Nor Cal Kilts and Heather Beer Brewing

[Ayin McFye]

I've always wanted to make beer, a group effort sounds like fun. What would the cost be, Alan?

Best regards,

Jake

Getting started on your first batch will probably cost you in the range of 80-110 dollars (arizona prices, i don't know if it's different where you are). And that will include buckets, and all the tools you need to brew (minus the ingredients)

Once you have all the tools you need you can probabaly get away with a 5 gallon batch of beer (ale, lager, stouts) for anywhere between 30-40 dollars. Now you can even go cheaper if you have the proper recipes, and have a good hookup for ingredients that you can buy from. You'll need your grains, hops, malt, yeast, sugars, and anything else that you plan to use. My suggestion if to use a KIT for your very first batch so that you can learn the ropes. Your local brewery shop should carry them, and they have all the ingredients you need, plus step by step instructions. After you've done your first KIT batch you can start branching out a bit and experiementing. You'll need anywhere between 45-50 12 ounce bottles to bottle 5 gallons. Part of your batch will evaporate so you won't actually end up with 5 gallons, more like 4 1/2.

Feel free to IM me anytime if you have any questions. My brother and I brew all the time, we've won 2 gold medals, 2 silver, and 1 bronze medal in various competitions for both our ales, and our mead.

For our mead we import our honey from Alaska and OMG if anyone is ever out here in AZ i'll have to hook you up with some. Normally we accept donations in the amount of $20 for a wine size bottle of it, but I'd be more than happy to share plenty in good company.

Slainte!

[Alan H]

These are, if I remember rightly, 20 gallon copper kettles, so we'll get a lot of beer!

[Ayin McFye]

These are, if I remember rightly, 20 gallon copper kettles, so we'll get a lot of beer!

Nice. I saw some 50 gallon stainless steel fermenters online for about $450 about 2 weeks ago, and now i can't find the site that i saw them on.

We usually brew about 20 gallons at a time but we use 4 buckets that are each five gallons each.

It's always nice to meet other brewers!

[CameronTaylor]

Pencil me in, I'll wear some manner of kiltageness (latest on the design board - Chinese Blue).

Oh and this month's kilt/beer night is too close to my return from Ireland, couldn't get a decent airfare so I'm bumping myself and the HBC back a month (that and the model train gig was cancelled too)



CT - almost readjusted to Cali time from Dublin time

[ccga3359]

Hope you don't have troubles with the revenuers.

[davedove]

That sounds like an interesting project. Although I don't drink much beer, I am always interested when someone attempts to recreate a more historical formula that breaks away from the big four ingredients (water, yeast, barley, and hops). I hope it turns out well for you.

[JerseyLawyer]

Hope you don't have troubles with the revenuers.

Fortunately, since 1978 homebrewers have been exempt from excise taxes. On the Federal level, at least. States can, and some do, still ban the manufacture of alcohol of all types. See, for example, Alabama - http://www.latimes.com/news/printedi...ck=5&cset=true.

[way2fractious]

The concerns expressed here about equipment costs, taxes, and other legal matters are cleared up when you realize this project is under the auspices of Devil's Canyon Brewing Company.

At the last Beer and Kilts night at the Devils Canyon Brewery both Dan the Brewer and Chris the Brewer talked to me AT LENGTH about wanting to make a kettle or two of heather beer. These guys are into it, as you know. It's been part of the business plan all along to make some ancient style beers. You should have seen Dan's eyes light up...

The owners and brewmasters are in on this project (which appears to be another of Alan H's inexhaustible ideas. ) These are the same folks who put up with the Nor-Cal Rabble on their premises each month, and who also graced us with their kilted presence at our second annual Burns Supper last January.

w2f (they also have great root beer)

[Farlander]

Hmmm, heather beer? I am curious! As for the Crazy Scotsmen, I am pretty sure I can help out there too.

Let us know when the revolution begins!