I've read several articles where cruisers were brewing their own beer aboard
their boats. I brew my own when ashore, but have had to resort to
store-bought beer when living aboard for the winter.

Have any of you any experience brewing your own afloat?

Glenn.
s/v Seawing
www.seawing.net

Glenn A. Heslop wrote:
I've read several articles where cruisers were brewing their own beer aboard
their boats. I brew my own when ashore, but have had to resort to
store-bought beer when living aboard for the winter.

Have any of you any experience brewing your own afloat?

My experiment indicated to me that you can't do it unless docked. There
are beer brewing kits available - do an online search. I can't see it
worth the bother to secure one of these things for sailing.

Also the beer it make wasn't any good. Others say they have better luck,
but I sure didn't. I gave up drinking (well not due to that).

Paul Cassel wrote:
Glenn A. Heslop wrote:
I've read several articles where cruisers were brewing their own
beer aboard their boats. I brew my own when ashore, but have had to
resort to store-bought beer when living aboard for the winter.

Have any of you any experience brewing your own afloat?

My experiment indicated to me that you can't do it unless docked.
There are beer brewing kits available - do an online search. I can't
see it worth the bother to secure one of these things for sailing.

Also the beer it make wasn't any good. Others say they have better
luck, but I sure didn't. I gave up drinking (well not due to that).

Surely beer has to stand during the fermentation/settling process. How can
you achieve that unless it's a houseboat you live on?

Dennis.

Periodically I make beer at my home ashore...that was what I was wondering.
I always make sure that I place the fermenter where i can syphon it without
disturbing the sedment. Can't imagine how that would work on a constantly
moving boat. Maybe filtering would work.

Glenn.

"Dennis Pogson" wrote in message
...
Paul Cassel wrote:
Glenn A. Heslop wrote:
I've read several articles where cruisers were brewing their own
beer aboard their boats. I brew my own when ashore, but have had to
resort to store-bought beer when living aboard for the winter.

Have any of you any experience brewing your own afloat?

My experiment indicated to me that you can't do it unless docked.
There are beer brewing kits available - do an online search. I can't
see it worth the bother to secure one of these things for sailing.

Also the beer it make wasn't any good. Others say they have better
luck, but I sure didn't. I gave up drinking (well not due to that).

Surely beer has to stand during the fermentation/settling process. How can
you achieve that unless it's a houseboat you live on?

Dennis.

Surely beer has to stand during the fermentation/settling process. How can
you achieve that unless it's a houseboat you live on?

Not to mention how NASTY the smell is gonna be WHEN that thing tips over due
to wave action.

Hi Bill,

Bill Kearney wrote:
Surely beer has to stand during the fermentation/settling process. How can
you achieve that unless it's a houseboat you live on?

Not to mention how NASTY the smell is gonna be WHEN that thing tips over due
to wave action.


I have never personally tried to make beer or ale, but have
always thought it would be a neat hobby.

Some friends of mine in Seattle used to make great beers,
ales, and wines at home. They were members of the Boeing
Employees brewing club (or some such org). Also, my cousins
used to make very tasty dark beer at home.

Here are some questions wrt this thread:

Take it for granted that you could set up a gimbled
arrangement for the brewing keg--could be as simple as
suspending from the ceiling in an aft cabin with some
bungees to keep it from swinging around too much...

1) Would you be able to brew a batch in a fairly quiet
anchorage? How long does the brewing process take?

2) Is there something inherent in the brewing process that
would cause it to not work when the contents are constantly
agitated such as at sea? If settling is the issue, could
you substitute filtration?

3) Are ingredients (besides the water) such that they could
be stored fairly long term while on a cruise?

Any successful homebrewers out there?

Don W.

I really don't see a feasible way to brew while underway but it might be
possible in a quiet anchorage. I think filteration must be necessary.

Primary fermentation is in what is basically a food-grade garbage can. It
takes about week or less. Secondary fermentation takes
another...week...less with with a clarifying agent and maybe filtering.
After that, it's bottling. After bottling leave for one week and then enjoy
responsibily.

One can buy canned kits that should be easy to store.

My challenge is that I can't see me making a normal 5-gallons at a
time...too big for my boat. Wondering how others solved this.

Glenn.

"Don W" wrote in message
. com...
Hi Bill,

Bill Kearney wrote:
Surely beer has to stand during the fermentation/settling process. How
can
you achieve that unless it's a houseboat you live on?

Not to mention how NASTY the smell is gonna be WHEN that thing tips over
due
to wave action.


I have never personally tried to make beer or ale, but have
always thought it would be a neat hobby.

Some friends of mine in Seattle used to make great beers,
ales, and wines at home. They were members of the Boeing
Employees brewing club (or some such org). Also, my cousins
used to make very tasty dark beer at home.

Here are some questions wrt this thread:

Take it for granted that you could set up a gimbled
arrangement for the brewing keg--could be as simple as
suspending from the ceiling in an aft cabin with some
bungees to keep it from swinging around too much...

1) Would you be able to brew a batch in a fairly quiet
anchorage? How long does the brewing process take?

2) Is there something inherent in the brewing process that
would cause it to not work when the contents are constantly
agitated such as at sea? If settling is the issue, could
you substitute filtration?

3) Are ingredients (besides the water) such that they could
be stored fairly long term while on a cruise?

Any successful homebrewers out there?

Don W.

Don W wrote:
Here are some questions wrt this thread:

Take it for granted that you could set up a gimbled arrangement for the
brewing keg--could be as simple as suspending from the ceiling in an aft
cabin with some bungees to keep it from swinging around too much...

1) Would you be able to brew a batch in a fairly quiet anchorage? How
long does the brewing process take?

Anywhere from a month to a year. A decent ale might take 6 weeks.
Mostly depending on temperature, strength and gravity. A cool anchorage
would be preferred, warm ferments can get funky and messy. Ideally
something in the 50-70F range for ales.

2) Is there something inherent in the brewing process that would cause
it to not work when the contents are constantly agitated such as at
sea? If settling is the issue, could you substitute filtration?

According to lore, one of the things that made the original India Pale
Ale unique was the fact that they underwent secondary fermentation and
aging in oak casks while sailing from England to India. Supposedly the
agitation increased the efficiency of the fermentation, converting a
higher percentage of sugars to alcohol than was the norm at the time.
Some scholars dismiss this as just lore however.

Also, in Burton-on-Trent they created the Burton Union system which
intentionally agitates fermentation to increase efficiency. This also
produces a surfeit of yeast which they dry and put in jars and sell to
Aussies who actually eat it for some reason.

In general I think it is safe to say that the agitation of brewing at
anchor would allow the fermentation to go on longer than usual,
producing a slightly lower finishing gravity and higher alcohol than on
land. Also, clarity would be slightly reduced due to the agitation and
increased yeast bed. Filtration works, but requires a pump and filters
and will make a hell of a mess when a fitting lets loose. A simpler
solution would be to use a clarifying agent and some patience. Racking
to a tertiary fermenter would also help clarify it. Dark beers don't
need much clarity, and a full-bodied stout can hide a lot of flaws,
especially after the 3rd pint.

3) Are ingredients (besides the water) such that they could be stored
fairly long term while on a cruise?

It depends on how you make your beer. Storing fresh grain and hops is
probably a pain on a boat. On the other hand, dry malt extract can be
stored like sugar and vacuum packed hop pellets are more robust than
fresh hops. You can even use hop extract if your beer doesn't need too
much hop character. Dried yeast packs store nicely.

Making beer from dry extract, hop pellets and dry yeast is not going to
yield a competition-quality homebrew, but with practice, and depending
on your taste, you might be able to develop a combination of recipe and
technique that worked for you.

Any successful homebrewers out there?

I'm a former award-winning homebrewer and BJCP Master Beer Judge.

Where are you thinking of brewing? I'm assuming there are some ports of
call where an onboard brewery would be frowned upon.

--
Chuck Cox - SynchroSystems - Synchro.com
,
my email is politician-proof, just remove the PORK

Hi folks. I am a professional brewer. Spent 10 years in the brewing
industry.

I don't know if you would want to brew on a boat, considering all the
things that could go wrong. You can probably store better beer than
take up the space you need for proper refrigeration, space, etc.

Too much hassle.

"Glenn A. Heslop" wrote in message
news:raEVf.183041$sa3.143382@pd7tw1no...
I've read several articles where cruisers were brewing their own beer
aboard
their boats. I brew my own when ashore, but have had to resort to
store-bought beer when living aboard for the winter.

Have any of you any experience brewing your own afloat?

Glenn.
s/v Seawing
www.seawing.net



I have yet to have a brew at home beer that is pleasant to drink. In fact,
I cannot think of any homemade alcohol products (beer or wine) that I liked.
But then again, I am an American who favors a nice cold bottle of Miller
Genuine Draft. ;-)