Hello AHB

[awolf]

Hi all,

Taking up home brewing as the next hobby. Tried it once a few years back and but didn't really follow through. Studying science now, and having learned some chemistry and microbiology reckon I should give it another go. Keen to save some dosh along the way too and learn a bit more about hop varieties - keen botanist.

Mostly drink IPA style beers - I like bright fruity hop flavours. Something like Ferral's Hop Hog, JS Hop Theif.

Look forward to reading through the past posts for inspiration and future posts where I may seek you advice. Cheers

 

[boybrewer]

Welcome to the slippery slope awolf . By the time you get where you want to go with brewing you will have spent a lot of money . What suburb are you in ?

 

[danestead]

Keen to save some dosh along the way too

Ha!

 

[MastersBrewery]

Ha!

No need for that, you know you'll eventually break even on the 150L fully automated 3v rig you imported from the states. The glycol chiller and conicals were a natrual progression and justifiable purchase.

If I ever get to that point I think I'll need a safe place to hide. Though she'll probably hunt me down, women seem to have a nack for that sorta thing.

 

[awolf]

Thank you all for the welcome. I'm located in Hawthorn, and luckily have a home brew shop nearby. Thought about buying online but would rather establish a relationship with a local business. Will venture in there during the week.

Ok maybe I was a little daft suggesting I'd save money. No doubt it'll be a money pit like all hobbies - but that's part of the fun too. Decided to start small and avoid being too cheap though. However I've already saved some money with finding a bottle capper and FV as well as digging up the hydrometer from a while back. Got a second hand fridge about to be delivered and have ordered parts to build a temperature controller.

Once I get a couple of brews under my belt, I'll think about more gear. Tried to cost out how much I'd spend a year on beer as an estimate to what should be my principal investment. Would love to get to the stage of doing a full mash and not use extract cans, maybe by the warmer months.

 

[Grott]

Welcome awolf, you can't really go wrong if your cleanliness and sanitisation are spot on. Suggest you start off with a simple brew to get your procedures right and then away you go.
Cheers

 

[Fraser's BRB]

No need for that, you know you'll eventually break even on the 150L fully automated 3v rig you imported from the states. The glycol chiller and conicals were a natrual progression and justifiable purchase.
.

You sound just like the voice inside my head every time I think about improvements...

 

[Yob]

There must be a million ways to save money with this hobby, water, power and gas aren't them though...

Ooh.. Ooh.. I know.. 25kg bags of perc!!!! Definitely savings in there!

Mad hobby mate, welcome to the scene

 

[Bribie G]

Welcome aboard the pirate ship, matey.

If you like IPAs it's a good way to start your apprenticeship as you can make a passable version from a kit plus hops and specialist grains, where the hops take centre stage.

The forum sponsors usually have a far better and cheaper and fresher range of hops, grains and other ingredients but if you can find a decent LHBS they are good for a lot of other basic stuff like PET bottles, tubing and the odd dried yeast etc. If starting with kits the LHBS also have a far better range than the likes of Big W, and as you'll find the sponsors are generally the All Grain experts.

As you'd appreciate, good brewing practice, sanitation, temp. control etc are the important things so you are in the right place here for advice.

Cheers