Newbie here....

[Ash]

Hey all,

I've been lurking for a while now & have finally talked the wife into letting me get into home brew so I thought I'd register.

I'm up in Townsville, North Queensland - anyone else on here from up this way?

Cheapest complete kit I've found locally is a Coopers Micro-Brew one from Big W - $59!! I can get an extra 30 bottles (total 60) for only $5 more than an equivelent 30 bottle setup from the two major HBS up here.


I'm planning on sticking with PET for the time being, easier than crown sealing & all that. I've been assured by the HBS that it doesn't affect taste & you can keep it in PET for a year or so which is plenty enough for me.

I've got some health problems so I can't drink as much as I used too so going straight to kegging isn't on. I'm really getting into it not so much for the savings but more for the achievement, being able to say "I made that".

I'm a big fan of Kilkenny so I'm going to try making a decent clone of it. I'm not new to message boards so I have used the search function so I know there's a few different ways to skin this cat, I'd like to hear up to date opinions on the different recipies. I was going to try the Coopers Golden Syrup one first as it sounds easier than the others.

With my health problems, making lighter beers (alc wise) is probably the go, is it as simple as adding less dextrose?
Say if the recipie calls for 250gm light malt, 250g corn syrup & 500gm dex, can I just drop to 250gm dex without affecting the flavour of do I have to drop all the additives proportionally? I'm not a fan of watery beers, so can you make a light/mid that isn't watery?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Cheers
Ash

[General]

Hey Ash,

Dropping your fermentables is the way to go.

Dextrose adds Alc & CO2 only, no flavour or body, so eliminating the 500g dextrose will only drop the alcohol, and 500g dex will only add about 1-2% alc/vol.

Don't add a dry enzime, this ferments more of the non-fermentables such as found in the light malt extract, which is good for the diabetics, but not those who require LESS alcohol.

Cheers

[NickMoore]

Hi Ash and welcome, you'll need to give some thought as to how you'll keep your fermenting wort cool up there in Townsville.

You'll have read in your research that a constant 18-20 degrees is ideal for ales, and circa 12 degrees for lagers.

If you've got the resources you might want to dedicate a spare fridge with thermastat (growarm) to the cause. There are others ways however, including wet towels and fans, ice baths etc.

All the very best with it ... Nick

[r.magnay]

G'day Ash,
I'm not up on the science of all this brewing, but I have been brewing kits for a lot of years now, I have tried quite a few different types but I always come back to my favourite.......Coopers origional bitter with 750gm brew enhancer 2. According to the packet, by simply reducing the amount of BE2 you reduce the alc. I have never tried less than 750 and I have never measured the alc. but I know they are less potent than when I made full strength, but still taste great and retain a good head etc. A mate of mine has recently started using half the fermentables because his father has been doing it for awhile, I havn't asked him how they are going, nor have I tried them, but I will and post the results.

[zook37]

Welcom Ash, I am only a relative nooby myself. Great wealth of Knowledge and information to be had here! Happy posting!