the potential ABV by keeping records of all volumetric/sugar content additions. I'll email you the charts; but give me a bell tomorrow. Edited June 6, 2009 by Floating Chamber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neels Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 I've added the first 4l of apple juice into the DJ along with the yeast started off in a smidgen of water. My SG reading is 1.042. Now, if in a couple of days when I add the remaining carton, (or at least what will fit in as it's looking like the DJ will overflow if I add another entire carton) I take it the SG will change again? Now, at what stage should I be adding some sugar? I understand that the the (SG-FG) / 7.45 will give me the alcohol content? So is it a case of adding some sugar at the stage when the hydrometer is settled and the cider is clear and waiting for the reading on the hydrometer to change again? Also can I keep the hydrometer in the DJ to save faffing around removing it and sanitising it before taking another reading? Sorry for all of the newbie questions. FM FM What yeast did you use? With a starting gravity of 1042 I'd be surprised if an ale or standard cider yeast will get you to more than 5-6 % alcohol, but a champagne yeast could get you a bit further as it is happy to work in a high alcohol environment. The more sugar you add the "thinner" or dryer your cider will be as it converts to alcohol without contributing much to the body of the brew. (I suppose that is academic if you are chasing the alcohol ) Using apple juice you probably won't need sugar, but to each his own. Adding more juice or sugar later needs to be done carefully as it could "shock" the yeast, or start another round of fermentation. Be careful when adding sugar or juice just before bottling as you could be building bottle bombs or gushers If the hydrometer was sanitized beforehand its probably fine to leave in. I don't, but that is probably more based on preference than anything else. I've found that it is a pain to get a hydrometer out of a demijohn, so I now use a sanitized straw that I can push over the Hydro tube (with a bit of force) to get it out There are many online calculators for alcohol content - I generally use http://www.cascadehomebrew.com.au/brewkits/calculators.asp Cheers Neels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 Thank-you very much chaps. I am using bread yeast as it is all I had available. However I read online it would be acceptable for making turbo cider. Thanks, FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 It'll taste like bread! Did you use a pectin destroying enzyme? This will destroy the pectin in the juice and will aid clearing. By the way, have some antacid tabs ready when you drink the brew. You could end up hating even the smell of cider if you are ill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 Oh dear. Good job I like the taste of bread. I didn't use anything other than apple juice, yeast with a tiny bit of water and fully sanitised equipment. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 Aldi's 5.3% 'Taurus' Cider is only £1.79 for 2 litres! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 Where's the fun in that. Besides, if I'm really desperate there is a crate of Strongbow in the shed but I'm saving that for Thursday night. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neels Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 Thank-you very much chaps. I am using bread yeast as it is all I had available. However I read online it would be acceptable for making turbo cider. Thanks, FM Hehe - with Floating Chamber on this.... Bread yeast is designed to give off lots of CO2 rather than make alcohol(to get the dough to rise), but you should still get some alcohol - and some funny flavours I would expect. The only thing I can add is not to judge home brewing by the results of this experiment , but I agree - its far more fun to try things like this Neels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.