1st beer kit recommendation

[StormUK]

Hi, as the title suggests I'm looking for recommendations for a good first kit to try. I like good hoppy beers so something like that would be nice. Could also do with something that once its in the FV I can leave it for 3weeks while I'm away at work and sort it out when I get back if this is possible. If not I will get it started when I get home.
Something like below is interesting to me but no idea of difficulty etc.

https://www.brewuk.co.uk/blacksheep.html

Thanks

 

[terrym]

Most beer kits are sold with liquid malt as a base and either need extras (as in one cans or sachets e.g. Coopers) or all you need in the box as in premium kits (e.g Festival). They usually take minimal time to put a brew together, say 45 mins tops. The next type of kit is the sort you have highlighted which have specialist grains, malt extract and hops and will require a hop boil and will take longer to do say 1.5 hours min and will also require more equipment including a stockpot. Some kits are supplied as all grain kits and these will require a mashing time in addition to,the hop boil and in general terms will require even more equipment and a minimum of about 3 hours to complete a brew more likely four.
In other words there is a big variation in what is available in 'beer kits'
So you really need to tell us what sort of kit you want to do, before members suggest anything to have better chance of a more focused response.
And in my experience kits sold as clones of commercially available beers are never exactly the same.

 

[StormUK]

@terrym the premium kits will maybe be a good place to start as I do not currently have a stockpot, depends on size needed, I may have something big enough. Maybe start simple and work my way up. Thanks for the reply.

 

[dwhite60]

@terrym the premium kits will maybe be a good place to start as I do not currently have a stockpot, depends on size needed, I may have something big enough. Maybe start simple and work my way up. Thanks for the reply.

Woodford's Wherry gets great reviews for a kit. I'd look into it.

I do all grain but if I could find one of these in the states I'd probably give it a try just because of the reviews.

There's a whole sub-forum here of kit reviews. Worth the read if you want to find one. Young's IPA gets good reviews too.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[terrym]

Wherry comes over as malty rather than hoppy in my view, though you may find differently. For premium kits Festival do a fair range and Youngs have their American range, and many people on here are brewing the Mangrove Jacks kits which come in two types. You will surely find something in that lot to get you started.

 

[Dutto]

Wilko's Hoppy Copper Bitter with 500g of DME.

It's relatively cheap, can be left to ferment for the time you will be away, won't "stick", will clear within weeks after bottling and will produce a clear, crisp bitter by the middle of April.

Enjoy.

 

[Clint]

Young's IPA ...it'll need around 3-4 weeks to finish so should suit you.

 

[StormUK]

Thanks gents, I will have a look at the kits mentioned and keep everyone posted. Cheers

 

[The Baron]

Woodfordes Wherry just beware it may stick at 1.020 sometimes but here's a blast from the past which you may be able to get and did well for me the John Bull English IPA, I know it seems not right but it was good for me

 

[Graz]

Another vote for Young's American IPA if you like hoppy beer. Also it's such a great kit that hopefully you'll be pleased with the end result and won't be put off brewing for the rest of your life

Just ignore the instructions about when to add the hop pellets. Ferment it for 2-3 weeks, when it's finished then add the hop pellets, leave 2-3 days and bottle / keg. Can be drank fairly young too so you won't be waiting around for ages after finishing it to sample you first pint, 2-3 weeks should be good enough and it will really come good about 4 weeks after bottle/keg.

 

[GhostShip]

The two best kits I've done that fit your preference for hoppy beers, would be the Young's American IPA and Beerworks President's Sierra American Pale Ale. Both superb pints.

I'd read through the review threads for each on this forum which will give you loads of useful tips.

 

[Hengoedbrewer]

I know you said "hoppy beers" but if you don't mind the occasional stout; Coopers' Stout is basically bombproof, and you can experiment endlessly with that kit once you have got the hang of the basics.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Woodfordes Wherry just beware it may stick at 1.020 sometimes but here's a blast from the past which you may be able to get and did well for me the John Bull English IPA, I know it seems not right but it was good for me

The Wherry sticking problem was due to a lack of yeast in the kit they sorted it in January 2018, full details here - https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/the-last-stuck-woodfordes-kit-thread.74911/

.

 

[StormUK]

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!!!!

 

[terrym]

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!!!!

Excellent, its a popular kit
Suggest you selectively read some of the posts in here
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/youngs-american-ipa.45221/.
My thoughts are if you ferment it at 21-22*C it will only take a few days to more or less finish. But if you ferment lower at 19*C or lower it may take 2 or even 3 weeks before it is ready to add the hops. Don't be tempted to put the hops in too early because the primary may go down lower than 1.008. And be aware you will either need to put the hops in a bag or if you don't a couple of days crash cool at the end will help get the hop bits settled. More on dry hopping here
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/a-newbies-guide-to-dry-hopping-your-beer.61045

 

[StormUK]

Thanks @terrym I will have a read of them now. With a bit of heat I didn't realise it could be done so quickly. I have a heater for my fermentation so could be done in no time. If this is the case I'm assuming I can put it in bottles or a keg, makes no difference?

 

[stephen1546]

The Wherry sticking problem was due to a lack of yeast in the kit they sorted it in January 2018, full details here - https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/the-last-stuck-woodfordes-kit-thread.74911/

.

Good to know, the only reason i did not try this kit.

 

[stephen1546]

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!!!!

Decent kit.

 

[terrym]

Thanks @terrym I will have a read of them now. With a bit of heat I didn't realise it could be done so quickly. I have a heater for my fermentation so could be done in no time. If this is the case I'm assuming I can put it in bottles or a keg, makes no difference?

If by 'keg' you mean a corny type set up then you can put the AIPA in it and carb up to the right level for the beer style, as for bottles, But if you mean a plastic PB they are are only really suitable for low carb beers like ales and stouts due to the pressure limitation on these items. More on beer style carbing levels here
https://www.brewersfriend.com/beer-priming-calculator/
And if you ferment at 21/22*C this kit is known to be quite 'effervescent'during the early part of the primary, and may want to escape the FV so you need to think about a blow off tube (look it up on here). The first time I did this kit some time ago it did exactly that.

 

[labrewski]

Hopptimus prime nice beer with good hop flavour and aroma takes 3 weeks minimum