Dark Rock kits

GazzaW57 · Jun 11, 2022

Has anyone tried this Dark RockSession Series Riwaka Pale Ale kit?
https://darkrockbrewing.co.uk/beer/...dark-rock-session-series-riwaka-pale-ale.html
The kits look really good and I’m minded to try this one. If I buy the Pale Ale enhancer and the finings in addition to the kit, it’ll cost me around £31, but I do video surveys on various topics and get paid for my time, into my PayPal account. I’ve got enough to cover this cost, so in essence, it’ll cost me zilch, so I think I’ll go for it. (There again, it’s still only around 77p per pint if I were paying for it).

I‘ve seen mention of Dark Rock on here previously, but never this kit. I’m sure it’ll turn out fine though.

SMP Brewery · Jun 11, 2022

I’ve not watched it, so no idea what the verdict is.

GhostShip · Jun 11, 2022

SMP Brewery said:
I’ve not watched it, so no idea what the verdict is.

The verdict is 10/10.

GazzaW57 · Jun 12, 2022

That’ll do for me! I’ve ordered the Riwaka kit, along with the brew enhancer and the finings. i just thought I’d like to try something new and the reviews on all the Dark Rock kits appear to be good. I’ll report back once I’ve brewed it.

White Rose Al · Jun 13, 2022

Done many of the DR extract kits always with their enhancers and the AG versions.

Never had a bad one, remember DR are Harris so the enhancers contain pure brew and nutrition which for me make the kits better in terms of mouth feel than many premium kits.

I would always ferment for a minimum of 14 days from experience

GazzaW57 · Jun 13, 2022

Thank you. I’m hoping it will be delivered within the next day or two, so I can begin brewing it.

White Rose Al said:
Done many of the DR extract kits always with their enhancers and the AG versions.

Never had a bad one, remember DR are Harris so the enhancers contain pure brew and nutrition which for me make the kits better in terms of mouth feel than many premium kits.

I would always ferment for a minimum of 14 days from experience

KentishMan · Jun 14, 2022

Not tried the full extract kits like this one, but tried many of the part grain/extract kits from Darkrock.
They are all great. And instructions very say to follow.

GazzaW57 · Jun 14, 2022

Thank you. I’ve had an email this morning, advising that my Dark Rock stuff will be delivered today between 12:17 and 13:17. I guess I’m going to be brewing this afternoon!!!

KentishMan said:
Not tried the full extract kits like this one, but tried many of the part grain/extract kits from Darkrock.
They are all great. And instructions very say to follow.

GazzaW57 · Jul 5, 2022

I’m currently brewing the Riwaka Pale Ale. After 7 days, the fermentation had stopped (I had it in a warm cupboard at a steady 22 - 23 degrees) and after the 7 days, the airlock stopped bubbling and the hydrometer was reading 1.010, so I added the hops and the Starbrite. I then put it in a cooler cupboard, but it’s started bubbling through the airlock again and I just wondered if this was commonplace because I stirred the brew gently after adding the Starbrite?

I really thought the fermentation had ended. I should add that I usually leave it in the fermenting bin for 2 weeks, but the instructions (which are really good) advised that it should take about 7 days, which it did.

I‘m suppose to leave the hops in the brew for two days, and then bottle, but what do I do if it’s still bubbling away? Do I just remove the hops after the two days, and let it stop bubbling?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Gaz

Dutto · Jul 5, 2022

Yes, it is commonplace with Dry Hopping …

… which is why I use a Hop Tea rather than Dry Hopping.

Personally, if they suggest you remove the hops after two days I would do so, but then I’d leave it until the 14 days are up before bottling.

The FG of 1.010 is a suitable figure but it pays to be careful.
:hat:

White Rose Al · Jul 5, 2022

As Dutto mentions, quite normal after dry hopping.

Always 14 days with those kits

GazzaW57 · Jul 6, 2022

Thank you. I’ll do that.

Dutto said:
Yes, it is commonplace with Dry Hopping …

… which is why I use a Hop Tea rather than Dry Hopping.

Personally, if they suggest you remove the hops after two days I would do so, but then I’d leave it until the 14 days are up before bottling.

The FG of 1.010 is a suitable figure but it pays to be careful.
:hat:

KentishMan · Jul 7, 2022

I recently did a brew that would just not stop airlock activity, but FG was stable after 10 days.
I did a bit of research and some folks say, the stable FG is the key.
Sone fermentations can trap CO2 in the tub, etc and slowly release it, which I think happened to me, and maybe you.
In the end (after 3 and a half weeks) I gave up and racked it to a secondary fermentor and all airlock activity stopped, so this backs up the theory.
So in short, just make sure you’re FG is stable over a few days To make sure fermentation is over.

Note: As I’m sure lots of other posts will say, even after fermentation ends, the yeast is still working, and tidies up after itself, removing off flavours, etc. So it’s always good to leave it some time after fermentation is officially over.

GazzaW57 · Jul 7, 2022

This is very interesting because in addition to posting on here, I also messaged Dark Rock, for their take on it, and this was their response:

‘The Session kits can ferment to 1.008, depending upon the fermentable that was added. If you intend to bottle or put the beer into a plastic keg, then you will need some life left in the yeast to provide you with second fermentation, otherwise the beer will be flat. If you intend to put the beer in corny kegs and force carbonate it, you will need to keep the fermenter in a cold place to crash chill it and leave it to clear, before transferring to the corny keg to carbonate.

There does not appear anything wrong with your beer, just proceed to the next phase of the process.’

KentishMan said:
I recently did a brew that would just not stop airlock activity, but FG was stable after 10 days.

I did a bit of research and some folks say, the stable FG is the key.
Sone fermentations can trap CO2 in the tub, etc and slowly release it, which I think happened to me, and maybe you.
In the end (after 3 and a half weeks) I gave up and racked it to a secondary fermentor and all airlock activity stopped, so this backs up the theory.
So in short, just make sure you’re FG is stable over a few days To make sure fermentation is over.

Note: As I’m sure lots of other posts will say, even after fermentation ends, the yeast is still working, and tidies up after itself, removing off flavours, etc. So it’s always good to leave it some time after fermentation is officially over.

GazzaW57 · Jul 12, 2022

I’ve now finally bottled the Riwaka Pale Ale after 2 weeks in the FV. It started off at 1.045 and ended up at 1.006, which makes it around 5.1%. It’s now in the shed for the next week, given the temperatures were going to be having, and then I’ll try to find somewhere cool for the following couple of weeks, before sampling a bottle or two. It did smell very nice when I bottled it!!

GhostShip · Jul 12, 2022

Look forward to you posting a review soon. Since watching the Partridge Brothers review, I've had the Riwaka Pale Ale on my list.

GazzaW57 · Jul 12, 2022

It’s because of that review that I bought the kit. I have high hopes…..

GhostShip said:
Look forward to you posting a review soon. Since watching the Partridge Brothers review, I've had the Riwaka Pale Ale on my list.

Branny · Jul 14, 2022

Got 3 coming tomorrow - Riwaka, IPL and Citra - along with the relevant enhancer. All reviews seem positive so I'm looking forward to trying them.

I'll brew Riwaka and Citra with MJ Kveik as I need to build stock quickly.

GazzaW57 · Jul 14, 2022

Branny said:
Got 3 coming tomorrow - Riwaka, IPL and Citra - along with the relevant enhancer. All reviews seem positive so I'm looking forward to trying them.

I'll brew Riwaka and Citra with MJ Kveik as I need to build stock quickly.

I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the finished products.

Mash Monster · Jul 15, 2022

GazzaW57 said:
I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the finished products.

I think the Dark Rock all grain kits are great and I used to buy them all the time. I can understand why they don’t publish the full recipe but it’s a real PITA if you want to work out water additions in Brewfather etc.

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