I have a birthday worth celebrating coming up this year, the big Five-O. It is later in the year, so one has to prepare for these things, especially if one is to enjoy it in line with ones values.
So what better way to celebrate than with a few good home-brew beers, and a pizza party. Now, the beer ain’t going to brew itself, is it? Yours truly had to make some. Out with the beer kit, and ferment away!
What I like about brewing beer is that it is relatively simple if you stick to some simple rules, after a week or so you get a great result ready to bottle. I put a Cerveza brew down about two weeks ago, have let it ferment for a week, then I let it settle for the next week. This is my simple technique of clearing the beer without having to use finnings.
Anyway, tonight was the night to bottle it. With Ben at the camera, and helping pass me the bottles for filling and capping, here is how events panned out.
Warning: Ben doesn’t know how to tell me to say cheese when taking photos, so some of them are, lets say, unexpected.
Filling beer bottles
See how clear the beer is out of the fermenter. It took me a few years to figure out that if you leave the beer for that extra few days or so, the beer clears a lot better, and there is enough yeast in the bottle for secondary fermentation. It doesn’t go bad in the fermenter if you leave it sealed during that time.
Capping the bottle
Nice shot of my head, but you get the general idea that I am placing the bottle with crown seal, then pushing down on the lever to seal the bottle.
Unawares shot by Ben
See what I mean about caught out without the opportunity to say cheese! But wait, the next one is even better (not).
Even better unawares shot
Anyway, enough silliness. 23 litres of beer fills sixty-six 330 ml bottles. That is a lot of beer, but not enough for the party as I am expecting a few guests who like a home-brew or two.
brewing beer undergoing secondary fermentation
So tomorrow sometime, during my downshift day, I will be making some more beer and a batch of cider. Both of these will be kit versions. More than likely I will make a Canadian Blonde beer, and a low joule cider. The cider can be rather dry, but refreshing.
Then, and only then, I will have enough beer for the party!
I really enjoy making my own beer. It gives me a sense of accomplishment that you don’t get if you buy it commercially made. You also drink it sparingly because it is precious.
If you want to see how I brew beer, have a look at this post titled Home Brewing Workshop. There are three videos taken during the workshop that explains most things that you need to know to make your own beer.
Who makes their own beverages? Is it cost effective and what does it taste good?
Hi Gav, I’ve been brewing for while and get great result form the canned kits. Subsequently I’ve never felt the need to move to all grain brewing. The Coopers website has some great recipes to ‘trick’ up the kits. My favourite is the Irish Red Ale. It might pay for you to have a look (http://www.coopers.com.au/#/diy-beer/beer-recipes/ale/). I gave up refilling stubbies some time ago, I got sick of the capping. I use the Coopers long neck pet bottles now, or, lately the TapKing 3.3l PET bottles, for which I replace the CO2 sparklers in the caps and use the dispenser. It’s great only having to fill 6 bottles per brew 🙂
Lastly, if you have some vertical growing space, plant some hops. I’ve got my first season of hops flowers this year, and I am looking forward to using them in my next brew.
Cheers.
Waiting by the mail box (or inbox) for my invitation. Promise i wont touch any of your beer unless you make it ginger beer and no alcohol. Hmmm you’d better fill your cheese fridge for the party as well. Goodness im older than you by just a little. Cheers!
been brewing off and on for a few years now but haven’t made any for a while. same goes fro ginger beer. But I’ve thinking this might the time to get stuck into it again.
Might have another go at a brewed black and tan – the last lot was quite nice 🙂
Great idea to serve your own beer at your birthday party. I also brew at home from kits. So far we have brewed a cream ale, an extra special bitter and a wheat beer that we split into two and flavoured with apricot and raspberry. So far all our beers have been delicious. We have just bottled a batch of blonde lager as well and are excited to try that in a week or so. I’m hoping to get some time to post some brewing posts on my blog as well.
Great work with the beer. When the fruit trees are laden again, I think I will give some fruit beer a try.