The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Food & crafts => Home brewing => Topic started by: in the hills on November 24, 2017, 05:32:58 pm
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My hubby has been thinking about making wine for a while but never gets around to getting equipment together and making a start.
So I thought that I could get him a starter kit or a good book and the basic equipment as a birthday gift.
Any recommendations as to what I should get would be gratefully received as I'm a bit baffled when I look at all the stuff that's available.
Thanks!
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I would recommend a starter kit. You typically get one demijohn, wine yeast, wine concentrate, a hydrometer and plastic piping and maybe some sterilising solution/tablets or powder. You just follow all the instructions - you will have to buy the sugar and maybe (not always) a second demijohn. You should get a quaffable wine and some experience of brewing another batch. Good luck, it can become addictive (the process I mean)....
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If you're starting small then a 7 litre stock pot. a spatula, a large funnel, small jug, sieve to fit in the funnel, demi john, bung and airlock, piece of tubing, some yeast, some sterilising powder and some yeast. That will get you sorted with the basics to brew 1 gallon batches of most fruit wines or a mead. Just add your honey or your sugar and fruit. Oh and water of course!
If you want to get fancier then you can look at hyrdrometers, filters, bottle washers, heating pads, a whole host of chemicals and additives, larger fermenters and buckets etc.
If you're looking for a book then the booze for free one isn't too bad.
I second that the process is incredibly addictive. We don't drink much but we brew silly amounts. Our friends and family have gotten used to getting bottles for birthdays, christmas and pretty much any gathering!
Dans
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I would second getting your husband a complete starter pack. Plenty of them about. Choose a wine that you're fond of amyway.
https://www.brewuk.co.uk/8-elderflower-wine.html (https://www.brewuk.co.uk/8-elderflower-wine.html)
http://www.lovebrewing.co.uk/wineworks-starter-bundles/ (http://www.lovebrewing.co.uk/wineworks-starter-bundles/)
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Thanks for all your replies.
Will check out the kits and your info has given me something to work from and I'll definitely get the book, Dans.
Will probably be back asking for brewing advice soon!
Oh well, off into the snow I go!
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I'm not a drinker but as Mrs RTB has started to include winemaking in to the preservation of produce portfolio I have started to make wines of assorted types, Get a starter kit , I did and have slowly expanded , demijohns, for the small amounts I make althought I have some of the glass gallon ones I have fount the 5 ltr water bottles from the supermarket seem fine , correct plastic , sterilize ok ( NO boiling water though :'( Dans post is spot on
My attitude is be prepared for a couple of failures at first , so far Ive made / consumed Mead. made and waiting on Blackberry, Girders, elderberry,banana ( mow thats a challenge to clear ) and raspberry The mead is very nice once the initial stinging at the back of the eyeballs subsides ! but the more mature mead is smooth and surprisingly not that sweet, so far the pear wine seems to have "gone off track" changing coluer fron green to pink but still smells of pear.
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Thanks all. Bought a kit as suggested and now drinking the spoils.
Really quite pleasant result and my daughter really enjoyed making it with her dad. She's not old enough to drink but has had a taste!
My daughter is desperate to start another batch and wants to try country wines or mead soon.
Trouble is we made 25 bottles and don't drink much at all so guessing we'll be giving it as gifts!
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it doesn't go off so a stock pile wont hurt ;D