The biggest problem we’ve encountered with our home brewing experiment so far (threat of exploding beer barrels aside) has been one of logistics, writes blogger Dave Burrows.

I live in what I can only politely describe as a compact and bijou flat, whereas my partner in this venture, Simon Alton – who is a lot more grown up and responsible than me – has a two-bedroom house complete with garden and as many sheds as he does boudoirs.

Therefore, Si’s abode has become the natural home of Brew HQ, with various vital components stored around his kitchen and outhouses.

Any time we need to do something with our concoction, we need to sort out a day and time convenient to us both (as I write this I have had to put Si off a beer-related meeting this evening so I can pack for a few days away).

The lack of space I suffer may be putting some people with similar living arrangements off giving brewing a go.

Well, it seems help could be at hand. I’ve been alerted to a kit that claims to be even easier than the easiest “traditional” kits – and I’m about to give it a test run.

The ibrew kit promises a decent drop in just 21 days, whilst being compact enough to do in even the smallest of kitchens. All you need is the kit and a kettle. The same kit can even be used for lager or bitter.

As our latest batch of home brew is under way (number three, for those keeping count – the “advanced” technique beer which is the final one before we try our own recipe) it will be interesting to subject the two to the Pepsi challenge to see which tickles our tastebuds the most.

Particularly interesting since brew No2 has found favour with a man who knows his stuff.

Si’s dad is a bona fide real-ale connoisseur, so it was with some trepidation I learned some of the beer we had bottled had found its way into his hands for a tasting.

But Si was pleased to report that, after some professional-looking swilling around the mouth and over the teeth, his dad declared it a “decent drop”, or words to that effect. Now I know we’re still at the kit stage, but even so…

Anyway, the ibrew kit comes with the usual suspects – a stirrer, steriliser and yeast and a 20-pint home brew mix – but also has exciting new elements, namely a carbonator (not an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie) and carbon dioxide gas bulbs.

After sterilising all the equipment, apparently all I need to do is empty the contents of the can into the bin provided, add some boiling water and some cold water, chuck in my hops and leave it for a week.

In seven days I shall be tasked with filling the dispenser bottles (again provided) and leaving – this time for a whole fortnight. After that I put the carbonator (which doubles as a tap) in place, add the gas bulbs and bung it in the fridge.

And that, apparently, is that. After a few simple steps I’m ready to try the beer and -more importantly – put it to the test against our traditional method.

It all sounds a bit too good to be true at the moment.

And I’m not entirely convinced by the guarantee of 100 per cent enjoyment, but the convenience it offers means it has to be worth giving a go.

Roll on October 17.

Got any home brew tips for David and Simon? Send an e-mail to starfeatures@shropshirestar.co.uk