Ballyclare region anybody??

[mr.drankin]

Hello everybody, just joined and I am from Ballyclare.  Been brewing kits of wine, beer, everything  for 5years.  Just constructed my AG system, hoping to get started ASAP, as soon as I can get my hands on grains etc!!!   

[Bazza]

Welcome to the forum Mr.Drankin.

Ahhhh... nothing beats that first AG brew. The smells, the steam, the bubbling, the wife asking you what the hell you've done to her kitchen, the moving the whole operation into the garage.... good times!

What's your first AG brew going to be then? I guess you'll be keeping things relatively simple for the first go while you work out volumes, temps, etc and generally get familiar with the kit?

Can't help you on the Ballyclare front. I have in-laws living on the Hillhead Road, but they don't brew (or maybe they just hide it very well when we're up there for Sunday lunch).

If you're about the Belfast area on the 21st, why not pop into the Hudson bar for our monthly meet; maybe bring a sample or two from your kits?

Anyway, good to have another NornIrn brewer on board

Cheers,

-Barry

[mr.drankin]

Yes Bazza been looking forward to it and to be honest I dont know why I haven't done it sooner!!  I have a few beers on the list that I got from beersmith that I might try to get my head round the temps etc.  Do you have any recommendations for grain hop supplier?

The hudson bar??? is that were they do the brewdog on tap??? love that stuff

Sorry no samples all I have is a corny keg half filled with brewferm triple.  I was intending on buying the  Blichmann beer gun to bottle. 

[Bill_00]

Brewuk or themaltmiller are your best for hops and grains.

A combination of both of them will probably give you the most beneficial P&P!

If you like IPA's, they're really straight forward. Buy a big bag of Marris Otter and Crystal malts....they'll do you for a good 4 or 5 brews.

Hops...all depends what you like...Cascade and Centennial are pretty common favourites though!

[Bill_00]

http://www.brewtoad.com/recipes/1367110

That was my first AG brew (Got it from a clone book). Was dead easy, worked out really well

[mr.drankin]

Cheers for the info Bill, I think I will try that that recipe.  I am just back from amsterdam.   I found a bar which had alot of flying dog beers on tap.  And I have to say , they were tasty. 

[Bazza]

What Bill_00 said

Amarillo's a pretty amazing hop too. Great for late additions.

Though, regarding BrewUK, the last time I attempted to order grain from them, the delivery to NI had rocketed from £9 to £16.50.

This crowd seem better on the delivery front:
http://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/
and you get 5% discount if you become a full member of the National Homebrew Club.

So you've got a corny setup then? Got into all that myself last summer. Beats the hell out of bottling. Plus, it's amazing how easily impressed your mates are when you show them that 'special' fridge in the garage with the beer tap sticking out of it. Though it's also amazing how quickly disappointed a lot of them are when cold tasteless lager doesn't come out of it.

Yeah, Hudson's the place with BrewDog on tap. Love or loathe BrewDog and their gimmicks, but you can't argue that they make fantastic beer. 5am Saint's definitely in my top 5.

-Barry

[mr.drankin]

I will probably do a range of styles to get familiar with hops and grains.  I  have just paid for full member so I might thehomebrewcompany a shout, I have been trying to avoid the p&p but no such luck.

Yes I have made a few good brews but I just cant convert my mates yet lol  corny kegs are the way forward and its handy as I can get free gas from work

Have you ever had any experience with the beer gun??

So the Hudson bar next Friday?? whats the time scale.

[Irish Party Ale]

My first recipe is here http://www.beoir.org/community/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=2936 if thats any good to you - I was really happy with it!

[Bill_00]

Nelson for your first brew? A brave man!!

Think I nabbed the last Nelson hops in the UK a week or two ago

[Bazza]

So the Hudson bar next Friday?? whats the time scale.

7:30 for 8pm. The Heel bar.

We'll all be wearing a carnation.

-Barry