Home brewed Beer and the Keg System

[yande]

Well I have my watches, my camera and lenses, so time for another hobby. Brewing my own beer, but not into bottles! I've 2 x 20 litre Stainless Steel kegs and a bottle of Co2 = Home brew on tap. I was donated a fridge for my cellar, the gas and kegs sit in that.

So tonight I correctly sanitised and mixed up my brew, Coopers Pale Ale. It has to ferment for the next 6 days at around 25C, then I get it into my kegs (somehow) hook up the gas, and 24 to 48 hours, there is my beer. Sounds too good to be true.

Anyone have experience in this? I'm learning as I go, but it all sounds too good to be true. A fraction of the price that one pays for commercial beer here in Australia once you have paid out the initial outlay of gas, kegs, regulator and assorted hardware.

Would love to hear tips from any other experienced brewers on WUS or any comments for that matter..

[OzO]

Coopers Pale Ale? Awesome.

[GinGinD]

I'm not a beer drinker, but this sounds interesting. Please do keep us posted on how it goes.

Jeannie

[J_Hack]

I am interested to see how this plays out also. With beer being my new "hobby", I have considered doing this as well. I was forced to get another hobby as watches are expensive; or so I am told.

[yande]

All's good. 24 hours later my brew is fermenting and bubbling away by way of the air lock stem. A healthy 26 degrees C is being maintained as I have the drum sitting on a heater pad. It is winter here. It will remain as it is until it stops bubbling,

[1991 E31]

Are you planning on a secondary ferment in glass? I highly recommend it. You'll make sure that the beer is crystal clear. I usually put my brews in a glass carboy for at least 5 days after the primary fermentation has stopped.

I've become a huge home brewer in the last few years. Moving from Oregon to Utah it was a necessity.

[yande]

As I stated I am still learning, and have been looking at the secondary fermentation method. At this stage, as perhaps you may understand, I am going to attempt a Forced Co2 Carbonation. Whilst perhaps not he most purest method, i feel it is the simplists way to start. Have already had a few hiccups (problems) , well one at least, but all is on plan. Blub blubbing away for another day 2or 3, and then we will see where we go. Will get some pics up, in the next few days, all going well.

[yande]

weeeeeeeellll iikt wurkkked............... sssshhhare ssommee ppics whhhenn I ssoooobbeeeeeeeeerrrrr uuuuuuupppppppp.

Seriously...
Turned out a treat. Not too strong and if it gets better from this one, I'll be very happy. Didn't "force" carbonate, just put it under at 40psi for 24 hours, and seriously, I don't think I could improve on the carbonation for this type of beer. Dropped it down to 10 for serving pressure. I'll take a few pics of my system in a few days. Once hardware is obtained. $AU15 for 20 litres of beer. That's the equivalent of approx $95 worth of commercial beer!

[yande]

As promised folks, here are my pics, and if the next batch tastes anything like my first, I will be extremely happy. Thoughts are it will even be better.

From this


To this

To this


Seriously, the money I save from this, over a year would place a nice looking watch such as one of these on my wrist.

[handwound]

Very cool, Mark! Well done, mate. I'm more of a drinker than a brewer, but that may change in the near future. Glad to hear it turned out better than expected. FWIW, it *looks* like a proper pale ale. Enjoy it, you've earned it.