The Mad Carpenter Brews: First Vlog
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the first video from the Mr Mad Carpenter youtube channel.
I’ve often thought about vlogging and video work, so I figured there was no time like the present. I am already brewing beer, so I have a subject matter close to my heart that I can take a few extra minutes to get a little footage of the process. I’ve got several ideas for strands or different shows on the channel, so keep an eye out for those in the coming weeks.
Comment, like, subscribe and favourite. All these things help me get more of the four things I just mentioned which helps me grow the channel.
Here’s the video.
And to any of the new people that have come to this website from the youtube channel: Welcome! There is much beer brewing and beer tasting to come.
Brewing: Round Two
So as referenced by the previous post, I started brewing my second batch of beer.
This beer seems to be more fraught with problems than the previous brew. I am using DME instead of regular brewing sugar so I guess some of the problems are understandable.
Well, here’s a picture, then I’ll explain.
That foam is called the Kräusen and having it exit the top of the fermentation vessel is called a blow out. It’s kind of a double edged sword seeing this happen;
The beer is fermenting aggressively, which is awesome. However, we will be losing a small amount of beer, and possibly flavour [etc] from the brew. Also a possible loss of head retention when we move on to bottling.
The other problem this brew had was a misplaced O-ring around the tap which lead to a tiny leak that would have grown over time, but I managed to seal that up fairly easily.
I love watching science happen, and learning more about the brewing process. There is no such thing as “experiment failure”. Every result is a result, and despite how bad this may look, it’s totally fine. Just interesting.
A slightly deeper thought on homebrewing
So most of the updates for the homebrewing have been done on the fly, either with a quick picture submit or some hastily slapped together words about how it wasn’t bad.
However today I’m going to give it a little more depth.
The brewing was incredibly easy, throughout. Even when I was worried about contamination, and airlock bubbling speed the processes remained idiot proof. The reason that using the kit was so easy is because the kit (and the brew cans) remove the hard parts of making beer. Namely making the wort, catching wild yeast, etc. It would be hard to make it simpler.
After one week in the bottles the beer was pretty bad. It wasn’t carbonated at all, it was still cloudy, and it was a little panic inducing. The great reassurance of the internet let me know that this was totally normal, and that I should leave the beer longer. Patience is key in this whole process.
Continue after the jump for the conclusion, and info on the next brew.
Silent Sunday
The results of homebrewing
So several weeks ago I started the adventure of brewing my own beer. It’s been a lot of fun. This is the result: A yeasty, slightly fizzy cloudy lager. It’s marvelous.
It could stand to be clearer, and fizzier, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t beer.
Kinda strong too.
If you’ve got a few weeks to spare and 90 euros get yourself a starter kit.
Silent Sunday
The Mad… Brewer?
So for a long time I’ve had this idea that I want to make my own beer. It’s cheaper (50 cents a beer), it’s a fun hobby, and it’s 100 other things. I had never had the gumption to do it, and something always got in the way.
Not any more! I ordered a brewing kit from Home Brew West on Wednesday afternoon and it arrived by courier this morning. The above link will take you to the kit that I bought and it really does contain everything you need. Brewing sugar, malt extract, bucket, airlock, the whole nine yards. 40 Screw top bottles and an easy bottling mechanism come with the kit so you really are covered from start to finish.
All you need to provide is water and time. I’m starting out with a standard Lager this time, but I’m really looking forward to brewing some stouts and ales.
Doesn’t it look grand? The fermentation should start in earnest any time between now and tomorrow and the final brew will be ready for bottling in 6-10 days. See you then.
Oh! Home Brew West takes laser cards. How cool is that?!
Silent Sunday
Adventures in the States #11
Some stuff from my last week in the states for a while. You’ve been real America. Totally real.
read more…
The Thing of Today #13
Today’s thing isn’t really a thing. It’s a person.
My main squeeze, and the reason I’m all the way out here in the dusty plains where no Irishman truly belongs…
It’s Kimberlee.
Love you Kimberlee.