Hello there

[Dr Brown Ale]

Hi folks,

We are a crew of 5 lads and a lady, based on the Northside, mostly from Coolock, but the brewing takes place in Finglas.

One of us has been brewing on and off for three years with kits and one Elderflower Champagne, another two have done one kit between them and everyone else is brand new.

We started earlier in the year, and we did 3 kit brews - Coopers Canadian Blonde, A Nut Brown Ale and a Young's Harvest Stout. The idea was to get everyone to see the process and take part in it so we did the Canadian to instructions, but added a kilo or so of DME to the other two kits.

They were then bottled after three weeks or so in the Fermenters, using Coopers PETs.

Our second brew day was a bit more "adventerous". We headed to Tesco in Clare Hall and picked up a lager kit, and we had a Coopers Stout kit too. The lager was made pretty much to instructions, with some DME added. To the Coopers Stout we added to one half 2 quartered Chillis, and to the other half 100g Cocoa, 200g Treacle, some Vanilla extract - at bottling time it also got some Chocolate Extract dropped into each bottle.

On that same day we cracked a few of the first batch - went down well with everyone which was excellent for our first time. Nothing undrinkable, and actually the initial Stout was delicious.

The success meant everyone was willing to chip in and make a large order of equipment and ingredients from one of the homebrew sites. Which we did, spending €250 on caps, more equipment, DME, hops, grains etc.

Three weeks later we had our third brew day, to also do the bottling of the second batch. We did 4 brews that day. a Kit IPA and a Kit Wheat Beer (both Coopers, and both with some light DME added), we did a Ginger Beer (2kg ginger, 6 limes, 2 kilo medium DME 18litres water total) and an extract Brown Ale. All 4 are still in the Fermenters.

It's a pity the WJK meetups are on on a Tuesday, as that day doesn't really suit a lot of the lads. We'd love to get involved in something like that, and have some outside agents taste our brews for us, so we can gauge where we are.

Anyway, that's us. 

[Padraic]

There are also a few other meetups and you're welcome whether you have tasters to bring or not!

There is a northside meetup in Swords every month as well. Not sure when it's on this month but if you check out the north county forum there is a bit in there about it.

I'd say check out the kits section as well and ask the guys a lot of questions as there are some great brewers there!

There is also a brewday on in Tog on the second Sunday every month and you'd be more than welcome to attend!

[Dr Brown Ale]

Where, or what is Tog?

I'll check out the suggestions, I work in Swords myself, so that could be a good idea to go there alright.

WJK is right on my bus route though.

[Padraic]

Tog is a hacker space, we brew there once a month!

It's near the bull and castle!

Their website is tog.ie

[Will_D]

Hi folks,

We are a crew of 5 lads and a lady, based on the Northside, mostly from Coolock, but the brewing takes place in Finglas.

It's a pity the WJK meetups are on on a Tuesday, as that day doesn't really suit a lot of the lads. We'd love to get involved in something like that, and have some outside agents taste our brews for us, so we can gauge where we are.

I know Tuesdays are not the best for all of you but our next meet up in the Old Boro is Tuesday 14th May at 7pm. If you are in Swords then you ( or all of yous) are more than welcome.

As summer is comming we will probably hold brew days/bbqs in our houses or go to some bars at weekends.

We are also brewing a cask of beer to be aged in a Whiskey barrel.

Have a look at the NCB threads here:

http://nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/board,23.0.html

and if you all can make please sign on. No need to bring beers we usually have plenty but you can if you wish.