National Homebrew Club Ireland

Following on from this Saturday's postponed brew day I've put up a poll for an alternative date in October.
I can only do the 12th and the 19th, but was wondering do people normally vote for ALL the dates that suit them or can you only pick one date?

Edit: I've just seen that you can set the maximum number of votes per user in the poll setup. It defaults to 1.

Cheers,

-Barry

You can only actually pick 1 it seems...perhaps voting for what you CAN'T make would be better for future?

Quote from: Bill_00 on September 27, 2013, 04:27:29 PM
You can only actually pick 1 it seems...perhaps voting for what you CAN'T make would be better for future?

I can't make 2 dates in October.

Maybe We should make it that you have 1 vote for every option in the poll, so if all 4 days suit, you can vote for all 4. This would, of course, rely on the honesty of folk not to vote 4 times for the 1 date they can make.

-Barry

I'm new to this forum and a real novice in terms of home brewing. Doing kits at the minute but looking to go to all grain and would love to see it from start to finish to get to grips of what's needed. Are you happy to have a gate-crasher? I have no sway but could make 19th Oct. Thanks.

Scuppered again! We don't have any weekends free in October.

On the 26th we're taking a keg of Ormeau Dark to Dublin for this (http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,4044.msg50039.html#msg50039) if anyone's free/interested.

Should be a good day out!

Quote from: sub82 on September 29, 2013, 08:41:36 AM
On the 26th we're taking a keg of Ormeau Dark to Dublin for this (http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,4044.msg50039.html#msg50039) if anyone's free/interested.

Dammit! It's my youngest's 3rd birthday party that day. You couldn't drop a keg of Ormeau Dark round to mine on your way, could you? Might help dull the pain.

-Barry

Quote from: Bazza on September 29, 2013, 12:19:16 PM

Dammit! It's my youngest's 3rd birthday party that day. You couldn't drop a keg of Ormeau Dark round to mine on your way, could you? Might help dull the pain.

-Barry

Haha! Definitely! Could start claiming medicinal properties?

Guys the 19th suits me, but are we postponing again as October doesn't suit anyone ?

Thanks

Matt.

PS didn't go down on Sat as I thought postponed. Would have gone to meet everyone, just didn't check the forum again

Sorry. How rude of me . Hi Razza how it going mate ? I'm new also. Welcome.

Me too!  :-[

Sorry Razzer - welcome aboard! You'd be more than welcome at the brewday - there's not really a fixed clique of regulars at the meets. Everyone's welcome to get involved!

Quote from: Mattyblade1 on September 29, 2013, 09:00:11 PM
Guys the 19th suits me, but are we postponing again as October doesn't suit anyone ?

Hi Matt,

We're still seeing what date suits the most folk. As long as we get a handful of people who can bring the necessary equipment and ingredients between them, then it's still a go-er. Looks like the 19th of October is the most popular date so far.

@Razzer - Sorry I missed your intro too. Welcome to the forum. Like Chris (Sub82) says, all comers are welcome to the brewdays and meetings. No pre-requisites apart from a liking for craft beer.

@Andy - How're you fixed for October? Does the same plan as last Saturday's postponed brew day suit you still?


Cheers,

-Barry

26th...I'll be horribly hungover....any other day, good times!

Thanks guys. Will keep checking out the forum......bound to need some silly questions asked.

Hi All,

I'm going to close the poll this evening, but it's looking as if October 19th is the preferred date having 3, yes 3 times as many votes as its nearest contender, with a total of 3 votes.

Just in case there's a late spurt for this Saturday it'd be wise to end voting today to allow time for sorting out the logistics and letting Hudson know, etc.

Since 19th is looking like the probably date, how's about a quick head count of those that can make it? Will we go for the same recipe & arrangement as before?

1. Barry (malt, bittering hops & equipment)


Cheers,

-Barry

i can pop in and say hi- pretty busy day for me. let me know if u need equip or ingreds.

weathersppons festival starts that wk- might be good for a pre or post pint

Unfortunately can't make this as we've a birthday on the north coast but have plenty of pale malt if needed.

Okay. Polls have closed, votes counted, 19th October it is!

@Chris - Pity you can't make it. Thanks for the offer of Pale, but we should be sorted.
@Matthew - Hope you can make it down for a while. W/spoons festival? Sounds tempting...

So before I alert the Hudson, any more movement on the head count?


Cheers,

-Barry

New to the forum/home brewing but hopefully can call down at some stage (work permitting)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)

Quote from: Bazza on October 01, 2013, 01:14:01 PM

Quote from: Mattyblade1 on September 29, 2013, 09:00:11 PM
Guys the 19th suits me, but are we postponing again as October doesn't suit anyone ?

Hi Matt,

We're still seeing what date suits the most folk. As long as we get a handful of people who can bring the necessary equipment and ingredients between them, then it's still a go-er. Looks like the 19th of October is the most popular date so far.

@Razzer - Sorry I missed your intro too. Welcome to the forum. Like Chris (Sub82) says, all comers are welcome to the brewdays and meetings. No pre-requisites apart from a liking for craft beer.

@Andy - How're you fixed for October? Does the same plan as last Saturday's postponed brew day suit you still?


Cheers,

-Barry

Bazza

Yea I am good for the 19th, I can still bring crystal malt and fuggles. Plan as per the last brewday suits me

Cheers
Andy

Quote

Yea I am good for the 19th, I can still bring crystal malt and fuggles. Plan as per the last brewday suits me

Cheers
Andy

Nice one Andy. Yeah; I reckon we keep the same plan. You still okay to bring an FV with you too?

-Barry

guys - hope to call in for a while, to introduce myself but very much depends on the day. Boomtown Rats on the Friday, and maybe curry and a few? beers before and after - who knows. Football, swimming with the kids and whatever's left of my hangover on Saturday morning. I have some fuggles, styrian goldings and a wee bit of black malt that I'm happy to donate - which kind of fits with the brew plan. Let me know if you need it. Andy.

Yea, I ill also bring an FV. Looking forward to it

The only equipment I have is that I am a willing student. If Saturday us still on what sort of time do you begin?

No worries, Razzer. That's all you'll need.

Hoping to kick things off between 12 and 1. I would ideally like the mash in before 1. Might just do a 60 minute mash instead of the normal 90, for speed.

Does anyone have a decent thermometer they could bring? I broke my good glass one last week, so am reduced to this cheapo digital one that takes about half an hour to tell you what you'd already guessed long ago.

Still waiting for final confirmation from the Hudson, but shouldn't be a problem. Only worry now is the weather. Looking a little unsettled for Saturday so far.

So, who're the definites again for Saturday?

So far I've:

Definites: Barry, Andy, Razzer
Hoping to call in: Matthew, Quiet man, Stab, Matt.

Any others?


Cheers,

-Barry

I should hopefully make it down

W00T!   ;D

I'll be there for sure.
I'm just getting ready to move to AG so don't really have any equipment (or much knowledge lol) to bring. I have the usual basic stuff (FV, FV/barell with tap, bits n bobs if anything is useful).

I missed the first few so will defo be at this one!

Nice one Chris and fubofo!

On a side note, would anyone be able to bring a solution of non-rinse sanitiser with them? Just enough to swirl round the inside of the FVs?
A spray might be nice too.

Cheers,

-Barry

I got some Vanodine V18 that I use, can bring it with me.
Do you just want me to bring the undiluted bottle so you can mix both non-rinse and rinse?

Do they allow us to use their water?

Quote from: fubofo on October 17, 2013, 05:42:08 PM
I got some Vanodine V18 that I use, can bring it with me.
Do you just want me to bring the undiluted bottle so you can mix both non-rinse and rinse?

Hi Fubofo, that'd be great. Even some pre-mixed non-rinse would do the job.

Quote from: fubofo on October 17, 2013, 05:42:08 PM
Do they allow us to use their water?

I certainly hope so; I'm taking a hose reel down for the wort cooler.


-Barry

Sounds like it's gonna be a good one! Pity we can't make it  :-X

Believe it or not I only got the definite go-ahead from the Hudson bar about 2 hours ago :)

Yeast starter doing its thing in the brew fridge, just the car to pack now.
(stuff that; I'll have a few beers and do it in the morning)

See you all at the Hudson tomorrow from noon onwards.

Hopefully it rained all it needed to today.


-Barry

Good luck for today! Looking forward to sampling the results.

Good to meet up today guys, nice to see a brew in action :)

@BrewBilly - here is the forum thread about Vanodine V18 sanitizer ( http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=26191 (http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=26191) )
There are links to sites for purchasing and some details about dilution rates.

How did the brew go? Found a bottle today from the last demo so have it in the fridge for later  :)

Thanks guys for the great time today l really enjoyed the experience and the knowledge you are willing to impart. Had a few laughs too. Sorry I had to split but im not long home after pick ups and errands. Getting a curry shortly and a bottle of my home brew that was warmly welcomed by you all. Looking forward to getting down for the next one.

Sorry we missed another brew day, just not enough hours in the day lately, keep up the good work guys

@Razzer and Kaipee, good to meed youse lads today. Hope you weren't put off too much by the torrential rain and tripped switches.

@Andy, good man. Solid as; you're now officially an all-grainer  :)

Left the wort outside to cool till about 9pm and finally dropped in the starter when I reckoned she was below 30 degrees. Who knows for sure?

Anyway, should make for some interesting samples at the next meet. I've dropped in some 4th gen Nottingham with a hint of Citra and Armarillo. Destined to be awful :)

Cheers to the guys who stuck it out today. Write-up and photos to follow.

-Barry

Apologies guys.....the day just ran away with itself - and I never made it down.

Well done to those who braved the elements.

Attacked by a hangover on Saturday Morning...sorry lads!

Glad it went well though!

Hi All,

Here's a quick summary of last Saturday's brew day:

Overall, it was a pretty successful day, despite the low turnout. By my own admission I normally brew with a cup of tea in my hand, NOT 4 or 5 pints -and for good reason. I forgot to start heating the sparge water during the 1 hour mash and, to make up the time, thought it'd be a good idea to heat half the water in the boiler and half in the hlt - off the same extension lead!

Needless to say, it all went well initially until suddenly there were no more bubbles in the water and no more electricity in that circuit. A quick apology to Michael as he busied himself un-tripping the trip switch and we were back in business.

Quote from: Quiet_Man on October 20, 2013, 08:40:03 AM
Well done to those who braved the elements.

You don't know how apt that statement was, Quiet_Man :)

Anyway, by the time the torrential rain had started we were safely under the canopy with a nice rolling boil going.

The next little glitch was the fact I'd brought the wrong hose connector for the outside tap, so couldn't use the wort chiller. No biggie; Andy and myself let the wort cool to around 70 degrees, in into 2 fermenters and we were on our way.

The recipe was loosely based on the Autumn ale recipe, originally planned for September's brew day, but our creative flair got the better of us and there were Bramling Cross thrown in there WVG thrown in there - Van Gogh didn't paint by numbers ,did he?

Thanks to Andy, Keith and Rory for all your help and participation, and big thanks again to the Hudson for being accommodating as ever and for not having us kicked out for wanton vandalism.

Here's a few snaps of the day:


The gang:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86457308/IMG_1640.JPG)


Strike water in:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86457308/IMG_1639.JPG)


Love that smell:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86457308/IMG_1641.JPG)


Home-made sparge arm doing its thing:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86457308/IMG_1643.JPG)


How's that for an improvised 3-tier setup?
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86457308/IMG_1644.JPG)


I call this one 'Rolling Boil in Pi$$ing Rain':
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86457308/IMG_1646.JPG)


Yours truly kickin' back, keepin' chilled:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86457308/GC.jpg)


Don't you just love them at that age (image reproduced from May brewday):
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86457308/car_seat.jpg)


Cheers,

-Barry

Great photos Bazza.

Yeah luv the puppy. They say the chick's like a man holding a puppy :D

What better use for a kidy booster seat!

It will NEVER say "Are we there yet, Are we there yet, Are we there yet, Are we there yet, Are we there yet"

Quick update:

Bottled my half of the batch yesterday - 19 bottles in all, plus a little taster :)

You can really taste the Crystal and Chocolate malt, definitely there but not overpowering, kind of what we were aiming for. Can't remember exactly how much of the Bramling Cross we chucked into the boil but I could swear I'm getting a hint of blackcurrant too.

Love the colour as well - very Autumn-y. Best drunk tepid by a smoky coal fire with a cloth cap, a mangy Collie, and a mild dissatisfaction over milk quotas:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86457308/2013-11-03%2016.01.31.jpg)

The only slight concern is that it seems to have attenuated pretty low (around 1010 FG; I remember thinking at the time the mash temp was a little lower than I would have liked), so I'm hoping the malts and hops disguise any overly-alcoholic thinness.

Anyway, we'll see what 2 weeks in here will do, but initial impressions are pretty positive:

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86457308/2013-11-03%2015.18.48.jpg)

I don't think I can make the November meet; it wouldn't be ready anyway, but I'll bring a few bottles along to the next one.

Cheers.

-Barry

That's a great colour! Hoping to do something like this soon.

I bottled my half of Friday night, so they sat in the hot press for a bit then the fridge to condition.

My overall impression was a Autumny ale, nutty sort of taste, all in all very impressed with our effort.

Nice one Andy.

What yeast did you go for in the end?

-Barry

I used some Muntons Gold Ale yeast, not to sure how I feel about it yet. My initial thoughts was that it was very sticky, my FV was quite hard to clean in comparison o other yeasts I use. I guess it will be down to taste at the end of the day.