xmasish beer - would it work?

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

Ive only just started out making home brew, using kits at the moment. I was hoping to make a festive beer for the cold winter nights. Ive got a kit ale, what could I add to make it into a winter warmer? I was considering a mulled wine kit that ive got knocking about, or would you say I could add a few cloves and maybe a bit of cinnamon to the beer while fermenting? any ideas???

[prawncracker]

I don't know I'm afraid but thank you - you have given me an idea for new things to add to my ginger beer for the winter

[StripyPixieSocks]

OH who brews lots of ale kits says... "to be honest he wouldn't modify an ale kit at all"

His only closing line would be that he would brew it as normal and then mull it (so you had it warn like hot Cider or something maybe)

You could try using a piece of muslin with some seasonal spices and some Orange Zest or something perhaps in the primary ferment.

Kits are generally bought to brew without any messing around unless you're going to get into the half all grain thing which means boiling extra bags of hops and whatnot... there might even be a Christmas type brew kit out there somewhere maybe.

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

In all honesty I don't think it's going to last him till the end of this month, let alone christmas but thanks for the mulling idea
Sarah

[Andy Hamilton]

I am going to be posting a few more beer articles up for inspiration soon. Off the top of my head you could try a rosemary and thyme beer that could be interesting. Perhaps a nettle, rosemary and Thyme beer could be nice.

use this recipe and just substitute the Hops for rosemary, nettles and thyme. equal quantities of each perhaps just 30g of each one would be adequate.

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

how my heart sinks as I look at my beloved herb garden, knowing exactly what is going to be said 5 minutes after he gets home from work and turns the computer on!!!

Oh well best sterilise the bucket...............................

[Andy Hamilton]

how my heart sinks as I look at my beloved herb garden, knowing exactly what is going to be said 5 minutes after he gets home from work and turns the computer on!!!

Oh well best sterilise the bucket...............................

Well a Rosemary bush always benefits from a trim, you could just "forage" some rosemary from around your neighbourhood. There are always loads of plants all over the place that never get used.

[mamos]

What would be a good book to get me started on brewing beer?

mamos

[Andy Hamilton]

What would be a good book to get me started on brewing beer?

mamos

To get started I would not even bother buying a book. Have a look on our home brew sectionon the main site. get a recipe from there and just give it a go. There is also an article in our budget living section on cheap and free home brewing equipment. which might help.

Just try out a recipe (I recommend the simple and cheap beer) any problems ask back on this bit of the forum.

You could also just go down the kit route, that is how most people start.

[mamos]

Thanks andy

mamos

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

I am going to try this reciepe can i just check is 20g yeast right? It just seems a lot compared to most kits.

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/index. ... -real-hops

[Andy Hamilton]

I am going to try this reciepe can i just check is 20g yeast right? It just seems a lot compared to most kits.

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/index. ... -real-hops

The first thing yeast does is multiply so it does not really matter, so yep you are right you could use less. I would urge you to use a proper brewing yeast like youngs gold though.

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

lovely cheers peeps, one last question, do the ingredients have to be exact? I cant find any 1l tins of malt extract, only 1.5l. Could I use that and double up on all the other ingredients to make twice as much?