Brewing beer in Istanbul? (First all-grain beer)

[benbr]

Hi there,

It seems I've been a bit confused with regards to what I need. I won't need a keg but something to ferment the beer in - I presumed even this would need to be sealed with some sort of pressure release.

I've never brewed beer before but since there are so few options in Istanbul (though I recommend BBC!) I thought I'd give it a crack myself. I think I"ll need something like in the picture below: http://www.brewferm.be/img/startpakket.jpg

I'd actually thought about Dolapdere, but walking past it all seemed to be cookers and deep fat fryers. I should maybe go in!

 

[tarikapak]

http://www.armaindustry.com/

These guys can help you out. You need a demijohn, a plastic cap and an airlock.

 

[benbr]

Thanks very much!

 

[joy]

anyone interested in a homebrew meet up? i just found this forum/about to start my first batch/excited to meet others brewing in istanbul

 

[tarikapak]

I would like to do that. I think Bosphorus Brewing Co is the best place to do that, since it is the only decent microbrewery.

 

[slingshotmike]

I brew in Istanbul and I'm interested in meeting up. I need a barely supplier badly.

 

[istanbira]

Hi all. We should definitely organise a meet-up at the BBC. I was just there a Friday, and their new double IPA is VERY tasty. I'll be away till mid-Jan. Maybe end of Jan would be a good time?

 

[AdamAle]

I just moved to Istanbul and brought enough hops and yeast for 2 brews. Has anyone found a shop or website to order barely from? I would be interested in brewing with someone if they have the barely (split the cost) and brewing equipment.

Also, if anyone plans on meeting up at BBC to discuss events in the Istanbul brewing scene send me a message. It would be great if us home brewers could do a tasting of everyone's beers one day in the future.

 

[slingshotmike]

I have some bad news about that- as far as my extensive research goes- there isn't any option to buy 2 or 6- row barley in Turkey. I've researched as best as I can concerning where Efes gets their malt- but I've heard 2 rumors, one- they import their own, one- they grow their own. Either way- it doesn't help home brewers. People have suggested asking the bbc for help but I asked and nobody responded to my request (email). I found a company in Belgium which is a malt supplier, but they told me it would be 2000 Euros customs and clearance tax to import. 25-50 kg order of malt. With that said- I'm kind of convinced there must be some place to buy barely. Taps brewery brews here, and so does BBC. I know bbc imports too, but maybe someone can learn who is the company importing for them (if there is one). With that said- I've slowly collected most of the equipment needed, including mash tun etc. I can help you find equipment you need. I found a shop that sells glass carboys. Also- bottles were a challenge for me- since many beer bottles here (even if you save used bottles) are screw cap. Finally, it's worth it if you really have a desire to brew. Particularly because the beer here blows.

 

[AdamAle]

This sounds a lot more difficult then expected. I know basic barely is used to feed livestock and so maybe we could find some at a market or feed supplier. I'm going to look around and if something pops up I'll post about it, then we can discuss carboys and other essentials.
Thanks for the reply. Good luck on your end.

 

[slingshotmike]

Actually all barley is not created equal. You need 2 or 6 row barley for most beer. But if you have any breakthrough if be really interested. What we really need is someone who speaks Turkish well enough to do some research on this. It's hard googling (or asking around) for that matter when you can't use the Turkish. There's not much to be found in English.

 

[AdamAle]

Yeah, I'm willing to go with any barely at the moment. 2,4,6 row, it doesn't matter. You are right about having a translator. Might just get someone to write me a note and bring it to the markets.

Has anyone checked the Egyptian Bazaar?

 

[slingshotmike]

I know some friends who supposedly found some in the bazaar a few years ago. Yeah- I agree since there isn't anything else- it might be worth a try. With that said - it means you'll have to malt it yourself first- which takes a bit of work from what I've read.

 

[SmCranf]

I visited Turkey back in November, really liked it and need to go back, maybe I'll try some of your brew wen I get there. Best of luck to ya!

 

[istanbira]

Hi. I speak Turkish and have tried for a while to ask / google / etc to find materials. I can say that you just can't get it.

There was a supplier from Germany several years ago that was investigating the market, and didn't find a big enough demand to start offering beer ingredients. Boooo

I bring all of my ingredients from Europe or the States when I'm traveling and just go with that. You'd be surprised how many friends are willing to bring stuff back for you too, when they learn about your tasty talent. As for basic equipment, I got a beer kit shipped to me from the states. Amazingly it got through customs. I had a wort chiller made in Karaköy from the copper guys, and got the pot and burner from Eminonu.

 

[Cenkercakin]

Hey there to all the brewers.. I am Turkish and got the taste of brewing in the States.. The problem is we built a lot of equipment from scratch and are almost ready for brewing with a neat DIY HERMS brew system.. The problem is it was disastrous news for me to learn that our hops, yeast, starsan etc. was stuck at customs... I think I can get by without the sanitizer and all but man I need those hops and yeast.. Anybody know of a good place to obtain
hops and yeast supplied hassle-free? This customs thing really got to my nerves... We even malted rye from scratch and now we are stuck!

 

[istanbira]

Hi Cenkercakin, please see my previous post....sorry to say that those things are just not sold here. I bring everything with me from the States or Europe. I hate to say that Homebrewing in Turkey is a desperate and less than viable hobby. Really really sorry about your hops, and very tasty malted rye. Makes me sad too. Can offer you a bottle of my Rulman Porter to cheer you up?

 

[AntalyaBrewer]

Hey there, fellow brewers!
Finally I found a thread about brewing in Turkey..

I might have found a place (in İzmir) where some stuff is sold..
http://magaza.hammaddeler.com/Bira-Malzemeleri,LA_5637-2.html#labels=5637-2
http://magaza.hammaddeler.com/Sivi-Malt-Ekstrakti-15-Kg,PR-13434.html
http://magaza.hammaddeler.com/Toz-Malt-Ekstrakti-25-Kg,PR-13453.html
All the products are very generic, and those liquid and dry malt extracts are not even meant for brewing, but maybe they'd be good for some base ingredients? The prices are not exactly cheap, considering that you don't know what you're buying, but it's not extremely expensive either.
What do you think about the stuff available there? Maybe someone here has even tried to order and use the products on this site?

I'm myself a foreigner living in Antalya and get my ingredients from my visitors or my own visits abroad.
I started brewing a year ago or so in order to have a more varied (and cheaper) alternative to local beers.. brewing mostly from extracts and kits, although I did some grain steeping in a bag a few times.

 

[Cenkercakin]

Hi Cenkercakin, please see my previous post....sorry to say that those things are just not sold here. I bring everything with me from the States or Europe. I hate to say that Homebrewing in Turkey is a desperate and less than viable hobby. Really really sorry about your hops, and very tasty malted rye. Makes me sad too. Can offer you a bottle of my Rulman Porter to cheer you up?

Hey that would be awesome. I will be in -if I can find tickets on the election weekend that is- İstanbul on Sat. 03/29 to get some ingredients from BBC. I normally reside in Bursa. I would like to meet up if you can, have a beer, or have a taste of your Porter. I will pm you actually instead.

 

[fubar32]

Read the entire thread. Left disappointed that not ONE person said "Not Constantinople?"

 

[SmCranf]

^Lols from a guy with a history degree


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[Cenkercakin]

Hey there, fellow brewers!

Finally I found a thread about brewing in Turkey..



I might have found a place (in İzmir) where some stuff is sold..

http://magaza.hammaddeler.com/Bira-Malzemeleri,LA_5637-2.html#labels=5637-2

http://magaza.hammaddeler.com/Sivi-Malt-Ekstrakti-15-Kg,PR-13434.html

http://magaza.hammaddeler.com/Toz-Malt-Ekstrakti-25-Kg,PR-13453.html

All the products are very generic, and those liquid and dry malt extracts are not even meant for brewing, but maybe they'd be good for some base ingredients? The prices are not exactly cheap, considering that you don't know what you're buying, but it's not extremely expensive either.

What do you think about the stuff available there? Maybe someone here has even tried to order and use the products on this site?



I'm myself a foreigner living in Antalya and get my ingredients from my visitors or my own visits abroad.

I started brewing a year ago or so in order to have a more varied (and cheaper) alternative to local beers.. brewing mostly from extracts and kits, although I did some grain steeping in a bag a few times.

Hello.. I have checked that website before and what is sold there.. I think they function like any other e-commerce website like ebay or amazon; but I was not convinced by their selection of products.. Please share your results with us if you get to try them out!


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[burakkilic]

Hi guys;

I am very happy to see this thread. It's very good to see that there are some guys that loves brewing in Istanbul. Hope to meet one day.

I've been 2 time in BBC and I like their beers. But I want to brew my own beer.

I started to collect the equipments to brew. Some of them are 'Do It Yourself' but anyway, it is acceptable I guess.

But hops, malt and yeast are pain.

Today a brewmaster friend said that I can find malt from Tuborg in Izmir. They sell 50kg malt packages. But you should find someone to send package from Izmir to Istanbul I am searching for it.

About hops and yeast, I don't know how I can find. Have you tried ordering online?

I am going to Barcelona in May and I hope I can find what I need there. But as willing to brew every week, I should find another solution.

 

[birpipodegil]

I just came back to Istanbul, with a decent amount of willpower to start homebrewing. Willing to meet you all, if you do meet on a schedule.

Cheers!

 

[Erol]

Hi everyone,

I am going to relocate to Istanbul in 3 months and I believe importing the ingredients are the best/only option to brew in Turkey. I read the previous posts and someone had problems with the customs. Does anyone else try to import the ingredients and face with similar problems?

Thanks,

Erol

 

[IstanbulJohnM]

Hi - everyone - I got a brew going with some equipment and a brew kit brought over from the UK. It may be the only decent pint of English ale in Beykoz - we won't know for a few weeks though if it's decent or even drinkable. Will let you know.

 

[tarikapak]

Hi - everyone - I got a brew going with some equipment and a brew kit brought over from the UK. It may be the only decent pint of English ale in Beykoz - we won't know for a few weeks though if it's decent or even drinkable. Will let you know.

How did it come out?

 

[mavicanuck]

Hey, just checking in with my own experience here. It's been a fiasco.
I ordered 12 Kilo of malt, hops, and yeast from Germany, along with a bunch of brewing equipment. The first shipment got lost (tracking says it left Germany, but never pops back up on the grid). The shipper was good about it, and send it again, this time with insurance. It took a month to get here, then a week in customs before they finally asked me to go pick it up. All in, this has been about 3 months of waiting.
The customs guy had basically already decided I wasn't getting anything. First he caused trouble about the oxy cleaner, but eventually decided that was ok. Then he told me it's for beer, so it's not allowed. I explained to him it is legal (actually haven't been able to confirm that but they make home raki here), so he gave up. Then he decided the yeast was a problem. He gave up on that too. Then he picked the grain up. He said it's an agricultural product so not allowed. I told him this is a processed product, it can't be planted to grow anything. He then said he can't take the risk, confirming that he doesn't know what he's doing. So my entire package is being sent back.

This all occured through my girlfriend who's been translating. She said we would have tried to bribe him, but it was too crowded.

I would love to hear if anyone has had any luck, but this has been so frustrating I may just wait until I leave Turkey.

 

[mavicanuck]

Just checking in with my experience. It's been a bit of a fiasco.
I ordered about 12 kilo of malt from Germany, along with yeast, hops and equipment. The first package got lost (tracking says it left Germany, but never pops back up on the radar). The shipper was good about it and sent a second package, this time insured. It spend a month getting here, and a week sitting in customs before they asked me to come pick it up. Total: 3 months.

The customs guy had basically decided I wasn't leaving with my package before I got there. First he was unsure about my oxy cleaner, then whether he could allow yeast in. He tried telling me that because it makes beer, it's not allowed but I convinced him otherwise. Then he decided my malt was an agricultural product so I would need a license for it. I explained that it's a processed product and can't be grown. He said he couldn't risk it, which confirmed for me that he had no idea what he was doing. Either way my package is on it's way back to Germany and I couldn't keep anything.

The whole thing was through my girlfriend who translated. She said we would have tried bribing him but it was too crowded in there.
I'd like to here if anyone has had any luck. That was so frustrating I think I'll wait until I move before I try again.

 

[benbr]

Mavicanuck, sorry to hear about your problems. I can't say I'm surprised to be honest - have you seen how long it take to even receive a letter from Europe? I brought my equipment and other stuff from UK.


Everyone: I'm trying to source Dry Malt Extract (toz malt ekstrakt&#305 in Istanbul. Anyone know when I can get some in a quantity less than 25kg? Dextrose too, but I can work with sucrose.

I'm going to ask a couple of bakeries.