Jim's Beer Kit

It's what capitalists do. They buy up good beers for the quality and heritage and replace them with cheap crap. We've just lost Hawkshead, they sacked all of the brewers during lockdown (now brewing great beer at the Lakes Beer Co. in Kendal) and now they've closed the brewery because it was unecono...

I found a copy of Michael Jackson's Beer Companion https://www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Jacksons-Beer-Companion-Jackson/dp/0762407727/?_encoding=UTF8&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk in the bookshop attached to Fleetwood Museum last week. A pound well spent. A very good museum as well. Mostly staffed by very enthusi...

I think that the AIO design is great. When I had a plastic boiler with two kettle elements I could never sustain a boil as the elements kept cutting out because of sugar building up on it. My cool box mash tun wore out and fell to pieces. Much better and simpler now, timesaving and easier to clean. ...

I finally had dry weather and the time to have a look at my pump last night. I attached a hose to the recirculation arm, blew some water back through the pump and a surprisingly small amount of gunk came out. I think that it got blocked because, for the last two brews, the silicone end to the hop fi...

my pump blocked yesterday. It got slower and slower until it was just a trickle. it just about coped with getting the wort out but gave up the ghost while i was cleaning. I'm going blow the gunk out the back by attaching a hose to either the chiller or the recirculator. if that doesn't work I'll hav...

it will be plenty big enough for my 23l brew length.

all assembled and ready for cleaning and brewing at the weekend.

my Inkbird arrived today so all good to go.

I'll still be a crap brewer though.

I've finally decided to retire my elderly plastic fermenters. Arriving this afternoon: a 32l kegland SS Conical neoprene heating belt neoprene insulation jacket I just need to decide what to brew. A simple bitter I think. It will come with lots of cardboard to soak up the inevitable spillages and le...

mostly bare shelves in Lancaster for the last few years.
Boyes in Kendal is a much safer bet.

it's quicker with a bigger, healthier Scoby. According to the books, every week, you just throw the old one away and continue with the new one. I've got a copy of a new ageie book about Kombucha and I've recently downloaded it as well. I'll send you it from home asap. To be taken with a pinch of sal...

I bottled my first batch with my lovely new pellicle on Sunday. I haven't tasted but the new Scoby was as healthy as any that I have seen and nearly an inch thick (25mm) I apologise for the mention of a barbaric, archaic, imperial, measurement. I'll let it mature a few weeks in bottle and report bac...

Two nice looking chunks of Scoby arrived on Friday. Brewing away nicely now. They were very healthy and fermenting like mad in the package. I'm surprised that they delivered it. The package was so swollen and firm that they must thought I'd bought a black pudding. Thanks again for helping me get bac...

I use a big bowl that will hold 2 kettles worth of water/tea/sugar with a tea towel over it to keep out nasties. I find that will fill 3 750ml bottles which gives me 2 small glasses a day. A bowl works well because it provides a good area for the scoby to grow over and breath. I never had a problem ...

i keep trying to send you messages but I'm pretty certain that they are just being sent to me. i've emailed admin but I think that the same has happened. i don't think that it is user error but that wouldn't be the first time that I've made that erroneous assertion. I don't want to post my address o...

MashBag

you are a gentleman and a scholar and I want your babies.

Well, if you're willing to send me one.

I'll dm you my address.

I'm very, very, grateful.

I noticed that you were using black tea in the photo.

I always do just green tea.
I much prefer the flavour.

I'm excited.
I miss the little fella greeting me every morning.
I'll call him Scoby.