I am a beginner in the world of home brewing. I plan to buy ingredients from Grain and Grape in Yarraville and wondered if anyone has any tips about their stock or ideas about successful process. My first batch last year sucked. I then got a voucher to Barleycorn Brewery in Oakleigh. I tried an IPA which came out more like an amber ale and lacked the hoppy punch i really wanted.

So I thought i'd start a topic about beery goodness. Please feel free to comment about your own experiences, recipes, tips and favourite beers etc.

I can't get enough of the Prickley Moses range atm timD. (now I sound like an alcoholic)

For those unfamiliar, Prickley Moses beer originates from the Otways (south west Vic). Currently their "Summer Ale" is my current choice. Refreshing flavour, best served icy cold. Great on tap too.

I haven't branched out to home brews as yet and am enjoying the increasingly large range of boutique beers coming out. Clearly I'm in my experimental tasting period as opposed to the plastering period from my 20's.

timD, you recommended on 'ology PM's other beer to me - I still haven't tried that as yet, but will do eventually.

Haven't brewed myself but have a mate who does is along with wine up just outside Wangaratta, he's pretty new at it though so he's still ironing out some kinks in his own stuff.

I'm a big fan of Matilda Bay beers and Stone & Wood. Love the Stone & Wood Pacific ale, really crisp thirst quenching tste which goes down a treat on a hot summer evening. And nearly all the Matilda Bay bres are top notch. Can't go past a Fat Yak!

I made my first batch as a Cascade Pale Ale and it came out pretty well. Second was a Hoegaarden which had the distinct flavour of it but I felt it was a little too gassy and had a bit too much of a hint of yeast. Mates loved it though. Been meaning to make another but haven't gotten around to it yet.

My main tip would be to get a good yeast, and have a read up on how you should treat it. Then also make sure everything is as clean and sterilised as possible. Head over to the Aussie Home Brewer forum for some great info too.

I can't get enough of the Prickley Moses range atm timD. (now I sound like an alcoholic)

For those unfamiliar, Prickley Moses beer originates from the Otways (south west Vic). Currently their "Summer Ale" is my current choice. Refreshing flavour, best served icy cold. Great on tap too.

I haven't branched out to home brews as yet and am enjoying the increasingly large range of boutique beers coming out. Clearly I'm in my experimental tasting period as opposed to the plastering period from my 20's.

timD, you recommended on 'ology PM's other beer to me - I still haven't tried that as yet, but will do eventually.

Hey H_T,

there is some great aussie beer out now. I really liked prickley moses 'black panther' - I think a black IPA. Very smooth despite high alcohol, strong hops and malt.

For mine, IF you like hopped beer, there are three or four to try: the hop hog, the ESB from Hargreaves Hill, the hoppy amber from Red duck and the IPA from Bridgeroad brewers.

Craft beer = happy times

I made my first batch as a Cascade Pale Ale and it came out pretty well. Second was a Hoegaarden which had the distinct flavour of it but I felt it was a little too gassy and had a bit too much of a hint of yeast. Mates loved it though. Been meaning to make another but haven't gotten around to it yet.

My main tip would be to get a good yeast, and have a read up on how you should treat it. Then also make sure everything is as clean and sterilised as possible. Head over to the Aussie Home Brewer forum for some great info too.

Robbo, I'm a member of that site and it has got some great stuff. Crickey, there is a spreadsheet with all the calculations you'd ever need about brew construction - amazing stuff.

I'm going to take your advise and head over to Grain and Grape this weekend if possible to get ingredients for another brew - sterilisation and temp control are my main worries atm.

Cheers

Tim

Yeah I found G&G to be very helpful. The place is packed though on a Saturday morning... I keep meaning to head down to one of the classes they have.

I bought some yeast and steri stuff from them and i bought the rest of my kit from Brewcraft in Richmond. I'm keen to pick up one of those fridges with the built-in keg taps. That would be amazing :D