National Home brew Day

[BrwBier]

Anyone else here brewing on Saturday 2 May 2009? Its national home brew day and around the world there will be at least a few thousand gallons of home brew made. If anyone is in the area of Sheboygan, WI and wants to see how easy, fun, and delicious it is just PM me and I will give you directions to our brew site.
Brwbier

[planovet]

I won't be brewing but I might be sampling

[Juneaudave]

That's a good idea and all I need to to pick up some hops. We're heading out to the Haine's AK brew (and music) festival at the end of May for the first "real" trip for our trailer. I don't have an entry though

[starleen2]

someone may need to help this poor guy

[BILLYL]

Sure enough - Have scheduled a brew that day - 7bbls of a nice hoppy IPA. Will be over 300lbs of grain and infinte amount of hops. But will be a fun day......................


Make sure - TO RELAX and Have a HOMEBREW..........

Bill

[planovet]

[bfitz]

not making.

drinking.

hic!

[chorizon]

We love to "brew our own." The last coupla times we've brewed, I've spent around $40-$50 for 5 gallons. I know its not just about the money, but in this economy, its cost-prohibitive. Until things turn around I'll be "Livin' The High Life!"Registered Trademark of Miller Brewing Co.!!!

[BILLYL]

We love to "brew our own." The last coupla times we've brewed, I've spent around $40-$50 for 5 gallons. I know its not just about the money, but in this economy, its cost-prohibitive. Until things turn around I'll be "Livin' The High Life!"Registered Trademark of Miller Brewing Co.!!!

WOW - $40-$50 for a 5 gallon batch - that's ALOT of cash. You must be using kits or extract brewing-and buying fresh yeast each time? Even that shouldn't cost that much.

Bill

[chorizon]

We love to "brew our own." The last coupla times we've brewed, I've spent around $40-$50 for 5 gallons. I know its not just about the money, but in this economy, its cost-prohibitive. Until things turn around I'll be "Livin' The High Life!"Registered Trademark of Miller Brewing Co.!!!

WOW - $40-$50 for a 5 gallon batch - that's ALOT of cash. You must be using kits or extract brewing-and buying fresh yeast each time? Even that shouldn't cost that much.

Bill

Yes and no. We do a partial mash, but they don't give us a price-break for not using as much extract. I always feel the need to use the fresh yeast for some reason, adding another $7 or $8. Throw in a couple of things I can't remember if I have or not (grain bag, Iodophor, etc...) and the bill runs up relatively quickly. I buy locally from these guys...

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/

I'm not getting ripped am I?

[MidTNJasonF]

Using liquid yeast for each batch is good and bad. Bad for the cost aspect and good from a quality stand point. What I like to do is plan a string of batches that can utilize the same yeast strain. I buy one vial of yeast and use it for say a brown ale first. I then harvest the yeast from the carboy after primary fermentation and after a simple wash reuse a portion of it for say a pale ale. I have used one vial for 4 consecutive batches over the course of two months, brewing every two weeks.

Lately I have just gone to using dry yeast (US-05 mostly) since my brewing has been more sporadic and infrequent. I have gotten some really good results from a quality dry yeast. Controlling the fermentation temperature is more critical than anything else anyway.



As for National Homebrew Day I did not personally brew but we had a gathering of folks over at a friends house and we brewed three batches. Two batches of the Saison Du Mont and an expresso stout.

[dmb90260]

I have made lots of home brew, my favorite was an Imperial Raspberry Stout. Stopped brewing when my pants got too big and my friends would not help me diminish the out put. I did help pass the torch to my nephew, now the head brewmeister at Northcoast Brewiing in Fort Bragg, CA

[BILLYL]

The need to buy a "fresh batch" each time can really run up the bill. at the brewery will will pitch the yeast up to 18 generations. But that really does take some planning of brews and some good sanitation practices.

If you have a local brew pub in the area I always find them to be very willing to give you some yeast. If you don't have one in your area check for a local home brew club - they can be a great source of stuff. Otherwise - unless one can buy in bulk it can get pretty pricey.

Bill