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Home Brew News No.11 2nd November 2009
Welcome to Newsletter No.11 Fantastic news for every Registered User at Aussie Brewmakers. Today, we have changed our freight rules to make it simple and easy for everyone to purchase on-line. We try our best to supply everyone the right product at the right price and now it will be even cheaper……….. Our minimum order value remains at $30.00. All orders over $30.00 to anywhere in Australia but less than $100.00 will be charged a $10.00 freight fee. All orders over $100.00 to anywhere in Australia is FREIGHT FREE! Mansfield Community Men’s Shed - Update As reported last month, “The Keg” is the new home brewing section at the Mansfield Community Men’s Shed. Its first day of operation will be 11 November 09 between 10am and 7pm. Anyone interested in utilising “The Keg” for preparation of home brews and storage in a temperature controlled environment is welcome. BYO fermenter, steriliser and ingredients. New Beer Recipes We have just updated our “Classic” and “Other Beer Recipes” section on our website. Please take a look and hopefully, you will find something of interest to brew. A Little History Up until the late nineteenth century more beer was brewed at home than in breweries. For example, in 1856 Victoria had 35 breweries. Later in 1871, there were 126 breweries in operation and this included 70 country towns which had one or more breweries. However, gradually in many so-called civilised countries the government and the customs men put a stop to home brewing. In 1901 the Australian Government made it illegal to brew beer at home with more than 2 % alcohol. This quickly caused many home brewers underground and many breweries to amalgamate. Soon after this law was passed, the home brewer could only buy brewing yeast from Tooth’s or Tooheys by the billy full for a shilling. This was supposedly to be consumed therapeutically as it was considered good treatment for eczema, pimples, blackheads, acne and other skin conditions. But the breweries obviously became suspicious when streams of young men & women with radiantly healthy complexions were queuing up for their billy full of yeast. The sale of brewing yeast stopped abruptly with no explanation. Desperate home brewers turned to compressed bakers yeast which was easily available from the grocer. Unfortunately while this produced stuff which looked like the real thing it often tasted like stale cider or worse. In 1907, the number of breweries in Victoria was reduced to 37 and that same year, CUB was formed to take over Carlton Brewery, McCrackens City Brewery, and the Victoria, Castlemaine, Shamrock & Fosters Breweries. Since then it has swallowed up all the others including managing to be a factor in the demise of Courage Breweries. It wasn’t actually made legal to brew beer above 2% alcohol at home again until about 1972. New Essencia Condenser Pump Mark II Essencia has just released its new condenser pump. The Essencia Condenser Pump is a quality pump specifically designed to supply cooling water to condensers. Although it has been designed for the Essencia Express Condenser, it will operate with any condenser that requires up to 4 litres per minute of cooling water flow.  Comes complete with instructions, Pump unit with power lead, Power supply with mains lead and pump power lead attached, Ball valve flow control valve, Barbed Tee piece, 2 x 45mm each of 8mm tubing, 10 tubing ties and 90cm each of 8mm and 5.5mm tubing. New Still Spirits Reflux Tower with Raschig Rings The perfect upgrade for all Still Spirits reflux and super reflux stills. It simply screws on to the lid and extends the column and can improve the performance by 10% or more. It can draw up to 93-94% with a super reflux still. It comes complete with 500g of Raschig Rings. The Raschig rings are similar to the ceramic saddles but have a greater surface area to improve the efficiency of the reflux action and refluxes more impurities.  Spare Raschig rings are also available in 500g bags...they can be used as replacements for the ceramic saddles in any still. Happy Home Brewing Regards Aussie Brewmakers |