You're welcome! It’s really sad to see Anchor Brewing close after such a long and iconic history, but their beers have left a lasting legacy in the craft beer world. I'm glad I could share the clone recipe so we can all keep their flavors alive, especially during the holiday season! Cheers to brewing a little piece of their history at home!

That’s a great point! 🍻 It’s definitely a balance-those big, bold holiday beers are delicious but can sneak up on you quickly! A session beer or two can help keep things steady throughout the festivities. What kind of lighter brews would you recommend for holiday sipping? 🎄 Cheers!

Glad to hear it! 🍻 This video should definitely give you some inspiration for your next brew. Which clone are you thinking of trying first?

@@TheBeardyManCraftBeers Delirium of course 🤩

I recently made a decent clone of Arrogant Bastard. Question is, am I worthy? 😀

Glad you enjoyed the list! 😄 And hey, sometimes a little "me time" is what it takes to get those perfect holiday brews just right! LOL 😉 Which two are you thinking of brewing? Would love to hear how they turn out! 🎄🍻

@@TheBeardyManCraftBeers I like the look of the Celebration IPA-nice, rich and darker IPA for winter. The Great Lakes Xmas ale also looks good, with the honey and ginger combo.

Thanks so much for the kind words and for watching! I’m glad the timing of the video worked out well for you-plenty of time to get those brews going before the holidays. St Bernardus and Anchor are solid choices, definitely some classics for the season! That fresh hop pale ale sounds amazing, and saving the Celebration recipe for next year is a great call-it’ll be worth the wait. Appreciate the early “Nollaig shona dhuit” all the way from Kansas City! Wishing you some fantastic fall brews and an awesome holiday season ahead. Cheers! 🍻

That's awesome to hear! 🎉 Thanks for the support, and I’ve got more fun brewing content on the way-stay tuned! 🍻

They ship worldwide, where in Ireland do ya live? Make sure to order via the link in the description- send me a screenshot of any issues to thebeardymancraftbeer@gmail.com and I'll look into it for ya.

@@TheBeardyManCraftBeers I live in Wicklow. When I put in my address details the items in my basket are removed and I get a “we cannot deliver to your address” message.

@@TheBeardyManCraftBeers just sent you an email

Thanks for watching! I appreciate the suggestion. I'll definitely keep that in mind for future videos and make sure to include prices in both dollars and euros to help out more viewers. Cheers! 🍻

Hey Rick, that's awesome to hear mate! I totally get the struggle of packaging beer from the keg-it's a bit of an art in itself. If you ever crack the code, let me know! In the meantime, cheers to brewing, and can't wait to see what you've got brewing on your channel next 🍻

Hold off a moment, I'm checking this with iGulu to have it fixed, thanks a million

THEBEARDYMAN code has been fixed now if you would like to try it - thanks for letting me know!

also looks very complex & over engineered. lots of waste from packaging :(

It's for stupid rich people, who can afford to buy commercial kegs

Thank very much for sharing your thoughts! I completely understand where you're coming from, and I appreciate your perspective on traditional brewing. It's true that units like the iGulu F1 may not capture the full hands-on experience that some brewers love. However, brewing can be a subjective experience, and this system offers an alternative approach that might appeal to those looking to simplify the process. The iGulu F1 does indeed bypass some of the traditional brewday steps, but it's important to note that it still uses key brewing ingredients, like dry malt extract, hop extract and dry yeast, which are also utilised by many commercial brewers around the globe. These ingredients are all identifiable and play a crucial role in the brewing process on the iGulu. Yeah of course while it might not be for everyone, the iGulu F1 is designed for those who want to enjoy the brewing experience with a bit more convenience. For some, it's about the journey; for others, it's about the end result-and this unit caters to the latter. Thanks again for your feedback, and happy brewing, I'd love to hear other thoughts on the unit.

@@TheBeardyManCraftBeers You say that the ingredients are identifiable, which is true, but did you realize that the so-called hop extract contains propylene glycol (or E1520)? I, personally, wouldn't want that in my beer. In fact, here in Germany where I live, the use of E1520 in food products is strictly limited... I know that the corresponding limit value differs from country to country, but for me personally, I don't understand why I should tolerate a product from the chemical industry (this is NOT a natural product) in my beer...

Thank you for sharing your perspective, @axelk.4273 It's always great to hear a variety of views, especially when it comes to something as personal as taste and ingredient preferences. You're right that propylene glycol (E1520) is sometimes used in hop extracts, and I understand that its use can raise concerns for some. It’s worth noting that while propylene glycol is approved for use in food and beverages by many regulatory bodies around the world, including in certain brewing processes, I totally respect your decision to avoid it based on your values and preferences. At the same time, it’s important that everyone feels welcome to share their views as long as they're based on facts. I encourage open dialogue about ingredients and brewing techniques, as it helps all of us make more informed decisions. Thanks again for your input!

Thanks for your input! I totally understand the desire for a larger capacity, especially for those who like to brew in bigger batches. The current 4-liter version of the iGulu F1 is designed to be compact, making it easier to fit in a kitchen or smaller space while keeping power consumption relatively low. This makes it a convenient option for home brewers who may not have the room or need for a larger system and want to keep to small batches. That said, your feedback is valuable, and it's definitely something that iGulu might consider for future models. It's possible we could see a 5-gallon version or larger capacity options down the road as the brand continues to evolve and respond to user preferences. Thanks again for your thoughts, and happy brewing!

Deadly thanks, what you think of my channel overall?

Hey and thanks for the comments, it’s always great to hear from someone with so much brewing experience! Let me address your points one by one. Firstly, regarding oxygen exposure: It’s true that many brewers have successfully brewed for years without noticeable issues from oxygen. However, as brewing science has evolved, especially with the rise of craft brewing, we've learned that even small amounts of oxygen can have a noticeable impact on the final product, especially in hoppy beers. Oxygen can lead to off-flavors and shorten shelf life, which is why many brewers now aim to minimise it as much as possible. On the topic of CO2 being heavier than air: You’re absolutely right that CO2 is denser and should settle at the bottom. However, the concern is that when you purge a keg through the gas post, the CO2 does have to pass through the air, and depending on the rate of flow, some mixing can occur. This is why some brewers including myself prefer to purge the keg a few times to ensure as much air is displaced as possible. Your idea of using CO2 from the fermenter to purge the keg and connecting the gas line to the liquid post is a solid approach. By introducing the CO2 at the bottom through the spear, you’re minimising the chance of gas mixing and effectively pushing the air out. The spunding valve on the gas post to release pressure slowly is a clever way to avoid turbulence and ensure a gentle, consistent displacement of air. This method could indeed improve the efficiency of air removal and reduce the risk of oxygen pickup - would ya agree? So yeah, in summary, yes, your approach does make sense, and it’s a technique that aligns well with modern practices aimed at reducing oxygen exposure. It could definitely be worth trying out with your new kegs to see if you notice a difference in your brews - let me know and thanks again!

@@TheBeardyManCraftBeers Thanks for the feedback. So far I've managed to purge 2 kegs to 4psi with the CO2 from just one ferment. I think I wasted a fair bit too, learning how to use the spunding valve. Now my problem is that I think my kegs have small leaks because a week later they both are only slightly above atmospheric pressure. I'll have to use the CO2 tank to test them.... Of course this doesn't detract from the fact that the method works. I definitely agree about less turbulence. I MacGyvered a bubbler by attaching some tubing to the outlet of the spundy with the other end going into a jar of water. Instead of the intermittent burping of the traditional bubbler, the CO2 was coming out in a continuous stream of tiny bubbles.

Thanks so much, some great auld haunts especially Bruxelles. I loved the Stag Head, the Dame Tav and McDaids too, surely we crossed paths back in those days......although, to my shame I was a budwiser man back then lol Would love to go to Leeds or Manchester next year for a weekend, I'll need to do some research. Thanks for the comments.

Ah brilliant and thanks so much for the comments and support, really appreciate it! 🍻

Thanks so much, back having fun with the vids, hope I'm still keeping people interested lol

That's awesome to hear, thanks so much! Anything in particular you'd like to see more on the channel?

That's fantastic, thanks so much for the comments - my latest vid on the iGulu could be one to get ya into homebrewing lol

Yes my man, next time bro 🙌

Thanks so much Rick, I love getting feedback like this as it much valued and appreciated. We had a fantastic day in Dublin, a couple of technical issues at the start but the rest of the day was epic, I'd love to do more of these episodes but in other countries 😀 🙌🍻

Man is was a great day, pity you couldn't make it in! We managed to get to 11 bars in total actually from Weatherspoons to Bruxelles. Will deffo do it again, maybe over in the UK

@TheBeardyManCraftBeers manchester or Leeds would be epic mate over the pond, keep me posted 👌

Sounds good, do let me know how you get on?

Yeap I totally hear you, unfortunately Ireland really isn't a marketplace for homebrewing and it can be pretty frustrating trying to source the equipment you need. And even when you do have access to products in Ireland you may end up paying through the nose - or if you import them then the boys in customs will add on a chunk of fees. The pricing throughout the video are very approximate prices obtained mostly from the manufactures (so not the resellers). They don't include taxes, import duties and delivery fees as they differ from country to country. But yes, completely agree with you, I'm currently trying to source some basic equipment which is proving difficult mainly due to access and costs outside my control.

He did indeed the fecker, Dublin offers crack (but great craic)

@@TheBeardyManCraftBeers 😁& What is craic?

Good question, let me get Dungarvan Brewery to answer that one 👍

Yeah there's definitely an argument on what the benefits are, I think for me it's just habit! I mostly use liquid yeast. Would love to hear your reason for not dehydrating?