Brewing Beer at Home - CP Ale? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Traditional_Ale · 02-21-2009, 07:25 PM

I was just wondering with a buddy about how hard it is to produce a large enough quantity of beer at home (using entirely professional and legal means) that one could legally sell privately? Maybe in a detached (or not) garage or other structure on the property.

Anyone with some brewing experience speaking up would be greatly appreciated.

Ford Prefect · 02-21-2009, 07:30 PM

Making beer is more work than it's worth. Been there done that. And the results aren't always very satisfactory.

Traditional_Ale · 02-21-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

Then you have to torture your friends with it and make them say good things about it.

That would suck.

Is it really that hard?

Ford Prefect · 02-21-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

Then you have to torture your friends with it and make them say good things about it.

Ya, that's the only good part about home brew alright. Larf.

"Here, try this Scotish Ale. Note the earthy aroma and robust head. Pay no attention to that sludge in the bottom of the bottle though."

ResAlien · 02-21-2009, 07:49 PM

Watch a lot of Drew Carey show?

All I know about home brewing is that it takes a pretty fair amount of batches before you usually come close to something decent, if you don't have a lot of experience already.

Traditional_Ale · 02-21-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Watch a lot of Drew Carey show?

All I know about home brewing is that it takes a pretty fair amount of batches before you usually come close to something decent, if you don't have a lot of experience already.

Ah...nm.

I'm a few too many in too early for tonight's game. If I can't get heroin beer at home...then dammit I can invent some!

ResAlien · 02-21-2009, 07:52 PM

Sorry, wasn't trying to sound like an ass. I fully support this idea. Get on that, and then ship me some.

Traditional_Ale · 02-21-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Sorry, wasn't trying to sound like an ass. I fully support this idea. Get on that, and then ship me some.

Hahahaha...I have no idea how to brew good beer. Thus I started this thread!

Ford Prefect · 02-21-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Hahahaha...I have no idea how to brew good beer. Thus I started this thread!

If you do get into it, experiment with boosting the alcohol content by boosting the amount of sugar you use. I made one batch that was so strong it tasted like a boiler maker. When I tested it it's alcohol content was around 9%, which is pretty well the max you can achieve through fermentation. It tasted like crap, but if you want heroin beer, it had a heck of a kick to it.

BlackArcher101 · 02-22-2009, 01:38 AM

Did it for years and stopped doing it.

Frankly, if you wanted something remotely close quality wise to purchased beer, you need good equipment (ie filtration and pressurized system). It get's too expensive, requires too much space, and too much damn time. The only thing going for it is novelty.. as it's cool to make your own.

But if you just go in with basic equipment, beer is blah, and hope you like sediment. A seperate dedicated room is needed for the large containers in different fermenting stages, not to mention store the beer... and then also a clean area to wash and sterlize all the containers.

Clarkey · 02-22-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Did it for years and stopped doing it.

Frankly, if you wanted something remotely close quality wise to purchased beer, you need good equipment (ie filtration and pressurized system). It get's too expensive, requires too much space, and too much damn time. The only thing going for it is novelty.. as it's cool to make your own.

But if you just go in with basic equipment, beer is blah, and hope you like sediment. A seperate dedicated room is needed for the large containers in different fermenting stages, not to mention store the beer... and then also a clean area to wash and sterlize all the containers.

Does it end up being much cheaper than store bought?

Nancy · 02-22-2009, 10:52 AM

Try this, much easier and tastier than trying to make beer at home. I especially like the Blue Watermellon flavour.

Ford Prefect · 02-22-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkey

Does it end up being much cheaper than store bought?

No. Certainly not enough to pay for all the time you put into it. If you look at it as a hobby, it's great. But don't do it to save money.

Wine on the other hand produces pretty good results, is more reliable, takes less work, and saves you a lot more money than home made beer will.

Nancy · 02-22-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

No. Certainly not enough to pay for all the time you put into it. If you look at it as a hobby, it's great. But don't do it to save money.

Wine on the other hand produces pretty good results, is more reliable, takes less work, and saves you a lot more money than home made beer will.

If doing wine, get the big pails of juice that are not concentrated and that you don't have to add water to. (Costco had some on sale for $50.) Buy the right equipment. Be patient and follow the instructions dilligently. After racking off sediment, top up with a store bought wine rather than using water. This produces a decent wine at about $2 a bottle. If done right, it doesn't have to taste like the yeasty, putrid homemade wines that you may have received for Christmas from an elderly relative.

Ford Prefect · 02-22-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy

If doing wine, get the big pails of juice that are not concentrated and that you don't have to add water to. (Costco had some on sale for $50.) Buy the right equipment. Be patient and follow the instructions dilligently. After racking off sediment, top up with a store bought wine rather than using water. This produces a decent wine at about $2 a bottle. If done right, it doesn't have to taste like the yeasty, putrid homemade wines that you may have received for Christmas from an elderly relative.

Yup, home made wine can produce some good results. I had some pretty fair success with sherry, mead and cider too. Beer was definitely the hardest stuff to make. The most rewarding when you got a good batch therefore, but not worth the effort in general.

All this chat about home made spirits makes me miss making the stuff. I got too busy with my business and had to quit. Too bad. Maybe when I retire I'll have time to get back into it, whenever that might be.

RougeUnderoos · 02-22-2009, 12:34 PM

Home-made beer offers a similar hangover to Heroin Beer but that's about the only benefit I've ever got out of the stuff.

Make moonshine. My favorite flavour is a little dandy called "Kill Me Quick". I got the recipe from my grandpa. In fact, here's an old story about him from Time Magazine.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...827737,00.html

missdpuck · 02-22-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Home-made beer offers a similar hangover to Heroin Beer but that's about the only benefit I've ever got out of the stuff.

Make moonshine. My favorite flavour is a little dandy called "Kill Me Quick". I got the recipe from my grandpa. In fact, here's an old story about him from Time Magazine.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...827737,00.html

If that's your granpa then you are also related to Moonshine Terry from North Carolina. He was obviously trying to kill us quick.

Vulcan · 02-22-2009, 03:08 PM

Then there's also the brand new plan.

Locke · 02-22-2009, 03:12 PM

CP ale would have blow and ground up hookers in it...it would probably taste like....well...like blow and ground up hookers, so not very good, but goddamn would it get the job done!

missdpuck · 02-22-2009, 03:16 PM

Put the straitjacket back on this guy please.