Home Brewing - Beer and Wine?

Alwaysthebusybee

Hi,

I can't seem to find any threads relating to home brewing (Please point me in the direction if there are some).

With the VAT about to hike in 2011 and the ever increasing taxes on beer I wondered if anyone bothered to make their own beer, lager, cider or wine?

I consider home brewing old style and I've just finished reading a frugal living book and it was one of the suggestions. The equipment doesn't look too complicated or expensive so I thought i'd give it a try.

I am considering this new hobby and I am looking for insiration, recipes, hints and tips.:beer:

Sarah

Gigervamp

You're right, there are threads on here.

Here's a wine thread.

Here's the Adventures in Homebrewland thread.

And here's the Ancient Orange Mead thread.

Alwaysthebusybee

Thanks for them, I really appreciate the point in the right direction ... no doubt I will be exploring my options over the weekend with some light reading

Many Thanks
Sarah

rdpro

another site I found really useful (taken from within a thread on here) is: http://www.homewinemaking.co.uk/forum/YaBB.pl

some excellent recipes, especially the 'juice wines' or 'turbo cider' - hunt down the cheap supermarket juices/sugar and enjoy!

nuttybabe

that site is brilliant. i have had loads of help on there! my first attempt hasnt gone too well but my own fault for buying a cheap wine kit!!!! am in the process of making a rose from the receipe section off the site. fingers crossed this one goes better!!! :P

also you dont need alot of equipment to get started. this is advice i was given (sadly after buying the beginners kit!!!!)

do not buy a beginners kit! it is a rip off!!, do you or your friends drink wine?, if so ask them to save the bottles and screw caps, if they can rinse and save so much the better, all you need is a good recipe and some 5ltr water bottles @ 90 odd p each, drill 14ml hole in cap add grommet and air lock (£1.90 ish),

easy/ wine No 1
1ltr white grape juice,
1ltr pineapple jiuce,
700g sugar,
1 sachet champagne yeast,
1tsp yeast nutrient,
water to 4.5ltr,

allow to ferment out to dry, the wine will slowly begin to clear, once clear siphon off into clean 5ltr bottle, allow to settle, when crystal clear siphon off and it is ready to drink, it will improve up to around 8 months.

Alwaysthebusybee

Hi Nuttybabe,

Thanks for the advice. I haven't been and bought anything much yet. I have been to the local carboots for some demijohns and things. I'm picking up loads of the internet.

Yes me and my friends like wine and I already have some bottles saved.

I'm just getting to grips with the fermenting bits and how long to leave it - everyone seems to have a different opinion.

My aim is to have a go next week along with beer making.

Thanks
Sarah