Home brewing
Well with the kind donation of a brewing kit from Bob &
Cheryl and good advice and homebrew stock from Abbey Home Brew based in
Kirkstall Leeds the homebrew adventure should begin this year.
Ok its only a beer kit, but as a novice home brewer I have to start some how
and cheap lager from the Aldi in France just will not do.
I have already learnt something today. Its those mash
bucket's you buy for homebrew.
Those with the snap on lid are not ideal as you have to leave the lid loose
so
 the
beer can release gas which runs the risk of letting in wild yeast. The risk
is low, with beer but lets face it I am in the Limousin France its a long
drive to get a replacement beer kit if the brew
is ruined. The solution: my new tub with vent,
and grommet in the top to fit non return valve; much bigger too.
So if all goes to plan a Norfolk bitter style brew ( 40 pints of) and a
ginger beer should be on the cards for this summer, Ill add to this column
and let you know the results in a month or two.
The Homebrewers Garden by Joe Fisher and Dennis Fisher ISBN 1-58017-010-2
An encouraging book with regards to using home-grown ingredients. It covers grains as well as hops, fruits and herbs. Has growing, harvesting and preparation instructions as well as recipes with extract and grain versions. It assumes you already know the basics of brewing which is fair enough.
This book led to us buying Amaranth and Spelt Weed seeds so by the end of 2007 we should have a real home-grown homebrew on the go.
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This is just fascinating. Even if we never intended brewing a thing it's a completely absorbing read. We both thoroughly enjoyed it. We learnt lots of things that we never knew about the history of brewing in cultures all around the world. If you're interested in beer, herbs or history there's something in there for you.
There are masses of recipes and the background to them has us just itching to give them a go. I can't wait till the herb garden is up and flourishing and I've learnt to identify the wild plants in the countryside around us to try some of these beers.
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Well we have to come back down to earth at some point!
All the craft brewing above will need some sort of foundation and lets face it the title suits. This is our guide for the basics so we'll know what equipment we have to buy when we get to France and what we can bodge.
Brewing terms and techniques explained in plain language with a good dose of humour thrown in. Sounds good to me.
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