Adventures in Homebrewland (image heavy - you have been warned!)

MrsAtobe

The cabernet sauvignon was so successful that there isn't any left. When we first tasted it, I wasn't at all sure, so we added a dessertspoon full of suger. Left it for a week and it' now slightly sweet, but very drinkable.

We've now got 6 bottles of strawberry and 30 bottles of merlot on the go - suspect we are either going to have to buy a shed or a bigger house to store it all! Think we've converted my sister and bil as well.

MrsAtobe

The 7 day merlot is now ready, and very nice it is too, better than the cab savignon, imo. The OH is trying the cheapskate cider now, will wait to see what that's like. Next weekends job is to tidy the cupboard under the stairs so that we can store some long term .

Allegra

Would any of you kind people be able to tell me what is the absolute minimum that an MSE conscious beginner home brewer would need to buy/borrow/scrounge in order to start out brewing their own ?

Also, if that all turns out to be a bit too scary, could anyone tell me what is actually included in one of these:

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/home-brewing/youngs-u-brew-cabernet-sauvignon-wine-buddy-kit-6-bottle-7-day-370g/invt/0240216/?htxt=cIuZ4psiY6WHPnVf6vIT7PxrD18yUzhBJHu6KUSkllGrBitCEWpi7Ac8vS%2BUDevJMiW%2BRmMSlh%2FC%0AqShgT32Tfg%3D%3D

Is "just add sugar and water" absolutely accurate ? What equipment does it actually contain, and can this be reused afterwards with one of these:

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/home-brewing/youngs-u-brew-country-definitive-home-wine-kit-blackcherry-900g/invt/0022748/?htxt=cIuZ4psiY6WHPnVf6vIT7PxrD18yUzhBJHu6KUSkllGrBitCEWpi7Ac8vS%2BUDevJMiW%2BRmMSlh%2FC%0AqShgT32Tfg%3D%3D

Thanks ever so much

Whistling_Gypsy

Hi Allegra,
First of all - those kits are great for beginners - do exactly what they say on the tin - and yes, the contents should be fine re-used with the kit in your second link (as long as everything is scrupulously cleaned and sterilised :-)). Not sure about what the kit actually contains though- have googled and I think there's a 1 x gallon bucket, hydrometer, corks, syphon tube and all the ingredients bar sugar.

I started out with 1 glass demijohn (much better than plastic imho, though I have used the 97p 5 litre water containers from Asda etc) with airlock, a 2 gallon food grade plastic bucket, syphon tube and hydrometer. Cost now - about £20. Add to this a colander/sieve and plastic spoon from the kitchen and various chemicals (as few as possible) from Wilko's and you're ready to brew. I'm sure someone will come along and let us know anything I missed :-)

I did one kit ( similar to the one in your second link) 2 years ago - then decided it wasn't moneysaving enough for me so moved on to tinned fruit, fruit juice and teabag wine then got out and about foraging :-). This is much more MSE - apart from sugar and yeast etc, there's barely any outlay and I can make a gallon of wine for approx £1.40 these days (24p a bottle). I lived in a city when I started foraging and I was amazed what I found within a 3 mile radius - local parks, hedgerows etc (elderflowers/berries, loganberries, blackberries, plums, damsons, apples, redcurrants....). A bit more work and mess - but worth it. My 2009 elderflower port is divine - even if I say so myself :-)

Try your local freecycle/freegle and mentioning your new hobby to family and friends - I now have 43 x 1 gallon DJ's (37 of which are currently full), 3 x 5 gallon fermenting vessels 1 x 5 gallon brewing bucket and 2 x 2 gallon brewing buckets - all for free :-). Oh - and get them to save bottles for you!! I've also acquired lots of bits that make brewing easier (floor corker, degasser, filter etc) but not necesarry til you really get into it.

I am lucky in that I have a local home brew shop as well as Wilko's (both 17 miles away - but in the city so trips there combined with work/shopping etc), and have my dad's experience and recipes fom years ago.

It's a fab hobby - with a splendid end result most of the time - and plenty of kind folk here to give advice and help you on your way. If you need to know more, just shout or PM me :-)

hth
WG

MrsAtobe

Hi Allegra and Whistling Gypsy,

There are actually two small 5 litre buckets in the top link, one you use to brew (should that be ferment?) and the other one you use when syphoning off the sediment. I can't remember if it said to do this in the instructions or not, but the OH did this a few times to degas the wine. There aren't any corks included in the pack, we bought some just in case.

For the strawberry, we bought a demijohn and an airlock. But yes, when the pack says all you need is sugar and water, that is all you do need, apart from sterilising tablets and bottles to put the wine in;). Please let me know if I can help in any way.

Allegra

Thanks Whistling Gypsy and MrsAtobe I forage a lot already, and pick so much stuff in summer/autumn that I usually struggle to store it/eat it up/give it away before the next season rolls around If I could turn some of that stuff into booze to replace the pricey stuff from the shops, I'd be one happy bunny !

OK, guys, watch this space, lol. I am soooo going for it this year !

charlies-aunt

Please can anyone tell me if it is possible to make homemade version of blackcurrant liqeur like Creme De Cassis?

Have picked 3lbs of big juicy blackcurrants today from one side of one bush and I have the other side and another two bushes to go so will have plenty to go at!

MrsAtobe

I haven' made any (yet) but Google comes up with lots of recipes. Could you be our official tester, charlies-aunt?

charlies-aunt

MrsAtobe wrote: »

I haven' made any (yet) but Google comes up with lots of recipes. Could you be our official tester, charlies-aunt?

Going to give it a go! - not sure whether it will be better to make blackcurrant wine and then fortify it or make it with the blackcurrants, vodka and sugar syrup ( a bit like sloe gin)

MrsAtobe

Perhaps do half one way, half the other and see which one you prefer? If you need a second opinion, I'm your girl:beer: