How to make beer from kits - easy, delicious and cheap

[@TheHellfiremissile]

Best DIY beer video I've seen, and believe me I've seen a LOT. Thankyuou.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Why thank you I've literally just finished bottling a batch of bitter with extra dry hops from a neighbour. Smells fantastic 😊

[@jacobperry6026]

I agree

[@TheCustomer]

Asking for a like and subscription at the end of the video, no youtubers do that. This man is really kind sharing his knowledge and not caring that much about KZbin algorithms. I really admire that. Lots of positive energy and great content.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So nice of you, thank you!

[@Handles-R-Lame]

I think I understood what you were trying to say.. and if so I am in agreement. However at first glance I was confused as to what you meant but after reading it over a couple times i can safely say i know what your intentions were lol Ohhh.. _the English language,_ isn't it just wonderful at times(not really). Anyways, cheers to the both of you! 🍻

[@jayinwood647]

Hugh is an absolute gent. He replied to a couple of questions I asked him within minutes. 👍🥂🍺

[@davec4955]

30 years ago I used to bottle my beer exactly the same way, with a piece of tube attached to the tap. Since coming back to the hobby about 4 years ago I've used the bottling stick with the valve in the end which you mentioned. I think it's the best value improvement in home brewing equipment and all those years. I think you should have demonstrated it. 🍻

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Trying to keep it as simple as possible for this video to encourage people to give it a try!

[@peterwhatley7444]

Fantastic demonstration and explanation. Go to place to learn about brewing. Thank you!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Peter!

[@skill692]

After years of absence from homebrewing, I'm going to make a comeback thanks for the tips I'll be watching more of your videos.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@skill692 Excellent! Mead making video this Friday 😉

[@cbrider726]

great fun mate . Please cover more types of beer kits and how to use them . Brill👍👍👍👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Will do!

[@bgtrev]

The Homebrew beer kit, this was my introduction to making beer before moving on to wine. As usual your enthusiasm for the subject is encouraging and I am sure many will follow your lead and head out to buy their first kit. Take care and keep well.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank Trev. I must say after nearly half a century of brewing, the kits have come on a long way. There's some cracking beer out there now.

[@TheOldSwedesFarm]

Starting with a kit is the way to go. When you get better, move to all-grain brewing. We've been brewing about 20+ years. Nothing is better than a great homemade beer. Cheers!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I think kits have come a long way in the last half century, some are now very good indeed

[@joshuapinter]

Mate, you make me want to live the English Country Life! Great job with the brew!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks so much 🍻

[@ingolfurarnar697]

Just bought my first beginners kit today. This video had lots of good information. Thank you. 😊👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Goad that it helped!

[@tiny789]

with your demeanor and attitude to life i would love to live next door to you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's very kind of you 😁. Around here it's like a cross between the 1950s and "The Darling Buds of May”. Very rural, five houses & no street lights ( no pavements, road marking or any of that stuff). We make our own beer & our own fun. Honestly, I love it.

[@tiny789]

@@EnglishCountryLife i can hear that you are enjoying life in your voice i have just retired at 62 just getting used to an easier pace of life and having living in a small town have just started to appreciate learning a new hobby thanks to you now i have all of the time in world thank you steve

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@tiny789 Time is something so many people fail to value Steve. I honestly can't imagine working full time now....there isn't enough time 😁

[@JonathanReevesGuitarist]

I’ve been contemplating brewing my own beer at home. I’ve watched quite a few videos on the subject. This video is by far the best! After watching this video it has made me want to give a try.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@JonathanReevesGuitarist Thanks Jonathan, do try it, it's very rewarding & very easy

[@mpaper7848]

Just what I wanted to see

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Excellent!

[@philipneedham9317]

Only found this channel recently but loving the videos....should be a TV series 👍 brilliant

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Philip - that's a lovely idea 🙂

[@FighterPilot1945]

Thankyou for the beer making video clear and well explained !🎉👌

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@FighterPilot1945 You're very welcome 🍺

[@FighterPilot1945]

​@@EnglishCountryLife I used to make beer 40+ years ago.. I bought pale and dark roasted crystal malt grain and fresh hops from local brewery shop and used their yeast all cooked up in a baby burco boiler hops in a muslin bag burco boiler with temp thermostat and tap bottom,I used to sparge over the cooked over the hot malt grains and then transfer to brewing bucket...produced great beer!..I used thermometer and hydrometer to work out specific gravity abv beer 🍺...happy days!.. I also like you made beer from the tins using brewing sugar and granulated much easier less time consuming and still came out ok . I used to have a brewing book on how to make beers like the breweries makes e.g owd Rodger, Abbott ale,Kingstown ale arkell brewery, Guinness,Newcastle brown ale ect ect lost the book it was the bible on beer making!..I'm in 70s now 😳

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@FighterPilot1945 Proper sparging etc. is real beer making - but can seem too complex for first timers I think - do you agree?

[@FighterPilot1945]

​​@@EnglishCountryLifeyes might well be😂I used a shower head connected to a hose connected to a tap and bucket with hot water in it and just sprayed hot water over the grains held in a large colander thingy😅worked and got all the remaining sugar from the wort. Beer Kits so much simpler less time and fuss and you explained it well and clearly! A great hobby making your own beer very rewarding,cost effective and fun and you always have a good supply to quaff❤

[@rorymichaelosullivan2191]

Thanks for the video, really enjoyed it. I've my third batch of wine on at the moment and wanted to get into beer but my homebrew friends were all encouraging me to do grain extractions. I'm sure I could but I don't really have enough patience or interest to do such a long brew so I'm going to use a kit similar. It's great to see someone enthusiastic about the kits as people can be quite critical of them. Pity it takes that but longer to clear than the wine but I guess without racking/finings it makes sense. I guess the best time to brew was two months ago, but the second best time is now (or rather once we've racked off the wine and have a spare vessel)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Looking down on modern kits is silly - there are some excellent ones available from companies like St Peters Ale. Good luck!

[@johnoxley3397]

My brother has asked me to make him a fruit cider from a kit. I’m a wine maker but never made beer before. Having watched your video I might give it a try. I enjoy your wine making videos. You explain it in an easy way. Thank you.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks John, fruit cider kits are easy and surprisingly nice - go for it!

[@mungomunro1]

Simple, succinct, and to the point. Brilliant!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Mungo!

[@Ali-ct3xc]

Really enjoy your videos. You're encouraging me to be more resourceful and less dependant on big shops. Cheers!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks so much Ali! That's exactly how we try to live - not saying that we always succeed though 😉

[@jasperpickering4044]

cheers, great video for a beginner

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Jasper 🍻

[@harleywillis3929]

Awesome video, easy to understand, and doesnt make it sound hard like other videos

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Honestly it really is super simple!

[@Chimpetychimp]

Great video, thanks. Any chance of some more beer videos? Maybe beer making from scratch?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@Chimpetychimp Good idea!

[@GlenEvans-wr2ph]

Many thanks for you demonstration, very useful

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@hairy-dairyman]

I've always had the best results when it's cold. I do have fishtank heating elements in each fermenter thought. It's a litter make shift, but it works really well.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So long as the Wort is warm through the element it will work. The beer doesn't care about makeshift!

[@hermanwheeler3130]

Briliant simple description on making beer. Thankyou for keeping it simple. First time beer making here. 👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@hermanwheeler3130 Have a go - it's really easy with a kit!

[@BrewabitRick]

BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT I'm super passionate about brewing and getting people into home brewing . It’s a fantastic hobby producing great beer at great prices . You have done a great step by step easy to follow vid nice work super impressed cheers 👍🍻

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much 🙂, I normally do country wines but beer kits are so cheap & easy and make a great drink

[@BrewabitRick]

@@EnglishCountryLife I’m subbed to your channel and love your content just thought I’d comment on this one as it’s related to my channel. Keep up the good work love all your content 🍻

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@BrewabitRick Thanks so much Rick. Got a couple more brewing ones in the works 😉

[@babiiblondiee]

Loved your video! ☺️ Straightforward and you have a relaxing voice, thanks!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's really kind of you - cheers 🍻

[@DaviMqrs]

very useful, specially the sugar part, I didn't know that works. Cheers mate, lovely

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad it was useful. Obviously there are lots of additional techniques and ingredients - but this is easy, available and it works

[@HoldenHillThorny57]

Prefer a fermenter with airlock,need brew Enhancer instead of sugar,get rid of plastic bottles use glass longnecks.Coopers Mexican cerveza pitch yeast in at 20 degrees or just below and maintain under that for duration of fermentation 22:10

[@EnglishCountryLife]

In 50 years I've never had a vinegar fly in beer so I really don't see the point of airlocks for beer. Secondary fermentation works fine in any gas tight bottle so let's keep beer making accessible.

[@robertsouthernsouthern5524]

Lovely bubbly

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks 👍

[@chrisfox3161]

Prompted by seeing your video pop up on my tablet today Ive just found 40 bottles of Nelson's Revenge I put in the shed to mature in January. It's not bad at all.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Excellent, should be nicely conditioned now - well worth enjoying on a warm day!

[@davidsurtees4439]

There are some videos on how to make a brewing vessel from an old fridge or chest freezer using a heat element and a thermostat control unit. I've done the same and the best thing I've done for making beer ciders and spirits all year round. Anyone wanting to do this regularly, I fully recommend making one, and they are really cheap to make as long as you either have a chest fridge or can get it dirt cheap.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

For smaller batches an igloo type cooler works well

[@damonhope396]

Superb vid, im new to the brewing game and some of his tips (sugar in bottles) are very usuful. Im gonna order one of those mugs!! Thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad I could help!

[@niyitegekaaaron1696]

I love it thanks for sharing

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks 🍻

[@PeterVuckovic]

Thank you for the little tape ideas it was great don’t have to wait long before my bottle to fill and I agree sugar is just as good 😊

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad it was useful!

[@strongandco]

Thanks for the video. (if you don't already know) You can use the yeast and remaining liquid to make bread. You can use the whole lot which is way too much and adjust the flour to get the right dough consistency but it doesn't hurt and the bread tastes really beery. You can also reuse the yeast in your next batch, just add some fresh water to it so it's pourable and decant it into a pop bottle and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. To reuse I pour off the old water and add a little fresh water to make it pourable again and add it to the wort. Liquid yest tends to give better flavours than dry yeast, and if its still fresh produces a much more vigorous fermentation but dry yeast is incredibly convenient and stores much longer. You must be fastidious with your sanitation process though and preferably add boiled and cooled water when you store it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Great info!

[@inmyfreetyme]

Good Morning. I don't drink beer BUT what a GREAT little video. Cheers to U!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you kindly

[@jacobperry6026]

Great vidio

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@jacobperry6026 Thanks Jacob!

[@johncspine2787]

I was fortunate to go on tour w my orchestra to Germany in spring, saw the hops fields coming up, and had awesome German beers. When I got back to the States, I learned how to brew from John Palmer’s book, a truly amazing home brew book. (He’s super nice too..) This was, hmm..more than ten-15 years ago, just before the massive explosion in home brew equipment. Ppl were still using buckets to ferment. I just got an advertisement yesterday from Morebeer regarding the new conical, stainless steel fermenters with enclosed cooling jackets. It’s really stunning..now, there’s no difference in home brewing equipment versus professional microbreweries..just the size, you can have a totally professional, miniature system for 5-10-15 gallon batches! My advice to new home brewers is..get John Palmers’ book, and..fermentation temperature control, and minimize oxygen oxidation. Keep your fermentation cool, even for ales, you’ll get a nice product. Hot fast fermentations will get you fusel alcohols, incomplete fermentations and other problems. Fermentation is an exothermic process, it will generate heat. I love Kolsch..you can make the best, crispiest kolsch at home w cold fermentation. Oh,..don’t use bleach..you need to rinse it. Use One Step, you don’t have to rinse it. The difference in acidity with the wort will cancel it out. I used to use One Step for all sanitization steps. It’s technically not advertised for this, but you can, or use the iodiphore preparations. Really, steer clear of bleach..if you contaminate w bleach, it’s a lousy tasting end product, and there are many such better products for sanitizing available there’s no reason to cheap out and use bleach. The other big thing that can help you if you want to get serious is a carbon dioxide tank..you can top off or displace your carboys of oxygen and eliminate or minimize oxygen contamination for a superior beer that ages well. You can then use the tank for legging or pressurized transport of wort etc. Seriously..John Palmer can explain everything so, so well..every enzymatic reaction, how to influence the wort for which enzyme at which time to create the flavor profile you want. (If you want to brew cold, do kolsch or lagers..cold is then your friend. It’s easier to use cold as your friend in brewing than when it’s too hot..once you’ve had a badly hot fermented beer from a homebrewer that gives you a hangover, you’ll see..). The only way to tell if fermentation is complete is to take a reading either Brix refractometer or a floatingmeter of how much sugar is left. You can have a clear wort, with plenty of residual sugar. Too much invisible sugar left equals exploding bottles at bottling time. This is such, such a complicated topic..please get John Palmer’s book!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Whilst there's a lot of truth in what you say on the quality of all grain brewing equipment now available, the intention of this video is to show that's it's not only possible but really straightforward to make very nice beer with absolutely minimal equipment and for a very low startup cost. Whilst I have several friends into all grain brewing, to the point of growing their own hops, they often make the subject seem expensive, over complex and inaccessible to the beginner. My grandfather and father managed great beers with kits and simple equipment (and my father was a PhD chemist with a research lab to play with), and that's very much the ethos I was trying to convey here. I'm sure some will go on to wanting to develop the hobby into more complex setups but others, like me, may look to home cider pressing and wine making. Either way it's a great hobby, simple or complex.

[@johncspine2787]

@@EnglishCountryLife I’m not trying to make it more complicated than it needs to be, but there are simple things that make even the simplest setups more tasty in the end, as I say, controlling your fermentation temps, and a proper sanitizing agent. It doesn’t cost much more to obtain a no rinse “made for purpose” home brewing sanitizer from the internet or your local home brew shop. You avoid the nastiness of bleach, no contamination issues, all the one step and iodophore products you can get your hands in with no problems, and none of them produce any off flavors in the finished product and best of all, require no rinsing. Purposefully using or recommending a product that is seriously behind the times just seems counterproductive. Yes, you can use bleach, but, no serious homebrewer would when there are convenient and cheap no rinse products available made expressly for the purpose of brewing safe and delicious beer at home. Going through hours of cleaning, brewing, fermenting, bottling, cleaning, aging, then tasting something funky after months and thinking “gee, guess I didn’t quite get all the bleach rinsed out” when again, there are superior products available for nearly the same price point. And, unless you make two identical batches one with bleach, one with a proper product, you won’t know if the bleach has actually been rinsed out properly and may have been affecting the flavor of your beer for the last forty years..just sayin..there’s better stuff available, why go to all the extra labor of having to rinse everything that contacts equipment that must be sanitized when you simply don’t have to?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@johncspine2787 We must agree to disagree John. Paying more for proprietary products that do not sterilise any more effectively when care and common household products work fine is not my mindset, but I accept that other people have other views

[@johncspine2787]

@@EnglishCountryLife well, I’m concerned for a couple reasons..if your rinse water isn’t sterile, then you should be having contaminated batches..if no contaminated batches, then some agreed minuscule amount of chlorine is getting through to the final product, which is not good for you. Also, any added cost of a proprietary product is negated by the extra work of rinsing and throwing out of contaminated batches or off tastes. No rinse products are especially, especially recommended for novices because every step your vessels are touched and processed is a point of contamination. Eliminating rinsing eliminates a huge point of contamination, and why risk chlorine in your final product when you simply don’t have to? But, if you want to be stubborn, ok, I can lead a horse to water, but I can’t make him stop using bleach! Reminds me of Dana Carvey in that skit from SNL...”in my day, we used bleach to sanitize! Sure, it burns, takes more work, and you can’t really rinse it all out and it ends up in your finished beer, but..we liked it!” No hard feelings, I’m just trying to show a no rinse product that’s safe, effective, and eliminates work is just..what everyone is using now..professionals down to the home brew level..

[@mc-yt2rc]

Great film! new subscription here, so glad I found your channel!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@mc-yt2rc Thank you!

[@scarletpeate]

Hi there. Sorry I've been a bit quiet. Great video. Love it. Best wishes to you both.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

No worries, I know you've had family stuff. Glad you liked it 😉

[@S-vz8cx]

Great video really informative but simple enough for all us novices ! If you have a link to how to keg a beer that would be appreciated. Living abroad makes it difficult to get home brew items but I have a basic beginner home brew kit from the UK, thanks again keep up the good work !

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I haven't filmed the keg video yet, sorry, I must get to it!

[@tonyphelps4061]

Great video. Very clear explanation of the brewing process from start to finish. Would like to see one of brewing using kegs and barrels and also of beer kit reviews if they exist

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks, will do!

[@zachmain6899]

Love your videos and your positive and grateful attitude - thank you!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad that you enjoyed it Zach - thanks for the lovely comment 😉

[@matreyu44]

Great video and learn alot. Looking forward to giving it a go. Many thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@matreyu44 So glad you are giving it a go

[@timtaylor5973]

Thanks - another great video. Would love to see a follow up on putting beer into a keg.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Tim, I'll add kegging to the list!

[@jokubasltu4528]

wow really nice video. very informative, very entertaining. thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kennychall]

goodnoya matey well done, great video good to watch, ex yorkshire pudd boro lad in aussie. thank you.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Wow, you're a long way from home 🍻

[@williamslee9379]

Excellent mate, thank you. I started making some sugar vodka a week ago, haven’t tried it yet. I had been wondering about options for sanitation other than “specialised” store bought options. This video is great. I’m going out to buy some tins.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad it helped. I keep meaning to film something similar for wine

[@michaelofmarble2094]

Brilliant, Thank you.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad you liked it 🙂

[@exhornnerd]

Thanks Hugh, I started country winemaking because of you and I now have a beer kit on its way for the same reason. Looking forward to a cold one in a couple of months. I'd love to see the barreling process if you have time, and it would be good to see different kinds of beer too, porter, pilsner, light ale, etc. (PS I've ventured into meads with some success, just finishing off a melomel with blueberries, or a bilbemel to be precise). Thanks as always for the great content.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Never done a blueberry melomel - it sounds amazing

[@Beaguins]

Looks yummy and easy!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Honestly it really is!

[@paulclark1953]

Been thinking about making beer but thought to much trouble..you've made it seem easy so ill give it a go..thankyou my beery friend

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are very welcome - it's well worth doing!

[@robertcasey966]

It's even easier than that..... wack it all in a big plastic thing with sugar and a fee pints of boiling water .... stir it up ... and cold water to the top... wack some yeast in ... stir again... eait 10 days .... chuck it into bottles with a bit of priming sugar .... don't have to wait weeks or months.... it ready to drink in a week hahs

[@alanwick4216]

I'm glad you used Coopers Cerveza (or Wilko, I'm convinced they're the same) as the demo beer, we have it as a constant stand by in the garage topping up with a fresh kit every 2 months or so. It's usually ready within a week of making, although we don't drink it that quickly, and the sediment in the bottle sets quite firmly so you can pour the whole content without bringing it through. The product is so much better than any ordinary commercial lager. We've made 1000s of pints over the years, and the complex kits can disappoint while the simple kits can be surprisingly good. Our favourites are the Cerveza, as above, MYO Stout (The Range), and Mersey Dockers IPA (Beer Works from Love Brewing). We make all sorts of country wines, and do some distilling, so we don't mind getting complicated, but I cannot see how getting more complicated than simple kits like these would make anything better. Great videos, very thorough, great tips.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Totally agree on the Coopers. My one problem with Wilkos is that their home delivery service is woeful. Nothing properly packed. Fine if you live near a shop though 🙂

[@MrCollierrn]

Thank you for such a clear, concise and enthusiastically produced video. I'm currently on day 5 of homebrew (from tin kit) number 1 🤞 One question: what is "thin bleach"?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@MrCollierrn Literally just watery bleach, no scents, no stuff to make it cling to toilet bowls. 5% sodium hypochlorite with no additives. groceries.morrisons.com/products/m-savers-thin-bleach/104272561

[@MrCollierrn]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thanks for your prompt reply

[@geoffanddebshipton6797]

Great video as always Hugh. Definitely would like to see more on this when you have time. We’ve started using beer kits and had great results. Any extra info you can provide beyond ‘what it says on the tin’ would be good to hear/see. Cheers! 🍻

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Will do!

[@TheJohnnyh61]

Top stuff

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you 🍻

[@cbrider726]

Great vid mate . Please could you show us a stream about stout 👍👍👍👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'll see what I can do 🙂

[@jacquiehahn4910]

Do you stir during fermentation? My grandad brewed in a big yellow bucket behind his chair, but only in Winter, when the underfloor heating was on. He religiously stirred the barm back into the beer every evening, and when I was big enough, it became my job at the weekends. I can smell it now! And seriously, don't put more sugar in the bottles, hoping for a fizzier or more potent beer! A neighbour, inspired by grandad's home brew, tried this. 40 odd pint bottles exploded in the airing cupboard, the linens were ruined, the beer leaked through the ceiling, and his wife left him.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Jacquie 🙂, I've never stirred the beer during fermentation. I find the gas bubbles circulate the live yeast through the wort. That said I don't imagine that it does any harm!

[@MaaZeus]

Do not stir the beer after the fermentation has starte, there is no need. And after fermentation is finished mixing is VERY bad as you risk oxidizing the beer. Oxygen is good before the fermentation because yeast like it and need it for reproducing, after fermentation it is bad and you should avoid sloshing and mixing it unnecessarily in open air. Even shaking of the bottles after priming and filling is not advised because there is some oxygen in the empty space and it may start the oxidizing process before the yeast has managed to take care of the oxygen. When beer is oxidized it starts to taste like cardboard after few weeks, especially highly hopped beers because hop flavors are very suspectible to oxidizing. The sugar in bottles will dissolve on their own and yeast will find it, no need to shake it.

[@Aesulf]

Nice video, if you don’t want to put sugar in every bottle individually, add it in the bucket beforehand. Works well for me.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's a great idea!

[@johncspine2787]

Yes, this is typical in the States, you boil a bit of dried malt or pure sugar to sterilizebut, there are also individual products that you can put a tab of a controlled amount of sugar per whatever size bottle you are using.

[@americasfavoritehoarder]

New subscriber here. Like your channel.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Welcome!

[@danutajohn1114]

Thanks for the video! What about airlock? You don't need airlock making beer? When is it been used then?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@danutajohn1114 Only a tight fitting lid John. Some people fit one but in 50 years I've never found it necessary. I use airlocks in demijohns & carboys for wine fermenting which takes much longer.

[@Steeps1969]

Good video - though a word of caution regarding your choice of tool to stir? You really should use a plastic (non porous) utensil for this. The wood can harbour bacteria, which might not be good, in the long term. Saying that, in older times a wooden stick was used, as it was considered almost magical, as its use was what initiated fermentation - the bacteria/yeast was 'resident' in the stick! But, seriously, use plastic & stainless with brewing for best results with the provided yeast. All the best, love you and your partners vids :-)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It's an interesting point, but I've not had a spoiled brew in 40 years so I'm not overly concerned 😉

[@zach130192]

Watching this after starting my first home brew kit, today... I messed up, was too impatient added the yeast at 28-30 degrees 😢 just keep my fingers crossed not ruined it

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You should probably get away with it 🤞🤞

[@ianfox6106]

Coopers brew kits are on sale in Britain? Wow I did not know they had made it that far. I am in Adelaide, Australia and the Coopers Brewery is on the other side of town.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Yeah we really like them, good quality and decent prices 😁

[@ianfox6106]

@EnglishCountryLife silly side notes you don't need. Coopers is the biggest independent brewery in Australia. All the bigger ones are part of international conglomerates like Asahi. It was founded in 1862 after Thomas Cooper moved to South Australia from Yorkshire and it is still owned by the Cooper family. Their flagship beer is their Pale Ale. If I remember right from when I did their brewery tour they said how many beerscthey do, including license breweing Heinekin after running their water through a reverse osmosis plant until it matched Amsterdam water. If you ever drink Adelaide's water with its high mineral content you'll know what a big task that is. They do a very big sideline in producing home brew supplies and I think they are one of the biggest producers in the world. Home brew is a popular hobby in Australia mainly due to the high taxes on beer, 50% more than in the UK last time I checked. Coopers also sell compete starter packs with brew kegs, bottles, brew sugar and a can of worth. In fact I came across your video after looking up home brew videos for tips for myself. But I didn't known their home brew supplies got as far as Britain.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@ianfox6106 That's fascinating - thank you!

[@WilliamJMurphy]

Just starting out, and this is great! How do you sanitise the tube?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Submerge it in the santisation fluid for ten minutes then flush it out well

[@gingerninja9334]

Hi mate, brilliant video thanks. Just a quick question on whether instead of using normal bottles I could use old 2L soda drinks plastic bottles? I know it’s not as classy but it’s a damn sight cheaper!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You can indeed, just adjust the priming sugar. I find 1 full tsp right

[@topazpowell8561]

Hi. Yet one more GREAT video. I would LOVE to see how to keg home brew beer, we have 24 second hand 25 ltr. Port Oak barrels.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

WOW that's great - very jealous. Would love a couple of those

[@topazpowell8561]

@@EnglishCountryLife They are quite common here in North Spain, It's odd that they are old Port barrels and not old Sherry barrels. Holliday here and go back with extra baggage.

[@johnjacquett8755]

Love the video could you tell me about putting beer in a keg please thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I will make a video John!

[@canadianbrewer]

It may be cheap in the UK, but is expensive here in Canada.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@canadianbrewer Really? A 40 pint kit is about 20 Canadian dollars here. How much is it there?

[@canadianbrewer]

@@EnglishCountryLife I have never seen a 40 pint kit. For 19L kits they are around $33 to $64, depending on the type of beer kit. I brew all grain and ingredients have doubled and sometimes tripled in price. I do brew a Coopers kit the odd time but usually do a partial mash. Tastes pretty good too. Still, all in all it is way cheaper to brew your own than buy it here in Canada. Very good video. Chris

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@canadianbrewer Wow that is pricey. The very best kits here are about $40. As you say though, still much cheaper

[@JohnDoe-es5xh]

The reason, why I'm making beer from malt extract, is the weight of beer boxes and the pledge handling after returning the empty bottles/cans after drinking. At least in Germany.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's really interesting. It's definitely cheaper & more environmentally friendly!

[@jackirkman179]

Great video. Did you ever make a video regarding kegging? I've been unable to find one on your channel. Cheers.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Jack - I haven't made that one yet - but I must!

[@jackirkman179]

@@EnglishCountryLife I'll keep an eye out. Thanks for all the brewing videos. They've been a real help.

[@fredbristow742]

Hello Hugh Cooper recommend using enhanser 2 with the cervers what do you think

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Fred, it can't hurt, but I've made it with just plain old granulated sugar and it worked brilliantly 😉

[@KTM-ip5xm]

Hi, how much was that initial sugar, 1Kg for the 23L ? Thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Yes, correct

[@gingerninja9334]

Hiya mate sorry to pepper you with questions but just wondering were you got the fermentation bucket from? Cheers

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, All home brew shops have them, but you can get one from Amazon amzn.to/3WZChnD

[@dhanilfrancil]

Adding sugar in those bottles and if fermentation takes place , will the bottle blasts?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

The tiny amount of sugar added is intended to ferment. That's what makes the finished beer "fizzy" . The maximum amount is 1/2 tsp per 500ml / pint. Often 1/4 tsp is fine. If you add lots, yes, the bottle can burst but the small amount is just enough to stop the beer being flat.

[@dhanilfrancil]

@@EnglishCountryLife ah yeah I get it now, thankyou so much anyways, Good work

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@dhanilfrancil No problem, that's what these videos are about 🙂

[@stevepulham9939]

Could you show how to keg please Cheers also what would be the strongest abv in a kit cheers

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Steve, I'll try to do that one this Winter. There are plenty of kits that go 5 or even 6% which is plenty strong enough I think. I brew for flavour - at the price of homebrew it's easy enough to have another pint !

[@jonnypickett2546]

Good stuff.. Cheers :0)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@davidbrennan4077]

Can you fermentation in the bucket without a bubbler

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Yes you can David, provided that it has a clip on lid.

[@davidbrennan4077]

Thank you Top Man

[@lonewolfshepherd2348]

Hi I found your channel the other day looking at gooseberry recepies. Great content I'm working my way through, just a quick question where do you get your replacement 63mm jam jar lids from? Great content ;easy to follow & no faffing around. cheers.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

There's a number of places if you are happy to buy large numbers, but try these for smaller quantities. Hugh www.ampulla.co.uk/shop/plastic/caps-and-closures/63mm-metal-twist-off-lids/

[@stevelobiondo22]

No airlock? Won't the co2 pop the lid off?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@stevelobiondo22 No, whilst the lid is tight, it's not gas tight

[@SteveW1985]

Hey Hugh I have a wherry fermenting for a week today. Looks a bit cloudy, I've read leave it for another week. What would you do ?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Steve, are there any bubbles rising?

[@SteveW1985]

@@EnglishCountryLifesome very small but almost none.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@SteveW1985 Wait till there's none & bottle Steve. You could bottle now if you want. The cloudiness will settle out in the bottle. You can wait a little longer but not more than a few days

[@SteveW1985]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thanks Hugh. P.s blackberry port coming along nicely too.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@SteveW1985 Excellent!

[@michaelphiliplim5895]

Hello! Just one question! How quickly does skunking set in when exposing your fermented wort to sunlight? Does it matter if you bottle it in clear glass bottles? Thank you!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It's a complex question but in short, it's not something we've ever had. Our beer is stored in a dark pantry and normally in brown bottles

[@michaelphiliplim5895]

@@EnglishCountryLife THanks!

[@johnabbott4674]

it is a great hobby, depending on where you live, accessibility is a problem for me unfortunately. i can't get a good supplier that will deliver to me as i live abroad and only have access to an APO for delivery and most will not post to APOs 😞

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's a real shame 😔

[@SteveW1985]

Hey Hugh just curious why its not necessary to use an airlock ? Great channel, really enjoying it. Got all my kit arriving tomorrow. Blackberry port is on the agenda. But thinking of brewing some beer too.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Generally the brewing buckets have tight fitting lids- sufficient to keep out flies - but not truly airtight. Since the gas can vent, you don't need an airlock

[@SteveW1985]

@@EnglishCountryLife thanks for the quick reply! ... my bucket has a hole for an airlock 🤔

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@SteveW1985 Then stick one in, it won't do any harm

[@TheCustomer]

Please do more new videos about leather care🤩

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'll certainly try over Winter. I was thinking of doing glue and varnish too...?

[@TheCustomer]

@@EnglishCountryLife well I dont really do stuff with my hand but I would love to know easy and cheap ways to take care of leather. More easy ways, maybe nubuck care. Also how do you keep bugs and insects away, they are always around since we have a garden. We also have some humidity problem in our basement, not sure if you can do some content about these topics.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'll have a think!

[@Deepumly]

Could u pls suggest me a good kit to brew beer(i am a starter)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Of course, what beer do you like? Bitter? Lager? Porter? Mild? Stout?

[@Deepumly]

@@EnglishCountryLife mild but it should be strong

[@greyhound0z]

I filled it half way in both channels but now it's only in one and nearly out the top lol

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@greyhound0z That's fine, it's fas pressure pushing it round

[@greyhound0z]

@EnglishCountryLife ok thank you, just watched your video for a fourth time lol

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@greyhound0z After a few runs it will seem easy 😉

[@greyhound0z]

@@EnglishCountryLife sory for all the questions i forgot to take a reading of my lager on the first day can i buy a refractometer to measure the final alcohol level after pouring?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@greyhound0z Yes if you get one that's calibrated correctly, but I wouldn't worry over much

[@mungomunro1]

Hey! I hope you are all in fine fettle. I’ve managed to get hold of a couple of porter kits which went out of date a couple of days ago (6th may). My mate said it’s the yeast that goes out of date, and not the can contents. To combat that he said: ‘just use the 2 packets of yeast you get with the 2 kits, and source fresh yeast in 2 or 3 months time when you come to brew the second kit’. Is this sound advice, or should I source fresh yeast from the start? I saw the Youngs Home Brew Youngs Multi Purpose Dried Active Yeast on your shop page. Will this do, or does porter need a specific yeast? Thank you!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Morning Mungo, I suspect the kits will be absolutely fine, there's a lot of wiggle room in those expiry dates

[@mungomunro1]

@@EnglishCountryLife Nice one!

[@aarontaylor117]

Grate video. What if you can not get the brand spoon? Can you use another one as I'm in irleand

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@aarontaylor117 Any long spoon works. Even a length of dowel.

[@aarontaylor117]

@EnglishCountryLife Sorry I mean the silver spoon sugar

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@aarontaylor117 Oh for sure, any granulated whit is fine. You can also get specialist brewing sugars and spray malt for a couple of quid

[@aarontaylor117]

@EnglishCountryLife Thank you. appreciate that I love the videos, simple, step buy step guide on how to make this 🙌

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@aarontaylor117 Thank you - simple is my middle name 😁

[@pauldonohue7536]

Brilliant video! I *think* im ready to start my homebrewing journey, ill definitely start with a kit at 1st. Quick question if you dont mind. Im going to buy a Beerwolf Sub tap, and these come with 2L kegs called tarps, do you think i will be able to use these kegs rather than bottles? Fantastic video, Thank you!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! I haven't used the Beerwolf range so I can't advise there. Personally if I wanted to keg I would buy a 23 litre keg that takes most standard beer kits. They're cheap enough and super easy to use.

[@pauldonohue7536]

@@EnglishCountryLife top man! Ordered a couple of BrewtoBottle starter kits, might as well get two brews on the go! Thanks, liked and subscribed

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@pauldonohue7536 If upu gave any questions Paul just drop me a note 😉

[@pauldonohue7536]

@@EnglishCountryLife will do, can't wait!

[@rendetacf]

What's cider kits like?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Stephen, a very similar process. Generally the results are good. Cheaper ones produce a refreshing basic cider (strongbow type). Higher end ones produce VERY nice cider. Happy to do a video on them if you like?

[@koomber777]

If you prefer some of the funky fruit ciders you can make an absolute belter of a mixed berry with a cheap cider kit and some of the polish berry syrups from Tesco. Comes out at about 7.5% and is a fine drink for a bbq

[@Beaguins]

@@EnglishCountryLife I would enjoy a cider video.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We do have a two part series on pressing cider from our orchard. I could cover cider kits as well if you like? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zpmke2iOoLyngq8

[@DavidWade55]

Can you show us putting beer in kegs then😃😝

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I will film next time I do it

[@ThePrevo02]

how much is 25 pence a pint. Is a pence equivalent to a penny, is that what it means?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@ThePrevo02 Yes indeed, 25 pennies 🙂

[@robertsouthernsouthern5524]

You don't have to filter beer before you bottle seems a lot easier

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It's certainly a very simple thing to do - and saves a lot of money

[@paulhadfield7909]

so no need for a bubbler on topof the lid

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I always use a tight fitting lid but I've never used an airlock for beer 🍻

[@PizzaZocker]

good vid would be a bit better/safer to put in the bleach after the water though :)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are probably right

[@simongeoghegan3190]

great introductory video! but unfortunately there is no way that beer can taste very good if you’re using granulated sugar as your fermentables. Replace the table sugar with about 500g of dextrose (brewing sugar) and add 1kg of malt extract. Will end up with a much better finished product. Alternatively you could use just malt extract, about 1.2-1.5kg. If you use just sugar, you will be disappointed. also, to spice it up, I would recommend adding Saaz hops. Just literally throw the pellets into the bucket once fermentation is done. You may end up spending an extra £15 but you’ll get much better quality beer

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We will have to disagree here, I've had very nice beer indeed made with kits and sucrose. I've also had god awful beer made by all grain methods with digital temperature control, elaborate sparging and hand selected hops. The function of this video was to demonstrate that perfectly nice beer can be made simply and cheaply with widely available ingredients. Of course you can take it as far as you want. I know one brewmaster who wouldn't touch commercially grown barley or other peoples hops. However that's not how to make the hobby approachable to newcomers . If you think there's a better way, I look forward to your video series that demonstrates it & explains at a biochemical level the flavour impact of sugar digestion by yeast.

[@brencostigan]

Hi Hugh, I’d like to see a kegging video when you have time 👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'll add it to the list!

[@LakeHighiii]

You could vastly improve the quality of your beer by using a lid and an air lock on your fermenter.....Like, twice as good.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@LakeHighiii No, I have them, it literally makes no difference. Either way the fermentation creates a CO2 buffer above the beer. The purpose of an airlock is to prevent the ingress of vinegar flies that carry aceto bacteria. In 50 years of brewing thousands of bottles of beer I have never lost a single bottle to aceto bacteria. Vinegar flies cannot get past a clipped lid so it literally has no effect.