Good day to all maltsters, brewers, ale-wives and any other well worn or original descriptors people may choose to attach themselves to.
I have been aware of Brewer's Friend for some months now. Shout out to Home Brew Online from York, England who recommended you in their own forum but whom themselves ceased trading this summer (sadly). Thankfully, I have since found a replacement online supplier. There are scant actual physical HomeBrew shops near to where I live. The few which have sprung up in my neck of the woods over the years have not lasted very long either. Anyway I hope that avoids counting as advertising which is certainly not why I am here. I don't own/work for a brewery nor a bar chain. I have made particular use of ABV calculators and gravity ranges here, the latter prompting my first question which I shall put together in the appropriate place. Signing up was the natural thing to do.
My tastes are rather eclectic with a few firm favourites and a couple of long lost drinks I would welcome back as well. I am somewhere like in my 40th year of brewing beer and cider from extract kits, the latter half wine also although nowhere near as often. My very first experience of homebrewing was courtesy of a bass player who shared digs with me for a short while - strong stuff, straight from the bin I am afraid.
My production equipment is the most basic but at least more civilised; bin, bottles and a few barrels not forgetting that trusty old bath. I don't have plans to upgrade any time soon but won't completely rule that out. Limited space rather dictates matters at present, it took some time to adapt to living in an apartment flat from a three storey house plus large cellar (the only part of it which I miss). My kitchen is actually bigger. And not having to go up and down flights of stairs for things has been the biggest bonus.
I have made gradual progress over the years. My beginnings were - to be perfectly honest - terrible. I shifted away from brewing lager (without abandoning that drink completely) and this was one of the best life decisions I ever made! Starting to take gravity readings the most important. I was fairly good at judging by sight but this isn't reliable enough.
I aren't the chattiest of people (bit of a loner) but this is to me a very interesting besides nourishing and enjoyable subject (a superb one for a website). So much so that I recently started reading up on the history of Ale and Beer. I found a book that had been sat on my shelves untouched/unread for years which I had picked up from a library (where I did work) - wait for it - being removed and thrown out! I was right that it would come in one day though - another good decision.
I am very much of the mindset 'we never stop learning'. I have recently been getting into hops but finding it a rather complex area. It is time to let the new chapter unfold.
A hearty welcome to you. Not all of us are extroverts, but we do share a love of beer and cider and mead and wine... and the occasional gin & tonic.
Most of us believe that the equipment is just a detail. If it brews your beer, it must be the right bit of kit. We all have to adapt to the space we have.
Never be afraid to ask anything, we're all still learning here!
Post time 2022-11-2 05:13:00