Back to HB after 25 year break

[LS29Brewer]

Just joined this excellent forum.

Came back to HB a bit by chance after a 25 year break. Started brewing with my dad many moons ago and lost the art after leaving college. Got to say from the few kits I've done since I got back into it at the end of last year, the quality of both the beer kits and the advice available has improved considerably.

Have enjoyed reading the forum last month or two so thought I better join. So far done several kits. St Peter's Ruby Red (almost finished drinking), Woodforde's Wherry (same again), Woodforde's Admiral Reserve (conditioning - taken a sip at 2 weeks in bottle), Evil Dog double IPA (conditioning - taken sip at 2 weeks) all most excellent brews that I have enjoyed with others. The Ruby Red was most popular among my friends. Think I like the Wherry the best to date but the Admiral & Evil Dog both seem to have great promise.

Two other brews made with 1kg dextrose added were not so successful. These were the Victorian Bitter and the Simply Pale Ale. Both turned out with a very bitter/sour after taste. Not sure if it was me or the Dextrose? Both had very vigorous and slightly too fast PF under the same temperature conditions as the rest ~20 degrees.

Anyway hopefully I will contribute meaningfully to the forum. And continue to learn as I feel like a newbie again.

LS29Brewer

 

[Redron]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
Educated guess, but I'm guessing you are from Ilkley in West Yorks, my home town...
I too got back into brewing a couple of years back. You're right, kits have come on leaps and bounds. However, you may want to take a look at a thread 'a simple all grain recipe' by 'Clibit' and move it on a step, you won't regret it. The difference between kit beers, even today's, and 'all grain' brews is huge.
Try it, you won't be disappointed. Currently drinking a sublime Tim Taylors Landlord clone, Twelve quid for the all grain kit !!! :thumb:

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Welcome to the forum :

 

[MyQul]

Welcome to the forum

The thread redron is talking about is this one

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=51779

 

[LS29Brewer]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
Educated guess, but I'm guessing you are from Ilkley in West Yorks, my home town...
I too got back into brewing a couple of years back. You're right, kits have come on leaps and bounds. However, you may want to take a look at a thread 'a simple all grain recipe' by 'Clibit' and move it on a step, you won't regret it. The difference between kit beers, even today's, and 'all grain' brews is huge.
Try it, you won't be disappointed. Currently drinking a sublime Tim Taylors Landlord clone, Twelve quid for the all grain kit !!! :thumb:

Thanks Redron and MyQul,

That is a great welcome. Yes my home location is Ilkley, LS29. My favourite bottled/cask beer is Tim Taylors Landlord so bang on the money there too!

I was not expecting to be able to brew a beer that tastes that good - although someone suggested a kit that comes close to it "Landlord's finest bitter" so I have it on order.

Looks like I need to skip this step and have a bash at AG. I will definitely follow up your suggestion. What yeast do you use to brew this? as I thought the WY strains were quite important for getting TT right? Although I am speaking with zero AG experience. So all advice greatly received. Many thanks chaps.

 

[Redron]

The Landords finest bitter kit is actually nothing like the 'real thing' though not bad in it's own right. It is a two can kit that comes with hops to dry hop towards then of the initial fermentation. Whatever you do, do NOT follow the instructions with the kit. The kit manufactures would have you believe you can produce good beer in ten days, not so....
I followed the instructions and added the hop pellets after a few days fermenting and left them in for ten days, the result was a very, very, bitter beer, almost undrinkable, but as a Yorkshireman I couldn't bring myself to throw it away so I stored it for a couple of months and it got less bitter and matured reasonably well.
If you follow the well versed adage of two weeks fermenting, two weeks to carbonate and two weeks to condition you should be somewhere near.

All grain brewing is quite a step up, a fellow member once quoted " it's the difference between making a cup of tea or a full blown dinner party with washing up afterwards " ! It is quite time consuming ! That said the results are worth it as many on here will testify.

I use all grain kits from the Worcester Hop Shop, good value and you get everything you need and nothing you don't. A little pricier than making it up yourself but for me it was a natural progression. I use the BIAB method (look it up).

Have a good read of this forum, cut your teeth with a few kits to get your hand in, and then make your mind up where you want to be from there. I was convinced modern kit beers couldn't be bettered, however, as many on here will testify, one you cross to the 'dark side' as it's known, you won't go back.

Enjoy

 

[LS29Brewer]

Thanks again Redron,

I will probably do a few more kits, till I've got the hang of things and then branch out and try AG with the Landlord clone (when I've got time to throw a full blown dinner party). I'll look at the Worcester Hop Shop it sounds interesting and I'll continue to read the forum. Tastes in beer are a bit of a personal journey, and I'll try to keep an open mind at least until I've tried a few different things. Cheers!

 

[Covrich]

Yep, if you can afford the time and are happy to make the step to AG you will not regret it.

Ruby Red was a decent kit though

 

[Birkin]

It's amazing really, you can't mention brewing kits without half a dozen people recommending AG.

When you do turn to AG you'll see why, AG isn't about making good home brew, it's about making great beer.

Anyway, don't let the process put you off, it's easy enough to get to grips with, then spend forever refining your process!

 

[Robin54]

Welcome aboard - loads of good advice above.
Tim Taylors used to be my favourite pub ale yonks ago, but it doesn't seem the same now??
Is it me, or has it changed a tad??

 

[jayjt29]

Welcome to the forum from another LS brewer :)

Jay