Home Brew Club

[soupdragon]

Hi all
Anyone know if there's a home brew club on the Wirral? I've got a beer that I'd like some opinions of
Cheers Tom

[Scroogemonster]

Not sure mate, but there's a few of us over this side of the pond who'll do a taste swap with you. I've done this a few times.
PM me if you want to do an exchange
Cheers
Kev

[soupdragon]

Where about are you in Liverpool? I'm in Seacombe.
I've not got any beer in suitable containers for transport as yet but I'm planning to put some of my next brew into bottles as a control sample. Got a flavour that developes after about 2 months in barrel. Can't really describe it but reading up on the subject my beer needs either a weeks rest off the trub/lees before berrelling OR my ( budget ) barrels are allowing air in somewhere. I've notied that after I've poured a beer and start to close the tap, it seems to trap a bubble of air that then escapes into the barrel. Over time I'm thinking maybe it's oxidising the beer.
I want to get to the bottom of it as the beer tastes fine at 1st. I know I could always just drink the beer a bit quicker so it never gets the chance to go off but that's not the point.
Once I've got some sorted in bottles I'll PM you to sort out a swap
Cheers Tom

[Scroogemonster]

I'm in Childwall mate. Let me know whn you have some samples ready and we'll sort it out.
Kev

[Manx Guy]

Hi!

Regarding your problem sounds as if there is not enough CO2 pressure in your barrell so when you draw off beer aire tries to get in via the tap to equalise the pressure.

If you have an injector valve fitted a squirt of CO2 will stop this hppening....

However any air that enters the barell will pass thru' the beer oxidising and shortening the 'shelf life'...

I find once Ive taken about 6-8 pints out I have about 2 weeks to drink the rest before the flavour drops off and starts to taste 'abit stale'
this happens even though I add CO2 to stop air entering via the tap...

adding CO2 does increase the storage life of the beer once tapped...

Hope this helps


Guy

[soupdragon]

Hi!

Regarding your problem sounds as if there is not enough CO2 pressure in your barrell so when you draw off beer aire tries to get in via the tap to equalise the pressure.

If you have an injector valve fitted a squirt of CO2 will stop this hppening....

However any air that enters the barell will pass thru' the beer oxidising and shortening the 'shelf life'...

I find once Ive taken about 6-8 pints out I have about 2 weeks to drink the rest before the flavour drops off and starts to taste 'abit stale'
this happens even though I add CO2 to stop air entering via the tap...

adding CO2 does increase the storage life of the beer once tapped...

Hope this helps


Guy

Hi
Sounds logical but I think I've worked out how the air is getting in. I've been pouring the beer with the bottom of the tap in the beer to reduce foaming. Since I've been allowing it to flow without the tap in the beer it hasn't happened I learned the hard way years ago about the dreaded glug when I 1st started brewing and since then always keep a good cover of c02
Sounds like my "flavour" is just the beer getting fed up of waiting for me to drink it then, I'll have to make more of an effort to drink it in future. The sacrifices we have to make for our craft

I'm in Childwall mate. Let me know whn you have some samples ready and we'll sort it out.
Kev

Will do

Cheers Tom

[Manx Guy]

Hi

Ok cool.... It is a shame when you have to tip a few litres of (once) good beer as its gone stale...

I lost a third of a keg when SWMBO was expecting as I wanted to stay sober incase the baby arrived...
Shame, but was for the best...

I find that If I average 2 pints a night the lot is gone in about 3 weeks


Guy

[soupdragon]

In all honesty, it's not really that difficult to get through 40 pints. Even at a pint a day that's less than 6 weeks to finish it. I do find that working 6-6 days does hamper the consumption slightly tho
Tom