House of Homebrew

[Bazza]

Finally got around to visiting the new Nature's Way offshoot down in Smithfield market today during lunch break.
Stocks are somewhat limited at the minute, but looks promising. They actually have Danstar and Safale yeasts, so good stuff. Nice to have somewhere I can just walk to (albeit from work) for bits and pieces without having to pay postage or wait for 2 days. Even Natures's Way's far enough out of the way that I could only get there on a Saturday afternoon by car.

Ended up buying a glass carboy too. £28, bung and handle included, and no postage to pay. Sweet. Only issue now is how to get it up home on the back of the bike 
Plus the fecker looks to tall to fit in my brew fridge.

-Barry

[iain_todd]

Class that's worth remembering. I'll have to head down some day and check it out. If we all ask about all grain when we go in, at least it'll let them know there is interest. I'm the same - homebrewing hasn't worked out as cheaply as I thought it would be, and it's partly due to expensive postage from England. Having a decent brew shop I can walk down to on a Saturday afternoon would make all the difference.

[Roo]

I was chatting to Jackie up in Natures Way and it seems they are keen to bring in a mill so you can do your own grain when you purchase it. Also they are looking at changing suppliers cos they are having issues with their grain and hop supplier. They are interested in getting a reasonably priced starter kit for all grain enthusiasts. I like them up there....very aproachable and eager. 

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

Plus the fecker looks to tall to fit in my brew fridge.

The bubblers can add a lot of height. If you switched to a blow-off tube instead, would it fit?

[Bazza]

Plus the fecker looks to tall to fit in my brew fridge.

The bubblers can add a lot of height. If you switched to a blow-off tube instead, would it fit?

Turns out I might be okay. I took a quick measurement and it looks like I might just be able to set the carboy on the floor of the fridge (in front of the annoying plastic jutty out part) and still get the door closed. If that's the case then there's plenty of room for a bubbler.

Also they are looking at changing suppliers cos they are having issues with their grain and hop supplier.

Aye, that was pretty evident in the Smithfield store. The grain & hop selection was very limited. Couldn't find any Crystal malt. Plus the prices for their 113g hop packets are very high.

I like them up there....very aproachable and eager. 

Have to agree. I used to be a regular in the Newtownards Road shop and they've always been dead nice and helpful. I also get all my eucalyptus, ylang ylang and similar such essential oils up there 


-Barry

[Paddy]

Have popped into House of Homebrew a few times now myself.

Saved my backsaide by having US-05 as I just noticed the day before brewday I was out!  Couldn't have waited days for delivery.  Plus they are 5 minutes walk from work so really handy.

A friend of mine grabbed a 33L FV from them for us the other day. He said he got a few strange looks carrying it through town 

[Bazza]

A friend of mine grabbed a 33L FV from them for us the other day. He said he got a few strange looks carrying it throw town 

For that same reason I insisted they give me a box for the glass carboy I bought on Tuesday. Didn't fancy the bewildered/scared/sympathetic glances from punters in Castlecourt and Donegall place.

-Barry

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

A friend of mine grabbed a 33L FV from them for us the other day. He said he got a few strange looks carrying it through town 

Its a source of endless amusement to all my work colleagues, the lengths that I go to drag a 25 Kg sack of base malt through central london on a barclays hire bike.

The looks I get from everyone gives me a perverse sense of pride.

Especially the look of fear from the jaywalkers who jump out on front of me going down the hill on Charing Cross road.

[Bazza]

Well, fears of the carboy not fitting in the fridge were unfounded. Here's a wee Proper Job clone I stuck on last night:


Sadly, the brew wasn't without its casualties:


Looks like a trip back to House of Homebrew next week is on the cards


-Barry

[Paddy]

Glad the carboy fit! (Can't see the picimitures though)

What happened to the brew?  Was considering getting a 5gal carboy but think I will have to stick with my 1 gals until I get more experience under my belt

[Bazza]

! (Can't see the picimitures though)
What happened to the brew?

Brew was fine, which is more than can be said for my stirring paddle. After almost 5 years' great service she snapped in two whilst stirring the mash.

Was considering getting a 5gal carboy but think I will have to stick with my 1 gals until I get more experience under my belt

The carboy is a heavy brute, especially when filled with 23l of wort. I was so paranoid about breaking it, I carried it around inside a plastic bucket and rinsed it out on the lawn, which must have looked weird to the neighbours at 10:30 in the evening 

-Barry

[sub82]

The carboy is a heavy brute, especially when filled with 23l of wort.

Haha - they can be a mission like. I've been thinking of getting a Carboy Carrier but been using a material recycling bag for the past while!

[Bazza]

Stupid dropbox public urls for images. Fixed now, hopefully.

[belfastboozer]

Silly question maybe but what's the difference brewing in a glass carboy compared to a plastic bin

[Ciderhead]

no such thing as silly question, but lots of reasons for not using either, let me just go through those, its easier

Plastic is great, I know I sell the stuff, but has limitations in terms of oxidation for long brews, microscratches, potential for infection, discolours after a while on dark beers, can absorb aromas from beer and or hops, make sure you lid and bubbler are tight not interchageable between beer and wine

Glass weighs a ton, easily dropped , can't be boil washed, lets all light in so risk of light stike, narrow neck and a bitch to dry hop in, pain to clean, smaller volume in case you get a blower.

Anyone else?

Having said all that I only use glass or stainless kegs now