Intro - what do I need for beer?

[jerryk1234]

Hello,

I've been making fruit wine for a few years. Basically - I bought a house, it came with a cherry plum orchard. What do you do with gallons and gallons ( and gallons and gallons! ) of plums? You can't eat unlimited plums. Plums promote regularity, and it's possible to over-promote it. So I put up a couple 5 gallon batches of powerful plum wine each year.

Thought I'd like to try my hand at beer. Looked at the cheap equipment kits, and I *think* I have most of it already. I have two plastic carboys, a fermenter bucket, fermentation locks, an autosiphon, a bottle filler, sanitizer, hydrometer ( damn it's easy to break those things ).... and a 4-gallon Farberware pot.

It sort of looks like equipment-wise all I'd need would be a bottle capper,
and some bottles and tops. ?

My pot is only 4 gallons. Is it possible to brew a 5 gallon batch with a 4 gallon pot?

- Jerry Kaidor

 

[av8er79]

You could make an extract 5 gallon batch with your 4 gallon pot. And yea bottles and a capper is about all you need.

 

[Kevin79]

Looks like you have just about everything you need to jump into basic extract brewing. You will need to get some steeping bags for steeping grains as well. A four gallon kettle is fine for 5 gallon partial boil extract recipes. You will have so be a little more careful when adding the extract to your kettle to prevent it from scorching, but that just means taking your kettle off from heat, and adding the extract slowly while stirring.

 

[unionrdr]

You can do 2.5 gallon partial boils in your 4 gallon kettle. Most extract kits call for 2.5G PB's anyway. Just put some 3/1 gallon jugs of spring water in the fridge a day or two before brew day to top off with. I even do pb/pm biab in the same 5 gallon (20qt) SS stick pot I started with. Just get a nylon bag to fit your kettle & you're in business for steeping or partial mashing.
The plums might be interesting in a porter with vanilla beans.

 

[flars]

I would start canning plums for a year round supply if I had an orchard. I like plums and plum jelly.
Can also sell the jelly at a farmers market to buy brewing supplies.

 

[eadavis80]

You probably won't need steeping bags in all honesty. Every kit I've ever purchased came with 'em, but I've only bought from Adventures in Home Brewing, Northern Brewer and Brewer's Best. They're cheap though if you do need 'em. Bottle capper, some caps and I think you're good to go!

 

[unionrdr]

The muslin bags that come with the kits are OK, but a lot harder to clean. I like the nylon bags more since they wash out so easily.

 

[eadavis80]

You reuse the muslin bags that come with kits? Do most people do that? I always throw them away since every kit I've purchased comes with them, so I don't really see the point in keeping them.

 

[unionrdr]

Yeah. The grain & hop sacks that come with kits are great for dry hopping with. The larger grain bags for using whole leaf hops larger volume. I empty & rinse them out. Then soak in PBW till they go white again. Rinse well & hang up to dry, then store till needed.