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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
 Posted - 10/07/2005 : 08:06:07
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Who here makes home brew?
obviously beer is the most common, but spirits and wine are other popular ones?
well mrs benji and I do, well to be honest, it's mostly mrs benji - i just get to reap the rewards, but we love it.
our ultimate goal in life is to open a microbrwery, and making home brew seems a pretty good place to start.
sure, it's not much more than mixing all the ingredients together and waiting, but the sense of complete satisfaction you get when cracking open the first one and it actually tasting damn good is tough to beat i think.
and the best thing is is that you get heaps better at it. the ones we're making now are immeasurably better than the ones we made when we first started out, which was only 6 months ago.
we've got 2 on the go at the moment - a pale ale whcih is absolutely delicious and better than almost any aussie beer, and an oatmeal stout which while was a bit rough initially, the extra 2 weeks we've given it so far has improved it dramatically, and we're going to wait an additional 3 weeks before we think it'll be at it's peak.
and this weekend we're going to try an alcoholic ginger beer. just for something a bit different. yum.
does anyone else partake in this brilliant pastime?
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2005 : 08:15:26
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good luck man. i only tried it once and it tasted like shit. but i still drank it. i used to know some people in college who brewed some very fine batches, so i know it can be done. and it's obviously worth it. having a giant vat of beer is never a bad thing..
just invite us over when it's ready |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2005 : 08:38:48
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it's always ready man.
always got 1 brewing and atleast 1 drinking.
we brew 30 bottles at a time, and we have 75 in all.
works well.
but your first one always tastes like shit.
ya just gotta keep with it and the results start coming.
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5155 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2005 : 08:40:13
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thats part of my 2006 to do list: brew my own beer
also on that list: loose some weight. i wonder which will actually get accomplished...
-Brian
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HeywoodJablome
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2005 : 08:24:18
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| Once your brewing equipment is paid for is the actual cost of the ingredients a lot less than what you'd pay per six pack at the Quickie Mart? |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 05:24:54
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yes indeed.
especially when beer is so expensive in australia.
where i live it's $15-$20 for a 6 pack is drinkable beer.
whereas we make the exquivalent of 60 stubbies for about $20-$40 depending on what kind where making.
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buzzer
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
47 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 05:42:35
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| Doesnt stop it tasting like crap tho..to be fair if you drink Fosters you should be used to it! |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 07:11:29
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who the hell drinks fosters?
you can't even buy it where i live....no one sells it.
hardly anyone in australia actually drinks it - it's just briliant marketing in the UK thats made it so popular.
sickens me cause it's just so atrociously bad beer.
and sure, home brew can be bad, but it's great fun making and achieving a goodan.
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 07:51:29
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Fosters is Australian for cow urine.
it's worse than Budweiser |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 07:58:27
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quote:
Originally posted by floop
Fosters is Australian for cow urine.
it's worse than Budweiser
well i wouldn't say it's worse than budweiser - maybe as bad a budweiser would be more accurate.
pity the two most popular beers in the world are such rubbish.
now, budvar, the original budweiser (and the people budweiser stole their name from) - thats a great beer.
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 08:04:58
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| i've had Budvar before. it's true. good stuff.. |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 08:10:39
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budvar and pilsner urquell alone are worth a trip to the Czech Republic.
and all the other great Czech beers.
yum yum.
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 08:12:58
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| what about the Czech girls? |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 08:27:37
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well, it was middle of winter when we went
but mrs benji and i still managed to fit a lot of perving in.
50p pints makes perving lots easier too.
but everyone seems stuck in the 80's with their dress sense.
was very funny.
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HeywoodJablome
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 10:38:34
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| $15 to $20 a six pack! Jeepers, that's insane. How does Coopers rank in Australia? I love their sparkling and vintage ale, seems to be the only good beer I've ever had from Oz. |
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Surfer Rosa
> Teenager of the Year <
4209 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 10:43:29
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Used to brew my own many years ago - was a bitter of some kind, can't remember what - not the strongest of beers, but very quaffable especially sat outside on a hot summers night when the the cash was low and the liquor stores closed. Great trick to be able to offer round a couple I'd prepared earlier.
Lead me not into temptation; I can find the way myself. |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 11:15:18
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We tried once to brew our own beer.
We got a little kit for Xmas.
Screwed up on the carbonation and never tried again,
although I have so many packs of the ingredients leftover.
__________
Don't believe the hype. |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 17:44:34
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quote:
Originally posted by HeywoodJablome
$15 to $20 a six pack! Jeepers, that's insane. How does Coopers rank in Australia? I love their sparkling and vintage ale, seems to be the only good beer I've ever had from Oz.
Coopers is a very good beer.
Both the sparkling and the pale ale are damn good. they've also got a few short run ones which come out every now and then....
are they available in the US - easily?
if i was to go buy a 6 pack of coopers today, it'd cost me $18. sure i live in the outback, but even in the big cities, it's a minimum of $15.
beer is ridiculously expensive in australia. spirits too.
thats why home brewing is so popular here...
mrs benji and i now don't buy beer from the bottle shop anymore - we buy ours direct from microbreweries down in southern Western Australia who send it to us for only a couple dollars more per 6pack than what the mass produced beers cost. we pay $80 for a carton (24), which is soooo much, but comparatively, we find it worth it cause the beers are just so delicious, and we like to support the little guys...
current favs:
http://www.colonialbrewingco.com.au
http://www.bootlegbrewery.com.au
http://www.wickedalebrewery.com.au
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Edited by - benji on 10/10/2005 17:47:47 |
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buzzer
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
47 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2005 : 01:42:13
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| Well that livened things up,Yes I like coopers, Czech beer is the best and Gambrinus is my fave. I am over there this weekend and drinkling is going to take ip 70% of my time. |
Edited by - buzzer on 10/11/2005 01:42:42 |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2005 : 06:55:50
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have fun in the czech republic you bastard.
i really like the dark Gambrinus one. the sweeter darker one. seems only the czechs make that style of beer, but it was grand.
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HeywoodJablome
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2005 : 09:41:30
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| You gotta look for Cooper's in the states but you can find it. It's always $8.99 except for my local watering hole/deli where it's $7.99. Seems absurd that it's cheaper half way across the world than in it's own backyard. I think the solution is clear benji, move to the states! : ) |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2005 : 14:32:25
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well i'm from new zealand, and all aussie beer is cheaper in nz than in australia.
and new zealand beer is cheaper in australia than all the aussie beer.
it doesn't make any sense, but i think moving to the states is a bit of an over-reaction to it.....
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HeywoodJablome
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2005 : 16:08:42
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| Yeah, I was just kidding, New Zealand is beautiful from what I've heard. The only beer we get from there is Steinlager, it's okay. I imagine it's probably the most advertised beer there? |
Edited by - HeywoodJablome on 10/11/2005 16:09:27 |
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hickster9
- FB Fan -
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2005 : 16:34:18
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I've been brewing for around ten years...my college roommates got me into it. It's very rewarding, but definitely has it's pitfalls...if you don't pay attention to cleanliness, you can get some odd flavors. To wit, one not-so-favorite brew was nicknamed Swine, with it's alternate name Ham Ale. Yes, folks, this stuff smelled and tasted like ham. It was supposed to be a ginger mead. Little off!
Have had some successes too: Dandelion Wine, was a favorite from '96 (a friend told me recently she finally drank it after all these years).
Huckleberry Mead...made with fresh Huck's picked near Whitefish, MT.
Cabinet Porter...a fabulous beer made that much better from the condensation dripping off the cabinets above back into the wort.
This has inspired me...I must brew again (I've only brewed once since I moved to Maryland). Any suggestions, Benji, or others?
Steve
edit: spelling, grammar
I like cows, they go moo when they eat |
Edited by - hickster9 on 10/11/2005 16:35:42 |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2005 : 20:50:32
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quote:
Originally posted by HeywoodJablome
Yeah, I was just kidding, New Zealand is beautiful from what I've heard. The only beer we get from there is Steinlager, it's okay. I imagine it's probably the most advertised beer there?
steinlager is like fosters - no-one in new zealand drinks it.
i think it's horrible.
all the mass produced beers in NZ are terrible, but there's some great micro-brewed beers which are getting much more popular.
now, the states has some fantastic brews.
having only beeen to new york, my experience is limited, but even there we found some beauties.
when my wife and i continue with our beer and food tour of the world, we definitey want to make many more stops in the US.
any suggestions?
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buzzer
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
47 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2005 : 08:58:47
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| Benji have a Speights for me eh , I went to some Speights pub a few years back think it was in Queenstown and really enjoyed it it was a brew pub and pretty flash. However its no match for the Blue Pacific Bar in Kaikoura. Its quite civilised the way the Kiwis have little glasses and Jugs to share.. |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2005 : 03:31:38
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you're more likely to find speights in thr UK than where i'm liviing just over the ditch! i saw it a few times in the Camel pubs in London and obviously the Walkabouts....
i agree about the blue pacific bar in kaikoura - it's a ripper.
i still think pints are the way to go - and i really miss drinking out of them - managed to get quite a selection while living in London...ah, those were the days. we have pints in nz, but they're usually only 425ml, which is never enough.
but jugs were excellent back at uni. $5 jugs were the best thing since sliced bread...
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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2005 : 04:35:10
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Schooners!
Just wanted to say it, it's a comedy expression.
 I have joined the Cult Of Frank/And I have dearly paid |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2005 : 05:19:17
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i've only ever been in 1 pub where you couldn't order a pint in aussie, and had to go for a schooner, or a middy.
i think schooners are getting phased out - which is good i say cause it's barely a mouthful.
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buzzer
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
47 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2005 : 08:42:54
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Thats a shame Benji as I liked speights best in NZ strange you cant get it in Oz..
Dont get me wrong I like a pint, but you can share a jug easily, as for schooners they are hopeless. I also like the way in Prague they keep bringing you more beer till u tell them to stop oh and it costs under 50p for half a litre...bring on the weekend! |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2005 : 18:00:36
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so you actually liked speights?
i used to like it before i actually tasted real beer with a flavour other than sugar.
but the speights beer bread is good.
did you also try DB Export Gold, Tui, DB Draught? they're the other main mass-produced NZ beers...
i'd rate Tui the best, then speights...but it's all relative.
thing about jugs is that you have to share them - drinking them alone results in either you getting very drunk and/or drinking warm beer.
but jugs sculls are fun - well atleast they used to be.
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buzzer
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
47 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2005 : 01:54:57
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| Yes this speights place had a bout 6 different varieties and I found a dark one I liked at the time, I quite liked tuis as well - Whats a jug scull? |
Edited by - buzzer on 10/14/2005 01:57:32 |
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2005 : 02:36:05
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oh yes - thats right - i forgot.
they bought out different varieties of speights - pilsner, dark, pale(?) and another i think, which i agree are actually pretty good.
i was just thinking of the big main one - speights gold label.
a jug scull is when you drink the entire jug in one go - no stopping allowed.
you're allowed top take breaths, but not actually stop drinking.....is pretty tough....
Tui's not bad actually...as long s it's stone cold.....i used to drink alot of that in my younger days....
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Topic |
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Home Brew
