Awesome Father's Day gift from the wife

[TampaSupremo]

My Father's Day present arrived today while I was at home. I looked at the box and said "So you got me a home brewing kit? Sweet." "How did you know?" "The box says 'Cooper's Home Brewing Kit.'" Anyway, it seems like a quality product-heavy plastic fermentation barrel (rather like a small rainwater barrel), 30 1 liter plastic bottles, malt concentrate, brewing sugar, yeast, etc...everything you need to start. Makes about 40 pints at a time.

Anyone here brew their own? Any advice for a first timer? I'm looking forward to getting this thing rolling in the next few weeks when I get some time.

Here is a link to the US distributor.

TampaSupremo

 

[denverdog]

Awesome man, congrats! I am not a homebrewer but have spent time around them and from what I hear sanitation is THE name of the game.

Best of luck!

 

[Infinity]

Father's Day gift from your wife ??? You her father too? :laugh:

Enjoy the brewing.

Brian

 

[TampaSupremo]

Father's Day gift from your wife ??? You her father too? :laugh:

Thought it sounded better than "from my baby momma."

TampaSupremo

 

[bully1875]

Father's Day gift from your wife unsure.gif You her father too? laugh.gif

Enjoy the brewing.

FANTASTIC LINE .. :laugh:

 

[punk_lawyer]

My friend, the secret is in the hops...trust me...get decent hops from a good supplier and you will be well rewarded. I haven't brewed since I moved a couple of years ago - some of my equipment was destroyed in the move - but I loved doing it. Here are a few tips:

1) Do your 'cooking' on days when you can vent the house. The stuff really creates a strong smell;
2) ALWAYS bottle in brown bottles...just trust me...anything else does funny stuff with light and causes cloudiness and off flavors;
3) Store your aging bottles in a cool and dark place. This one is also crucial. Keep the temperature steady;
4) Mix and Match - don't be afraid to take malts from one line and mix with ingredients from another...with time you will learn how to tinker with the ingredients to get good results...I even brewed a sweetened variety that my wife liked as a summer ale;
5) One good thing to do is to pour bottles through a strainer or even through a coffee filter into a pitcher. It will clear all of the natural sediment to give a nice look for people who are going to try your work but are not familiar with what home brewed beers look like.

ENJOY!