Home brewing kits ....

Punt said:
Hi

Do the different colour DMEs (and I suppose LMEs too) have different tastes or is it an aesthetic thing just for the colour?

Cheers!
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Well Liquid Malt extract or (CBW) Definatly has a lot different between tastes and colours. Most use a a 2-row base malt and then the rest is the desired grain, to give different flavour profiles. I would assume the same in DMEs as darker colours would come form darker malts toasted / caramel / coffee / malty notes.

When using a kit and wanting to not mess with flavour profile it i use extra light DME. just as feel better than 100% sugar.

Just recently moved over to briess CBW
 
Sampled my Hopped APA...

Well, still sampling :rolleyes:

It's a Coopers Australian Pale Ale kit dry hopped with 50g of Cascade.

Only a week old but wanted to check it's ok. And I must say it's great.

It's better than most of the similar type of ales I drink in my local and by all accounts, they have a good rep for that sort of thing!

I'll write up a review of this once it's conditioned a little more. Off on my hols so that's perfect for keeping my mits off it ;)
 
Hmm, when I was saying my Wherry hadn't carbonated properly, I think it might be that my capper isnt putting the caps on properly.

I just opened one of the swing top bottles and nearly released a chocolate hostage! :eek: Beer everywhere...
 
Mark try the tapered san miguel glasses. My wife got me a couple of them and my god to the drinks 'fizz' when you pour into them. You get a good long lasting head on any drink. I have to literally pour as slow as possible. I noticed the effect of these glasses when a mate came over and I got a normal zero head drink from the same batch in a normal pint glass and he got what seemed to be completely different amounts of fizz and head.....

Like this glass..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/San-Miguel-...1371845236&sr=8-1&keywords=san+miguel+glasses
 
Well we've given both of the Bulldog Brews kits a fair while conditioning, but have to say we've not been very impressed with either. The IPA isn't particularly bitter or hoppy. It's pale, so fair enough there. Both kits have got that kit twang that I wouldn't expect in a premium kit.
Would be interested to hear how other people get on with them though.
 
Hey guys, I've just finished my latest brew and looking to start another one. At the moment, I'm using off the shelf sugar from the supermarket and the yeast that comes with the kits. Would I see any benefit from using brewing sugar and a different yeast?
 
@hamesy

I'm a big fan of using DME instead of sugar. You get a better tasting beer with a nicer mouthfeel and better head (IMO).

Which kit you using? I generally just use Coopers and find their yeast very good, packs down well and can handle a wide range of temps.
 
hamesy said:
Hey guys, I've just finished my latest brew and looking to start another one. At the moment, I'm using off the shelf sugar from the supermarket and the yeast that comes with the kits. Would I see any benefit from using brewing sugar and a different yeast?
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Try a Coopers beer enhancer. They are available in two types, enhancer 1 is more for lighter brews, and enhancer 2 for the darker, where a maltier taste is wanted. or make your own (cheaper) 40/60 mix with extra light Spraymalt and brewing sugar
 
seabiscuit said:
Well we've given both of the Bulldog Brews kits a fair while conditioning, but have to say we've not been very impressed with either. The IPA isn't particularly bitter or hoppy. It's pale, so fair enough there. Both kits have got that kit twang that I wouldn't expect in a premium kit.
Would be interested to hear how other people get on with them though.
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Thanks for the feedback. That's a shame as they sounded like they would be really good ones :(.

i'll be putting this English ale premium kit I got from Wilko in their half price sale soon. From some of the reviews it seems it is similar to the Wherry, so hopefully they are right. Just need to wait for the weather to turn as its been like 24-28c in my house recently.
 
Finished cidery brew #2 in gallon demi john.

Basic recipe as follows:

Apple Juice (4l or so) - Asda concentrate worked fine for brew #1
Honey (4-500g)
2 cooking apples peeled and blended
Small strong cup of tea
Cider Yeast

Brews to about 8%

1010660_10151759733917033_1992574738_n.jpg
 
That looks fierce but probably deceptively pleasant to drink :D

I've just started my 3rd brew - this time it's the Wilko 2-can Golden Ale kit. Has some fairly positive reviews. The smell of the mix in the fermenter is great, but the sample I took for the OG is quite cloudy.
 
:D Its good stuff.

Brew #2 was as follows for anyone interested.

Kit needed
----------
demijohn / airlock / cider yeast / syphon / steriliser / nylon straining bag / funnel / blender / small saucepan / spoon

You can use a hydrometer to measure the original gravity & final gravity to judge strength & see whether fermentation is complete but I havent bothered so far.

Ingredients
-----------
> 4.5l pressed apple juice - not concentrate (I used Tescos the stuff in the fridges).
> 340g jar of Rainforest honey (Asda) - very dark and rich.
> 1 cooking apple
> 1 very strong cup of black tea for tannins made with 1-2 bags & left to stew.

Method
-------
>Sterilise all gear according to instructions and rinse very well.

>Make tea & leave to stew & cool

>Melt honey in pan with apple juice over a low heat.

>Peel & blend up cooking apple with apple juice in a blender to a fine pulp (cooking apple adds acid). Add to demijohn.

>Pour in tea after removing teabags and add also honey mixture into the demijohn via funnel.

>Top up volume to 3 litres, do not fill!

>Wait for mixture to reach room temp and pitch yeast according to instructions.

>Shake really well to mix yeast in and aerate mixture.

>Add airlock with some water inside. Fermentation time can vary but the airlock should start moving fairly soon after. After a few days slowly top up juice over the next week so the brew doesnt climb out of the airlock.

>After around 2 weeks at normal room temperature (low 20s) the apple mash should fall out of the brew and the larger bits stay at the top. The airlock will slow right down to one bubble every few mins.

>Syphon out with straining bag over end of syphon to avoid picking up the apple mash. Bottle (sterilise these too - Grolsch flip tops work well) & add a dash of juice if you want it fizzy.

Leave for a month or so (longer the better really) and its good to go. You can drink it straight away but age definitely gives a better flavour. The resulting cider will be pretty dry and sharp - however you can always add a dash of apple juice to the glass and then pour for a sweeter drink.

The beauty is, you can experiment away with different flavoured juices (as long as 100% concentrate) and the same basics as above.

Enjoy.
 
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I used honey as it adds a touch of sweetness and flavour but some folks bang good old table sugar and melt that in!

You can use pure apple juice however the ABV of course will be lower at around 4.5-5.5% depending on the sugar content.
 
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