[jason]

Does your partner have any problems with you brewing inside? Or do you wait until they are not around?

[wild]

The only brewing inside that I've done is the steeping. She always says, "Euu, smells like beer in here." then moves on. She will on the occasion come outside where I do brew and laugh at me sweating over my brew pot when its 115°F+.

Wild

[cooldaddybeck]

Originally Posted by danrak

Does your partner have any problems with you brewing inside? Or do you wait until they are not around?

That's like trying to smoke when she's not around, she can always smell it on me.

I've been brewing outside since day one.

[Heath]

what are you smoking??

[davidank]

Hello, I am not sure if i am using this forum correctly, but I have some questions if someone can give some advice. I haven't made my first batch of beer yet, and I am on a tight budget, so your help is appreciated!

1-All that I have been reading mentions making batches of beer in 5 gallon amounts, I have asked somebody about making half that amount and they said to cut the recipe's in half. Is that true, can I make 2 1/2 gallon batches, so I can make a lot more variety/different beers and not have a house full of SO MUCH beer and not drinking it quick enough?

~~>If I can make 2 1/2 gallon batches, what about pitching the yeast,,,does the amount of yeast I add have to be half of that normally needed to a 5 gallon batch or is simply the more yeast I add better because the more yeast the more that can ferment the beer?

2-Does beer get better with age? Can I leave the bottled beer out of the fridge and in a cool dark place and put it into the fridge when I am ready to drink it?

3-What about bottling in plastic jugs versus glass bottles? I seen/read some info about people bottling in 2 liter soda bottles and gallon water jugs, is that ok?

4-Could I go to a home depot/hardware store, buy a 6 gallon plastic bucket and use it as my primary fermentor? What about buying plastic hose from a hardware store and using it to syphon? Essential what I am asking can I go to my hardware store and buy things to make beer, bucket, lid, hose, etc?

(I have the complete joy of home brewing book by charlie papazian and he lists the things I need, maybe i can go buy them at a harware store - it would be cheaper for me than buying a kit with shipping costs too.

Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

-David
email: david_ank@suscom.net

[Heath]

1) Yes you can its all up to you. I will say this you'll still need multiple fermentation vessels so sometimes its just better to do a a 5 gal batch, your cost will will be about the same.

pitch the same amount of yeast , a higher cell count results in better fermentation and a better beer!

2)Some beer gets better with age, barleywines, most belgians, generally highly hoped high alcohol beers fair well with aging, this all depends on how long you are aging.

3) dont use plastic its permeable, meaning air can transfer through the microscopic pores in the plastic and make your beer stale and have off flavors. For example most sodas have a best before date or dont dranik after date on them.

4) you could use those, but I dont recomend it. Im unsure if they are food grade. Youll be sorry in the end if their not. Stick to vessels that are food grade plastic , glass, stainless or polyetholyne.

Some things are usable such as copper and stainless steel, but make sure to clean them before using them, beacuse most of these material in harware stores are coated with an oil to prevent oxidation.

Heath

[Gary A]

I plan on brewing in the garage myself don't really want to steam the house up that much not to mention the risk with kids and trying to move that much hot liquid around.

[Berry Brewer]

Yep, we have to boil when she is out of town; but thats ok, we don't have to worry about the mess until final clean-up and its "male bonding" time between Father & Son.

We leave the kitchen cleaner than we found it and the all the equipment is stored neatly in the spare room where the primary rests all by its lonesome.

[just ale]

It's the opposite at my house. I brew but don't like the smell of the pot on the boil. My Wife loves it.