BrewStation
Concept
This is the page about the Nottingham hackspace home-brew station. Its all about free as in beer. We are building a unit which can be used to quickly and easily brew batches of ale and lager. This is called the BrewStation. We plan on running home-brewing skills share days and at the same time produce some fine bathes of ale for general consumption.
The concept of the brew station is to have an integrated unit which includes a temperature controlled fermentation section, a cupboard for the equipment and levels on which we can perform the Mashing and the Boiling processes with ease.
Brewing basics
The three main steps in making home brew are:
Mashing
Where the malted barley is warmed to release the protein and sugars for the fermentation process
Boiling
Where the liquor is boiled with hops to give flavour
Fermenting
Turn the sugar into alcohol
Useful links
- Some useful videos on the three stages
- Flagon and Cask home brew shop in Bulwell
- More videos
- Video of brewing ingredients
Wish list
| Item | Info | Quantity | Obtained? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation | 'kingspan' type | Around 4m2 | |
| Insulation | flexible tank insulation | ||
| Insulation | Old sleeping bag | ||
| Fermentation bins | Large plastic buckets | At least 4 (2 same type) | 3 |
| Taps | Various kinds - plastic probably best | At least 2 | 3 |
| Home-brew boiling bin (the one with a heater in) | |||
| Long handled spoons | Preferably plastic | 3 | 2 |
| Thermometers | Non-break type - maybe electronic | 1 | 1 |
| Hydrometer | Plastic type with cylinder | 1 | 1 |
| Measuring jugs | Various sizes | 3 | 2 |
| Scales | for around 5kg - weigh the malt | 1 | |
| Scales | for around 100g - weigh the hops | 1 | |
| Books and info on home-brew beer | Various | Many | Few |
| Sterilising solution | 1 | 1 | |
| Barley Malt | 4kgs | ||
| Crystal Malt | 0.5kgs | ||
| Black Malt | 0.5kgs | ||
| Hops | Golding | 100gm | |
| Hops | Fuggles | 100gm | |
| Yeast | Ale Yeast | ||
| Irish Moss | Pack |
Ale brew recipes
- Loads of recipes (American)
- Good first brew recipe (UK)
- lots more recipes from Jims Beer Kit (UK)
- More info on home brew (UK)
- Lots more beer recipes (World) - Very good site with loads of recipes
- Recipes (US)
- More recipes (US)
First recipe
This was done on 14 September 2011
Ingredients:
* 7--8 pounds, crushed pale malt * 1/2 pound, crushed crystal malt * 1 teaspoon, CaSO4 * 1 teaspoon, Irish moss * 3 ounces, Goldings (60 minutes) * 1/2 ounce, Goldings (10 minutes) * 1/2 ounce, Goldings (steep) * 1/4 ounce, Goldings (dry hop in secondary) * Edme ale yeast
OG: 1.042--1.048 FG: 1.020 Procedure: Mash in 3 gallons boiled water with 1 teaspoon gypsum (66 C., for 3 hours, or overnight). Sparge to 4--1/2 gallons. Boil 1--1/2 hours with 1 teaspoon Irish moss. Add hops as indicated above. Cool with immersion chiller, rack and aerate. Pitch Edme yeast. Rack to secondary after 4 days. Fine if necessary. Dry hop with 1/4 ounce Goldings in secondary. Keg or bottle after 2 weeks (primed with 3 ounces, malt extract).
Progress
The brew station taking shape:
We now have a box to fit everything in. We have also built a a copper beer cooler, photos to be uploaded soon.
This project is mainly being worked on by Matt Little and Andy. Please join in.