Home brewing kits ....

anyone know any good lager kits that you don't need the low temps and long times to brew??
Looking at getting a larger and a wheatbeer on the go asap for summer time but would like something drinkable soon-ish!
just had my kegs full of ale for my wedding so moving on to summer time beers now!!
 
They do sound good. I was looking at getting a 2 can premium kit but these sound better. Just been collecting bottles so I can bottle the next kit I make with glass, so I can store for longer.
 
I'm just trying the first of my two can Premium lager kit I made over the winter. I'm still undecided. It has a lovely strength but it's a bit heavier taste wise than I like in a lager. It has a bit too much flavour for me if that makes sense :D
 
the bulldog ones look interesting, might order one up for a try - but going to get the wheatbeer on the go first so I've definitely got something in the fridge for drinking if we ever get a hot day!!
 
I left all my home brewing stuff in the garage of the house I moved from when I moved here as the lorry was full :'(

I miss it! The Cider I made was awesome. I think this summer I'll have to make some more brews. Something else on the list.
 
Just realised it's been about 3 months since I bottled my Coopers lager. I have read that you are only supposed to store it in these PET bottles for 3 months, so will have to drink them soon.

Just tried one and its very nice. It has got a bit of a strange taste, not like any lager I have had before, but it's nice all the same. The tase hasn't changed all that much since I first tried a bottle a few weeks after bottling it, but I have noticed that the bubbles have decreased in size. It was more like having a soft drink before, but now they are roughly what you would get in a can of lager.

I wish I had a hydrometer so I could have worked out the alcohol content. I'd guess it to be around 5% or so after this bottle. I put 2 x carb drops in which seems to have boosted the alcohol level a bit.
 
Just started my first homebrew today. Started off with the Coopers European Lager kit and have also ordered the Festival Premium Golden Stag kit for when I get the lager bottled. If these 2 turn out good I think I'll be hooked!
 
Welcome onboard. It's all downhill from here :p
But seriously, it's a fun thing to do, and can be really social having friends round enjoying beer that you've made. I keep hearing good things about the festival kits, I really must give one a go. Looking forward to hearing what you think of it.
What sugar did you use with the Coopers? While white table sugar can be used, it can leave a bit of a winey/cidery taste. But the Festival kits don't need additional sugar like that anyway and will be brilliant I'm sure. And so will the Coopers.
 
I've just set off my first homebrew attempt (apart from a little flirt with turbo cider last year).

I'm using a Coopers Canadian Blonde kit with some added malt. I followed CraigTubes recipe and hoping it turns out well, unlike my turbo cider... Nasty!!

Now I need patience :)

A question for those with more experience than me... I’ve got plenty glass bottles for this batch, and plenty pet bottles from the kit for my next batch. After that I’ve got nowt! Is it ok to use 2L pet bottles from say asda fizzy water, which we drink a lot of? I would imagine the carbonation won’t last long once open but I may be wrong. I’ve heard/read you shouldn’t use clear bottles. Excuse my ignorance, I’m new to this.

Also, how long can I store my brew?
 
Clear bottles can let through UV light which can react with a chemicals produced when the hops are boiled (to give the beer bitterness and flavor) and create a bad smell, like a skunk spray. Green bottles are better, but brown bottles are best to stop the beer getting light stuck or skunked.
But we've kept beer in pop-bottles fora couple of months out of the light and they've been ok. In a way they can be good because you can tell how much pressure there is in the bottle.
 
How come some beers from the supermarket come in clear glass bottles?

I think i'm going to order a Bulldog Pennine Peak Yorkshire Bitter kit next. I didn't know I liked bitter until my mum got me a classic ales box from Tesco and it had a few bitters in there and they were lovely. So think this kit could be a good one to try.

Or the Cobnar Wood Northern Brown also sounds nice...
 
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Mark A said:
How come some beers from the supermarket come in clear glass bottles?
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Because people think it looks less like old fashioned bitters like dad's/grandads used to drink. Or they use hop extract rather than hops themselves which can give the bitterness and some aroma, but maybe not all the different smells and tastes that can be created when hops are boiled in malt for a while.
Find your nearest real ale pub, and ask what hoppy beers they have on cask. Smell it, taste it. And then compare that with a mass produced beer/lager. Whether you like "ales" or not, at least notice how much of a difference there can be in the taste and smell.
Not trying to rant (although I'm still managing to), because there can be some fantastic beers and lagers, but some of the big names go for consistently boring rather than anything with taste.
 
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Punt said:
A question for those with more experience than me... I’ve got plenty glass bottles for this batch, and plenty pet bottles from the kit for my next batch. After that I’ve got nowt! Is it ok to use 2L pet bottles from say asda fizzy water, which we drink a lot of? I would imagine the carbonation won’t last long once open but I may be wrong. I’ve heard/read you shouldn’t use clear bottles. Excuse my ignorance, I’m new to this.

Also, how long can I store my brew?
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At the expense of repeating myself, go to a local pub and ask them to save you 500ml bottles. Especially if they sell kopparberg. The bottles take a minute soaking and all the labels are off. I got probably 200 bottles in less than a month like that. The PET's are **** tbh. I have 100 of them and they are naff in comparison. I didn't keep tightening mine and now hear you should, mine didn't hold carbonation anything like a bottle.

I've kept beers in the bottle for 9 months so far so don't worry about shelf life. I don't touch any brew now for 90 days, anything much before you are wasting the flavours and taste to come :)

Plan well in advance so you never have gaps, I have 150 bottles just about coming ready to drink and wil now get 3 batches on for later in the year :)

Next up an IPA, a canadian blonde and the Aussie lager which I'm going to brew quite weak for a refreshing summer day drink.
 
I have loads of bottles now I have started collecting them. I have been getting 4 different beers every week from Tesco since discovering how awesome ale is :D.


Is that Bulldog home brewing a decent make? I noticed that they use a bag for their malt extract which seems like they're cost cutting. I want to make a really nice ale this time so want to make sure I get something good quality.
 
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