Recent content by Mike@Lincoln

I have just finished my third brew which I made in time for Christmas, just a simple kit (Yorkshire Bitter ) consisting of the wort and yeast, but I like to add more sugar than the recommended 1kg....this one came out at 5.4 per cent ABV. I use a 5 gallon ( UK ) plastic keg and usually it needs...

The local pub showed me two types today, one of the lagers has a very fine pipe with external diameter only about 5 mm. The others have the pipe most used here with the internal about 6mm or so. Mike.

I plan to use a metal keg and tap just as in a pub, the length of the line will only be about 10 feet , can anyone advise as to the correct gas pressure for an 11 gallon keg (UK), are there different pressure settings for bitter and lager ? Mike, Lincoln, UK. :confused:

I once knew of a guy in a small town where I used to live here in the U.K. where the law is very strict, and he got around it by selling the locals a jar of his home made pickles, and giving a bottle of his home brew with it "for free". I remember that even some of the local police officers...

Well folks ! I just took afinal reading today and ABV works out at 7.2 !!!! Wow ! It's in the keg now so I will let this one mature and clear some more. I hope to start another brew next week, only this time I think I'll go easier on the sugar and honey, it's ok having these strong brews for...

What exactly do you define as a Carboy ? The reason that I ask is because in the UK, a carboy was a large round glass bottle ( 10 gallons ) with a narrow neck, packed in a steel basket with straw so that it was shock-resistant, it was used for transporting sulphuric acid or distilled water, I...

I first posted on 19/06 titled "Second brew just started"....well, the fermentation has just about stopped and the hydrometer says 1003. OG was 1055 so it seems this will be a pretty strong brew !................I can tell SAM 75 that when the neighbors find out I will definitely be holding a...

Your remarks about laws on brewing relating to watered beer prompts me to tell about "Holliday Beer" here in the UK. Close to me we have a large holiday centre on the east coast of Lincolnshire, and I noticed some years ago that the beer in the bars on the complex were very watery ( I am talking...

Interesting letters here ! Some of the pubs here in Lincoln UK have it on the hand pumps, I have seen it in bottles the local supermarkets but prefer the draught version, and yes, it does tend to "go off" pretty quick once the barrell is tapped, I think it's one of those beers thats very fussy...

Thanks for your info and kind words in reply to "Cost of a good pint..." I posted first in the beginners forum titled "Second brew just started " It looks like prices over there are similar to the UK when you convert dollars to pounds. I like to keep my brews simple so I just use extract...

Hi guys ! Over here in the UK I pay £2.20 for a pint at my local pub, with a choice of three real ales. A nearby pub charges £2.30, and another up £2.45. It has a lot to do with which wholesale merchant they deal with. Dealing directly with a brewery is generally cheaper, but most of the...

Thanks guys for the replies to my first post. I do have a hydrometer and I can tell you that the OG was 1055, it's fermenting nicely now so we shall see how it turns out ! Re the hand pump, I found no problems with it, having access to line cleaner etc., but my brews are usually drunk up...

Hi all ! Having retired I have dabbled with home brews before, but like anything I like doing it grows on me ! I don't like to make things too complicated so I just buy a simple bitter kit from Wilko's ( a can of concentated wort + dried yeast ) and experiment a bit. For example: the...