Want a cheaper alternative to getting plastered down the pub? Ipswich home brew specialists Brewers Barn may have the answer. IP1’s Patrick Scott enters the world of DIY booze…

As I’m sure you’re aware, we’re dedicated to providing you with only the best journalism, cutting-edge analysis and breaking news here at IP1. However, it turns out that this is thirsty work, which is why some of our most intense ‘brainstorming’ sessions have occurred down at the pub with a few pints (sometimes there’s arm wrestling involved too, which is vital to the thinking process).

And now, thanks to my dedication to these sessions (as well as being supplied with this brewing kit from Young’s), I’ve had the opportunity to combine my love of working on the world’s greatest Suffolk-based magazine with my new love of brewing alcohol. It’s a dream job, this is.

Although I’d like to think that I’m a hardened ale-drinker at the ripe old age of 19, I will happily admit that my knowledge of beer-brewing is pretty limited, so I wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself into. Despite this, I found that the kit was pretty simple to use. All the equipment you’ll need is present, and lack of space isn’t an issue either- fill up the supplied keg, leave it in a corner for to mature for a month or so, and you’re done. Plus the instructions demonstrate clearly what different types of beer you can make, which meant that I could go about making the strongest ale possible. Because, you know, that’s what real men do.

And as for the taste of the beer itself? Well, I’m drinking some of it now, and without trying to inflate my own ego too much, I’d say that I’m pretty pleased with my efforts. It’s brilliant value for money too; for around the same cost of buying 3 pints of Carling, you could make 40 of your own with Young’s. And you wouldn’t have to drink Carling either, so there’s that.

Obviously, if you’re expecting to have brilliant pub-quality pints on your first try you might be disappointed, but Young’s kits are so easy to use that you’re bound to be happy with whatever the finished result is like (there’s a lot of room for experimenting with it too, what with all of the different brewing options available on their website). It’s definitely something that I’m going to be doing more, if only for whenever we have some more intense brainstorming sessions.