Home Brewers?

I can't really give you any specific advice, but a long time ago my brother and I made a couple of batches of home brew and it tasted just like flat Sam Adams.

We drank it all.

 

Some batches have been better than others, but the only one that was truly terrible was the result of my dumbass roommate - upon being sent to the store to buy *cocoa* for a chocolate stout - returned with a box of Swiss Miss packets & dumped a few of them in before telling anybody.

 

LOL that's hilarious!

 

The mr beer kits are probably most of the problem. It is basically impossible to sterilize that as well as it should, but the real problem is probably the ingredients that come with the kit.

I brew 1-2 batches a month, and I can tell you that, having used the mr beer kits as starter-types as well, they pretty much blow no matter what you do.

 

For the record on the subject of sterilization, don't use bleach solutions that are occasionally recommended. Gives you a hee-oly **** hellacious hangover - probably due to the chlorine. Use iodine, or that b-brite stuff they sell at homebrew supply stores.

 

There are decent kits at homebrew stores that are not too space consuming. I really don't know of any starter "brands" unfortunately, but if you go to those shops the owners can point you in a good direction. I know you can get simplified kits at those places, although if you go the trouble you might as well get a normal setup IMO. I brewed pretty regularly in my apt back in the day.

To do it the proper way should result in one 5 gallon plastic primary fermenter and one 5 gallon carboy. Both of which can be stored in most any closet.

 

I have brewed about 10-12 batches in the last year and a half. Some have been good others have been GREAT! The best advise I could give you is to visit your local Homebrew shop and get set up with a real starter kit. I have never brewed with a Mr.Beer kit but the cidery taste you speak of is often caused by fermentation temperatures that are too high. Try and keep your fermentation between 67-73 degrees.

 

You all are shamefull bootlegers!!!

I'm goona go make some bathtub Gin.

 

With your globe trotting prowess Sam, I thought you would have been keeping it real making a splendid batch of Arrack instead.

 

Dude,

I quit drinking last summer and have a ton of beer equipment (including all-grain).

You are welcome to look it over and I would sell them to you half off.

I might even throw a lesson in there and tell you how to make better beer.

Start with dumping the Mr Beer. I've never tasted one that came out good.

I have made everything from stouts to fruit ales. I even have books.

I just had to stop drinking.

Let me know.

 

Oops. I didn't know you lived in Manhattan. I kinda lack boxes.

 

swilkins - I'm very interested! You live in/near Houston?

EDIT: I'll send you an email too. I assume swilkins AT houston rr com is correct based on the profile.

 

I bought one of the Mr. Beers in college and I'm glad I wasn't the only one who got the same crappy results. As bad as it tasted I still drank it since it gave me a buzz.

As soon as I was finished with 'brew' I threw the stupid thing away

 

Send it to burgertx@yahoo.com. The RR account is old. I need to update my account.

I do live in Houston. The NW side in Spring.

 

Done! Thanks.

 

My wife and I have made some wines but not beer. I wasn't too crazy about the taste of the wine, and they came out very strong. We still have plenty of bottles of it around, because I don't want to drink them. We may try again this summer, and try to do better with sanitizing our equipment.

 

I replied with a few questions.

Have you ever brewed and how much equipment do you need?

The reason I ask is so I can group some of it up.

Ex:
- Equipment equivalent to starter kit
- All Grain kit
- various other stuff

I have spent hundreds on the equipment, but they are just sitting around. They still look new though. I do take care of the things that I hold dear to me.

I'd love to offload all of it.