Why bother?

"Chris *Sydney, Australia*" wrote in news:425f0b3c$0$29864$ snipped-for-privacy@news.optusnet.com.au:

What are the home brand kits like? Are they significantly better/worse than the coopers stuff? I saw them there and couldn't bring myself to skimp on the $3, but if they're of reasonable quality I might have a look.

peter

Reply to
Peter.QLD
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I got one just for the heck of it. Certainly drinkabe. But a far cry from the all grain I have been getting into lately. But they are pretty good value for a massive party night. Not exactly something you'd sit down with a nice meal and complement your food. Good for having the boys around for Friday night footy.

Reply to
Josh Button

If you like the home brand kits. And they are good for big nights, try making some better beers. I have now gotten into all grain and am loving the beers I can create. It's great to formulate your own recipe, predict what it should taste like, and then after conditioning, getting the same beer as you had planned.

Reply to
Josh Button

very similar ingrediants. The brew tastes kinda malty.. depending what you add to it.give it a go.. cant hurt.

Reply to
Chris *Sydney, Australia*

I am currently doing an ESB Belgium Smoked Ale, a coopers IPA and my girlfriend is doing a apple cider. I have another 2 vats I am thinking of cleaning out and setting those up sometime to do ginger beer. I think the second one I will just use for filtering my beer.

The biggest pain is finding bottles. But once you have enough of them its all good.

Reply to
Chris *Sydney, Australia*

Yeah, I got kegs a few years ago and they are going well. Haven't used them for a little bit of time cos we moved house. But I will make a batch for them soon enough. But like you said, once you have enough bottles, everything works out pretty well.

Reply to
Josh Button

making beer is not really cheap because you only drink more. the idea is not to stick you into a coffin and if the kids can't figure out a part time gardening job to pay for thier college or university, then that is not your problem save big bucks and live 20 years more no problemo. toss off the beer and take up yoga or square dancing.

tell me your hobbies. my site is a real site. one of the few on these newsgroups. email direct or chat it up here but life is too special. can't live it for anyone else or to save them a buck

surprising what ya might find at a dance nos u b a gentleman ya hear. dug88

Reply to
dug88

I use stubbies. - cling wrap in am after rinsing twice in very hot water & drained inverted overnight. [ saves sterilising ] - re-use screw caps until they show signs of rust. - 'aussie bottler' s are great - get them at the home brew barns. - also bulk prime to avoid sugar in each bottle.

I'd love to get into kegging but the $s matter at the moment

Ian C

Reply to
Ian Cowan

Hi, I got bored with cheap kits like coopers so I jazz them up with grain mash. To be honest i was a bit put off doing this as too hard until i made a rug for my bucket, but for a few dollars i think it adds a whole new texture and taste to the beer.

Also looking at the other thread about bottles, I have stopped sterilizing my bottles as too hard work. I just rinse aafter use and then when i go to bottle, I rinse again with hot water. Never had a batch go bad so far and I think that leftover taste from the sterilizing agent is more likely to stuff you beer than bugs. I got onto this from my Uncle that used to bottle in a dirt floor shed and never used anyform of sterilizer. he had the best beer ever

cheers

Reply to
Hataitai

Reply to
dug88

hopefully in a manly kind of way :-)

Reply to
Hataitai

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