Loading...

Your cart

Your basket is empty.
Total:£0
Back to shop
Proceed to checkout

Subscriptions

Make it easy to brew better beer, more often!
And be part of our awesome homebrewing community.

Online

£20
Annual subscription

WORLDWIDE

Online homebrewing tips + current & all past issues of MASHED Magazine + recipes.

Get this plan now

Magazine

£30
Annual subscription

UK ONLY

Quarterly subscription of MASHED Homebrewing Magazine (print) + full online access.

Get this plan now

Hop Club

£20
Quarterly subscription

UK ONLY

Quarterly hops + MASHED Magazine (print) + exclusive offers + full online access.

Get this plan now

Brew Club

£35
Quarterly subscription

UK ONLY

Quarterly all grain brew kit + MASHED Mag (print) + exclusive offers + full online access.

Get this plan now
Brewing & Fermenting | News & Comments

A Pint with… Andy N., Homebrewer

By:Yohanna Best
Share post:
MASHED ISSUE 25

I live in Cardiff but I’m originally from Lancashire. I am retired and started brewing when my children bought me a BrewDog 1 gallon brew-in-a-bag kit just after lockdown in 2020. The results were successful so I started looking at other kits and equipment, and came across the Dark Farm (MASHED) kits and eventually tried them all. The kits available then were golden ale, red ale, mild and black IPA. I also tried a blonde ale of my own design. I try and brew around 4% session ales - I’m not really interested in the strong brews. My favourite brew at the time was the Dark Farm (MASHED) black IPA, which I made at least 2 batches of. It had a great taste and not too strong. I also added flavour to the golden ales - I found grapefruit in the golden ale and cherry in the mild added extra depth to the brews.

“The only non-beer brew I make is Yorkshire  Tea!”

I started brewing on the kitchen hob but this was quickly changed to a garage setup using boilers. I have recently purchased a Klarstein mash boiler and fermenter that has allowed me to increase my batch size to 20L. I don’t have a permanent setup - I just brew in the garage when I need to. I currently bottle all my beers with flip top bottles but have recently bought a 5 litre keg to try. I would also like to know more about filtering beer - types of filter, costs and effectiveness. And I would like to find a good black IPA to match the original one from Dark Farm (MASHED), so I’m trying to source the ingredients.

Related articles

A Pint with… Andy N., Homebrewer

I live in Cardiff but I’m originally from Lancashire. I am retired and started brewing when my children bought me a BrewDog 1 gallon brew-in-a-bag kit just after lockdown in 2020. The results were successful so I started looking at other kits and equipment, and came across the Dark Farm (MASHED) kits and eventually tried them all.

Mastering Final Gravity

Brewers often obsess over the beginning - grain bills, mash schedules, yeast selection - but it’s the end of fermentation, the final (or ‘finishing’) gravity (FG), that speaks loudest in the glass. Final gravity represents the residual sugar left after yeast has done its work, and it’s the metric most responsible for a beer’s mouthfeel, sweetness, and balance. From plush imperial stouts to bone-dry saisons, it’s the number that tells the story of fermentation.

Brewing Notes: Legends

It’s been a busy couple of months since our last issue. Opening MASHED Brewhouse and taking part in the Aberystwyth Beer Festival has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding.

Grain + Grape Does it Mix?

October 5th of this year marked the first International Italian Grape Ale (IGA) Day. Ever tried one? If not, then you might be asking: Italian grape ale? Is that a wine or a beer? Well, IGA is most definitely a beer. But it’s like a beer and wine got very friendly and had a baby. Made with up to 40% grapes or grape must, IGAs are based on pils malt, or pale malt.

YEASTS TO EXPLORE WITH WHC

Embrace the convenience, versatility and excellence of WHC Lab’s Blitz lager yeast, and embark on a journey to craft exceptional lagers that delight the senses while optimising brewing processes!

A guide to Shandies and Radlers

In the haze of a lazy afternoon, or at the tail end of a long beery evening, few drinks offer the same effortless refreshment as a shandy or a radler. These beer-based blends have long been the go-to for drinkers seeking something light, bright and sessionable. But while they may seem interchangeable, their histories and cultural footprints tell two distinct stories.

The Global History of Rice Beer

Long before barley became the dominant grain in brewing, rice was quietly shaping its own legacy in the world of fermented beverages. From the misty valleys of ancient China to the ceremonial fires of India and the sleek breweries of modern Japan, rice beer has evolved from a sacred ritual drink to global refreshment. Its story is as varied and nuanced as the cultures that brew it.

The Benefits of Brewing with Rice

Rice may be one of the world’s most ancient grains, but in brewing it’s still revealing new dimensions. Once dismissed as a bland adjunct for mass-market lagers, rice is now enjoying a renaissance among craft brewers who see it not as a filler, but as a tool for precision, texture and subtlety. From jasmine to black rice, puffed to flaked, the diversity of rice offers brewers a palette of possibilities.

ONLY with LOVE

There’s not much to hide behind when you’re brewing a lager. So when you find a really epic one, it’s a thing of beauty.

Delivery

Free and fast UK delivery for all orders over £150. Hassle free delivery to mainland European and other global locations.

Money Back Guarantee

If you not happy with our products you can return them within 30 days for a full refund.

Responsive Customer Support

Have a question? Please get in touch. Call, email or message us directly here or on WhatsApp. Our office hours are usually Mon-Fri 10 am - 6 pm. Click here to get in touch or email gareth@darkfarm.co.uk

Secure Online Payment

Feel safe and confident with your online payments - our system uses Stripe, one of the world’s leading payment gateways.