Make Your Own Beer - Brew By U Hunter

This is my husband David and I a couple years ago at the Little Creatures Brewery in Perth. One of our hobbies together is checking out breweries, and tasting craft beers together. It started when I bought a couple expensive European beers for Dave's Christmas stocking a few years ago, and now you'd be hard pressed to find a generic brand of beer in our fridge. Since we had our son and have gone down to one income the beer budget has been stretched as far as an ear on an Emo-kid; I had to come up with another way to keep cost down while still being able to enjoy quality craft beer. I hope you enjoy this guest post by David and the discount offered at the end of it - Jessica, PKM -

Having only spent time partaking in the consumption of craft beers, I have long been saying I would like to  spend time partaking in the production of beer. Queue awesome wife who decided that a gift certificate to brew beer of my choosing (or a least one from their list) at Brew By U Hunter would make the BEST Father's Day gift; she was right.

If you thought beer flowed from the divine skies (pictured left), or that a giant goat in Valhalla has an endless supply streaming from its udders (check this out), then you are severely mistaken. Dave, from Brew By U Hunter (pictured right), walked me through the whole process, and believe me when I say brewing beer is like some of these makeover shows; started out ugly, turned into a princess.

Secret hops and spices (grains)

Brew By U Hunter is an on premises microbrewery where they supply the equipment, ingredients and know how. Your job is to pay, listen and do. Steve and Dave at BBU Hunter have been in business for 4 years and it is unlikely there isn't a beer these guys haven't brewed.

After selecting brew number 125, the Belgian Special (similar to a Duvel) brew coach Dave got me started by measuring out the secret ingredients.

Filthy malt

We got straight into making the 'wort' as the malt was something Dave "prepared" earlier. This process consisted of precisely timed steps and you could tell this guy knew what he was doing. We added the malt, two different kinds of hops, and some other goodies to help with the fermentation and Dave activated the yeast toward the end of the boil.

Make sure to strike up a conversation with Dave during this time or you'll spend an awkward 60 mins stretching the limits of your Facebook newsfeed.

From here, the brew is pumped through their cooling system and very quickly goes from 90 degrees to around 25 degrees before the yeast is added. Your brew spends the next 2-3 weeks being housed in its own fermenting drum inside the Brew By U Hunter cool rooms and the ingredients do what they do best; make heavenly beer. What was left for me to do was bottle and cap, so 3 weeks later I returned and did this ...

I know I've over simplified the process but I'm no master brewer (yet), I'm a beer consumer, and as a consumer this is what I know:

1. You take home a massive 50 litres of your own, personally handcrafted beer. If you can't picture that then check out my fridge baby.
2. A carton of beer contains 24 beers and the premium Belgian range are bottled in 330mL. So 1 carton of beer contains 7.92 litres and 50 litres is roughly equal to 6 cartons and 7.5 beers (I said roughly).
3. A carton of Duvel will cost you $142.99 (google it if you think I'm telling porkies), so if you wanted to purchase 6 cartons and 7.5 beers, assuming the price for the 7.5 individual beers is the same unit price as a single beer in a carton and you can purchase 1/2 a beer, then you'd have to fork out $902.71.

Now the alternative (prices used for comparative purposes only) :

1. The premium range brew will cost $195
2. You'll need to either bottle your beer or keg it. I chose the least expensive option of bottling, so they cost $80 for 100, 500mL or 133, 375mL sterile, reusable, pop cap not twist.
3. As BBU Hunter do not use any preservatives or chemicals (you could consider it organic) you'll need to refrigerate your stash, so a fridge large enough should cost you under $100 if you're savvy.

Let's compare:
Go to Dan Murphy's and buy 6 cartons and 7.5 beers of Duvel = $902.71
Go to BBU Hunter and bring home 50L of faux Duvel = $375
Knowing you saved $527.71 and you get to keep the fridge = priceless

The first thing I notice on the pour is the effervescence and lively carbonation, you can almost hear the beer singing to you. The head is slightly weak however I am expecting growth as the beer bottle conditions. The texture is smooth and extremely creamy on the palate. Upfront flavours are sweet fruity malt, floral notes, bold spiciness and subtle alcohol warmth given the 8.5% ABV. Finishes slightly dry with some residual spice. 

Having gone through the process, I concede that the brewing missionaries have saved another soul from the commercial, and highly priced world of boutique beers. Valhalla goat awaits.

Brewskies and mugs, 

David 

Brew by U Hunter would like to offer 5% off one brew session to any (legal age) PKM reader who mentions this post. 

Merry Christmas & You're welcome!

*Full Disclosure: Brew by U Hunter sponsored this post by providing the beer bottles!