Home of the BrewNosers

Hello All,

Just moved here, originally overseas for awhile and lived in Victoria, BC.for a LONG time prior to that. I am beyond wowed by the freaken awesome selection of craft/micro breweries this town has to offer. Propeller seems a no-brainer, but I'm already a few growlers in with Rogues. Haven't even been into Rockbottom or Hart & Thistle yet.

Currently Drinking: growler of Rogue's porter, it and Propeller's are hard to beat
Sleeper Favorite: Rogue's IPA, Picaroon's Bitter; not obnoxiously hoppy.

Anyone know of anything that remotely tastes like the Swan's Brewpub (Victoria) Riley's Scotch Ale, let me know. Closest I could find was the Garrison Baltic Porter.

I haven't started brewing yet and was wondering at the best option for a noob in this area with no equipment: buying a kit and going to a u-brew? I can remember my father doing this years ago, but he's into mass batches of wine at home now and doesn't really have the knowledge anymore.

Thank guys, great to stumble onto this gem

You won't find a u-brew here for beer (although I think some of the wine rebels are doing beer as well), so I guess we are your best resource.

Thank Guys!

Jeez, in that case what would you recommend in terms of stuff for a noob to acquire for his first attempt?

Noble Grape will have the equipment you need to do a batch. For your first time i would recomend doing the festabrew oatmeal stout, if you like propeller porter then you'll like that

Wow, I can literally get started on this for the weekend. Thanks a lot Liver!

YetiTeacher wrote:Wow, I can literally get started on this for the weekend. Thanks a lot Liver!

Welcome!

If I remember correctly, there's a promotional price for buying the "starter kit" along with a festa brew kit..I can't remember what the price is though!

Welcome aboard!

Noble Grape does have a U-vint setup in Dartmouth, you could ask if they'll do the same for beer. However, they charge ~$50 to do that for wine kits. For $50, you can get most everything you'd need to brew beer over and over again...

Or you could just ask to brew with one of us. That has all the advantages of a U-brew and more.

How did you "stumble onto this gem"?

KMcK wrote:Or you could just ask to brew with one of us. That has all the advantages of a U-brew and more.

How did you "stumble onto this gem"?

I was looking for information on when Propeller was releasing their pumpkin ale. Pretty keen to get my hands on some, doesn't have to be Prop, just pumpkin in general. Came across this place when I found a post on that.

KMcK wrote:Or you could just ask to brew with one of us. That has all the advantages of a U-brew and more.

Just got this from Noble Grape, not sure if it is disconted:

"A starter kit package that includes a Festa Brew oatmeal stout and all the equipment you need to get started is $89.99. After you own the equipment, you simply need to pick up another Festa Brew beer. They retail for $37.99-$39.99 with our seasonal specialty beer offerings at $43.99-$44.99. The process is 5 days in the bucket, 10-14 days in the carboy and then into the beer bottles. It takes approximately 2 weeks for the beer to carbonate at room temperature (22C-26C) The carboy is included but bottles are not. Pop on in and we can chat more about it. If you have any follow up questions, just fire me off another email or give me a shout at 423 2739."

Brewing with one of you guys might be better option, having a hard sell on convincing my better half on the merits of brewing at our home.

$89 is a good price and you will need the equipment no matter what method of brewing you use.

YetiTeacher wrote: Brewing with one of you guys might be better option, having a hard sell on convincing my better half on the merits of brewing at our home.

Does your SO like beer too? Just gotta make sure you keep the fridge full of stuff they like. Also, you'll get 5 or 6 cases/batch which brings the cost down to ~$8/pack (of 12). A sixer of Propeller Porter is $12.59. So spend $40 on a FestaBrew kit or $125 on Propeller products (or whatever craft beer you like)...

However, brewing with someone else makes sense too. If you spend every weekend out of the house helping someone brew, sooner or later your significant other will (hopefully) say "Why don't you just brew at home?"

$89 is a good deal if it includes the Festa Brew kit and everything but bottles. Tell them the Brewnosers sent ya.

You've got a week or two to collect some if you don't already have some kicking around the house. Put up a request in the Classifieds on the forum, or else make friends with your closest bottle depot. Might I suggest going for the bigger bottles and/or with swingtops. Less work all around!

Maybe see you out tomorrow @ Hoptoberfest?

akr71 wrote:

YetiTeacher wrote: Brewing with one of you guys might be better option, having a hard sell on convincing my better half on the merits of brewing at our home.

Does your SO like beer too? Just gotta make sure you keep the fridge full of stuff they like. Also, you'll get 5 or 6 cases/batch which brings the cost down to ~$8/pack (of 12). A sixer of Propeller Porter is $12.59. So spend $40 on a FestaBrew kit or $125 on Propeller products (or whatever craft beer you like)...

However, brewing with someone else makes sense too. If you spend every weekend out of the house helping someone brew, sooner or later your significant other will (hopefully) say "Why don't you just brew at home?"

Ya the math makes sense and 89.9 wasn't a bad price I thought. There anyway I could try the festabrew stout before getting a batch?

Ha, good point akr, might be worth a shot! SO is not a beer drinker; wine and rum. Might be better going with that suggestion... I'll think it over, looks like even glass bottles aren't going to set me back that badly either, though I thought plastic wasn't a bad option either. I find 2L growlers have to go that day they're opened

chalmers wrote:$89 is a good deal if it includes the Festa Brew kit and everything but bottles. Tell them the Brewnosers sent ya.

You've got a week or two to collect some if you don't already have some kicking around the house. Put up a request in the Classifieds on the forum, or else make friends with your closest bottle depot. Might I suggest going for the bigger bottles and/or with swingtops. Less work all around!

Maybe see you out tomorrow @ Hoptoberfest?

Ya they said this about bottles:

"These include flip top bottles (500ml and 1L) PET (plastic) bottles, and 640ml brown glass bottles. The prices vary depending on the bottle you choose. The 640ml glass bottles are our most popular at $11.99 per case of 12. You would require 36 bottles of this type to bottle a batch of beer."

I was thinking a 1L fliptop might be the way to go as well, though of course I have a few kicking around the house.
I'll definitely be telling them the Brewnosers sent me

Not sure, I have no idea where Hoptoberfest is supposed to be? Sounded like it was a BBQ?

http://www.hoptoberfest.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tomorrow, Sat Sept 29, rain or shine, from 3pm-??

Location: mr x's house, near the Halifax Forum. PM him for details.

BBQ of sausages, lamb burgers, corn and plenty of other food.

10+ kegs of homebrewed beer and good craft beer as well.

Good food- and beer-loving friends and family are invited!

Sweet, thanks a lot Chalmers! Not sure if I have a growler kicking around, but maybe I could get my hands on some prop pumpkin ale to bring...

Will talk with the SO and see what the game plan is.

Thanks again!

another plus - the bucket and carboy can be used to make wine too

akr71 wrote:[If you spend every weekend out of the house helping someone brew, sooner or later your significant other will (hopefully) say "Why don't you just brew at home?"

We've got all the angles covered.

LOL No kidding