Topic: Brewing beers like those you buy

[Unclebuck]

The challenge has got to be to brew a larger like Cobra then you can really say your a real curry head!!

[Salvador Dhali]

Excellent SD.  Thanks for the link, there's also another book on the subject too - bonus.  Both at a reduced price and the reviews are good.  Both should be a good read even if i don't brush the dust of my equipment just yet, having some 100+ litres to work my way through after my recent excursion ;D.  Nothing goes down as well as a good curry followed up by a couple of bottles of class belgium ale 

As a beer nut who regularly rides his motorcycle to foreign lands (including Belgium) in search of the finest ales available to humanity, I'd love to hear what your favourite Belgian/Flemish tipples are. (It took me a while to get into the Lambics, but once you've got the taste...  ;D . Perhaps not the best curry accompaniment, though!)

Over here if you're going Belgian there's very little choice to go with your NIS or phal other then the ubiquitous (though very pleasant) Leffe...

[curryhell]

Well, i'm very fortunate SD. A friend of mine is responsible  for getting me on the stuff in the first place, having always been a real ale man.  I spent many a happy hour drowning out the day at Grays Athletic FC, when it had a decent team, not that I ever watched a game  , working my way through the 28 flavours available ;D.  It just so happens he was the steward. GAFC has now been replaced by new housing developments, as is any piece of vacant land round here, although the team survives, a shadow of its former self.  He moved on and now owns one of my locals and still continues to fly the Belgium beer flag with about 22 varieties, all at a very good price of no more than

[George]

I looked at the lager collection in a supermarket today and was reminded that I enjoy loads of different lagers including Cobra, Kingfisher, Peroni, Becks, Tiger and loads more, in addition to Fosters. Lidl's lager which they sell at 85p per can is not as good but I'd be happy to make any lager which tasted a bit like any of those.

[Terramamba]

Very interesting thread, making me thirsty! 

I have found a Special Brew recipe, but it looks too complicated. I may just Have to keep the local shop in business and keep buying!

Cheers  ;D

[Salvador Dhali]

Well, i'm very fortunate SD. A friend of mine is responsible  for getting me on the stuff in the first place, having always been a real ale man.  I spent many a happy hour drowning out the day at Grays Athletic FC, when it had a decent team, not that I ever watched a game  , working my way through the 28 flavours available ;D.  It just so happens he was the steward. GAFC has now been replaced by new housing developments, as is any piece of vacant land round here, although the team survives, a shadow of its former self.  He moved on and now owns one of my locals and still continues to fly the Belgium beer flag with about 22 varieties, all at a very good price of no more than

[Geezah]

The challenge has got to be to brew a larger like Cobra then you can really say your a real curry head!!

Hmmmm my mate phoned me today and said he can get me everything involved with Cobra, including the yeast, as he works for Marsdon Coors brewery   

[topconker]

Interesting thread this.
I used to be into brewing big time mainly for the regional and national competions.
I'll look out a couple of recipes if anyone wants them.
Making lager ain't much more difficult to make than ale though. lagering means simply to store at low temperatures, the secret is double or even tripel decoction mashing, soft water and the manufacture of DMS to gain the true continental flavours.
Looking forward to seeing this thread grow.
TC

[Geezah]

I just bought a bar full of beer taps/fonts and amongst them I got 2 beer engines
The first one has polished up nicely



I still need to work out which of these I keep and what I sell back on..

[George]

I'll look out a couple of recipes if anyone wants them.
Making lager ain't much more difficult to make than ale though. lagering means simply to store at low temperatures, the secret is double or even tripel decoction mashing, soft water and the manufacture of DMS to gain the true continental flavours.

I'd certainly be interested to see any recipes for making lager.

How low a temperature is required, what's decoction mashing and what is DMS, please?