Completed AG Recipe Kits-GEB/MM

[Cheyne_brewer]

WHS Safbrew Kölsch & Pilsner, Batemans XXXB. Excellent all.

 

[Eight Ace]

Ah. Good timing to see this thread!

Just put on a CML Jaipur kit, interested to see how that turns out (and whether to go for the additional dry hop). And have a Brupaks Doghouse Rebel IPA (Punk clone) and a Whitefaced Painted Tiles clone kit, both from the Homebrew Outlet (who I just want to shout out to for their service after a few postage issues).

Reviews of course shall follow

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

I've done lots of AG kits from MM and more recently BrewUK as I find them great value for money.
First up is the Leffe clone from MM. Just started drinking the first bottles of the second batch of this and it's very close to the original product, great colour and carbonation even though it's very young.
I'll post a picture tonight.
For some reason batch one which I did last year took about 6 months to come good, batch two is ready now after about 7 weeks in the bottle. Must be getting better at this lark!

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Another cracker is the Route Citra Six American Wheat from BrewUk.
I added Orange peel to the boil for 15 minutes and it worked a treat. Also a slice of orange in a nice cold pint really takes it to another level.
I'd better get another one on before the summer goes!

 

[Begbie]

I brewed the Idaho 7 NEIPA AG kit from TMM last month. I kegged 10L (2×5L minikegs) and bottled the remaining 10L. The bottles are delicious and have maintained the citrus hoppy aromas. I poured the first pint from one of the kegs last night and the aromas have dissipated quite a lot. Still a lovely pint though!

 

[Begbie]

Following on from my previous post on the Idaho 7 NEIPA, I went to a friend's house last night where 4 of us were sampling various home brews. Unfortunately, the other 3 weren't very keen at all on the Idaho 7. The feedback was that although the aroma was amazing, the flavour was very bitter and almost perfume-y on the tongue, in a not-very-nice way. One described it as if he had sprayed perfume in his mouth - that same guy actually wouldn't drink any more than the 2 mouthfuls he had...and this is a guy who loves his IPA's!

As you can imagine, I was a bit deflated, but decided to look into the Idaho 7 hop variety. My findings were that this is a hop variety that is best used as an aroma addition, in dry hopping. It can also be used as a bittering hop very late in the boil but can impart an 'assertive bitterness'. I added 40g, as per the recipe, at 0mins, so it was late in the boil. Maybe reducing the quantity, therefore reducing IBU's would help with the perfume-esque aftertaste. Or, use a different hop variety for the late addition in the boil, keeping the Idaho 7 for dry hopping only?

So, has anyone else brewed this recipe, or had similar feedback using Idaho 7?

Lastly, I know that as long as the brewer is happy with the beer, then that's all that matters, and I am happy to drink these beers, but I do kinda agree with the feedback I've received. The brewer in me just wants to make my beers acceptable to the majority!

On the bright side, a bottle of my Hefe Weiss by Jon Finch, another recipe from TMM, went down a treat and received compliments from everyone. That inflated me again!

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Following on from my previous post on the Idaho 7 NEIPA, I went to a friend's house last night where 4 of us were sampling various home brews. Unfortunately, the other 3 weren't very keen at all on the Idaho 7. The feedback was that although the aroma was amazing, the flavour was very bitter and almost perfume-y on the tongue, in a not-very-nice way. One described it as if he had sprayed perfume in his mouth - that same guy actually wouldn't drink any more than the 2 mouthfuls he had...and this is a guy who loves his IPA's!

As you can imagine, I was a bit deflated, but decided to look into the Idaho 7 hop variety. My findings were that this is a hop variety that is best used as an aroma addition, in dry hopping. It can also be used as a bittering hop very late in the boil but can impart an 'assertive bitterness'. I added 40g, as per the recipe, at 0mins, so it was late in the boil. Maybe reducing the quantity, therefore reducing IBU's would help with the perfume-esque aftertaste. Or, use a different hop variety for the late addition in the boil, keeping the Idaho 7 for dry hopping only?

So, has anyone else brewed this recipe, or had similar feedback using Idaho 7?

Lastly, I know that as long as the brewer is happy with the beer, then that's all that matters, and I am happy to drink these beers, but I do kinda agree with the feedback I've received. The brewer in me just wants to make my beers acceptable to the majority!

On the bright side, a bottle of my Hefe Weiss by Jon Finch, another recipe from TMM, went down a treat and received compliments from everyone. That inflated me again!

I know exactly what you mean. I have one mate who generally loved my beers but now I have found the styles I like the most, APAs, IPAs, Belgians etc, so that's what I brew. But his idea of a perfect pint is something like London Pride which I am totally underwhelmed by. He tried a 60 minute IPA of mine and declared it undrinkable, which hurt.
But I'll continue to brew what I like and he'll have to expand his palate to suit.

 

[user 4749]

Just started drinking a CML English Tropical IPA its only a week in the keg after a forced carb which I normally don't do but needs must . Its is a smooth and light fruity taste think it will get better the longer its in the keg .
Just finished a CML Hop Tirteen must be Good its the second time I have done it and my Lager drinking sons love it

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Just started drinking a CML English Tropical IPA its only a week in the keg after a forced carb which I normally don't do but needs must . Its is a smooth and light fruity taste think it will get better the longer its in the keg .
Just finished a CML Hop Tirteen must be Good its the second time I have done it and my Lager drinking sons love it

I was trying my Tropical England last night and it's improving all the time. I didn't buy the kit, just the hops and copied the recipe from the CML site. It is a cracking pint!

 

[Patrick Thompson]

I've got the GEB Stars and Stripes NEIPA to brew tomorrow. I've done a couple of their NEIPA recipes in the past and the colour comes out a touch darker than I think it should.. but this one looks like a promising recipe! I might just wing in a second dry hop though...

 

[obscure]

Just started drinking a CML English Tropical IPA its only a week in the keg after a forced carb which I normally don't do but needs must . Its is a smooth and light fruity taste think it will get better the longer its in the keg .
Just finished a CML Hop Tirteen must be Good its the second time I have done it and my Lager drinking sons love it

Just cracked open my own keg of Tropical England (although I swapped out the yeast for CML Hornindial) and it’s pretty good it’s too hot to even attempt to wrote a proper review but it is a smooth fruity pale ale very light on the bitterness and descent head retentio.n.

 

[Jordang]

Just started drinking a CML English Tropical IPA its only a week in the keg after a forced carb which I normally don't do but needs must . Its is a smooth and light fruity taste think it will get better the longer its in the keg .
Just finished a CML Hop Tirteen must be Good its the second time I have done it and my Lager drinking sons love it

I did this but used hornindal and an extra 100g harlequin…. It’s a beautiful pint and a firm summer favourite with everyone, even at nearby 7%!

 

[user 4749]

I will need to try it with hornindal, mine is unfortunately finished due to neighbours and family all liking this one . Maori Mingle next .

 

[obscure]

I will need to try it with hornindal, mine is unfortunately finished due to neighbours and family all liking this one . Maori Mingle next .

That one is really nice as well (also brewed it with Hornindial) it’s a little more bitterness than the Tropical England had but not overly so.

 

[Braufather]

Been drinking my centennial smash from NM.

The Warminster Maris otter and ringwood yeast come together wonderfully with this hop. Such a rich flavour for a very simple brew. Even forgot the dry hop.

 

[Eight Ace]

Well the CML Jaipur has been bottled for over three weeks. First bottle after first week was a no no (diacetyl I believe made it undrinkable, too eager). Had a few bottles last week which were okay. But just had a bottle tonight and very pleased! From recent memory that's not too far off at all. Going to be getting a few cans of Jaipur and comparing this weekend, so watch this space

Meanwhile I've done a few kits from the Homebrew Outlet, The 'Rebel' IPA (Punk clone) is kegged and the trial jar tasted glorious! A Whitefaced Painted Tiles clone is fermenting away, and both will Christen my soon to be built Keezer.

Exciting times!

 

[White Rose Al]

Well the CML Jaipur has been bottled for over three weeks. First bottle after first week was a no no (diacetyl I believe made it undrinkable, too eager). Had a few bottles last week which were okay. But just had a bottle tonight and very pleased! From recent memory that's not too far off at all. Going to be getting a few cans of Jaipur and comparing this weekend, so watch this space

Meanwhile I've done a few kits from the Homebrew Outlet, The 'Rebel' IPA (Punk clone) is kegged and the trial jar tasted glorious! A Whitefaced Painted Tiles clone is fermenting away, and both will Christen my soon to be built Keezer.

Exciting times!

Patience is key with the CML AG kits more than any other in my findings.

However once you do give them time they really are top drawer.

 

[Eight Ace]

I've got no issues at all with the kit supplied. Fan of CML and think the kits are good value for money if grabbing one at a time.

As for the Jaipur, here's today's bottle decanted...

It's darker than the cans, though given the changes in Jaipur in general I'm not surprised. The recipe suggested an additional dry hop of cascade and Simcoe to bring it towards the current recipe, though I think I'd need to double it next time and it still probably won't be far enough!

Overall it's turned out decent enough, though I think this will be my last brew bottling as they've been rather inconsistent, probably due to cleaning. And kegs are just so, so much easier. Would I do it again, unsure. But I will be doing a few more CML brews so watch this space!

 

[Eight Ace]

Back from a lovely week away in Somerset, and decided to crack open the kegs! And realised I'd forgotten which was which .

Overprimed both kegs, which combined with not really being chilled meant a rather foamy pour. But that can be sorted. Anyway, Rebel (Punk) IPA seems decent but needs chilling properly (and will hopefully contain the foam too), so watch this space. Certainly happy but not ready to give it a proper review

However, the Painted Tiles clone is so so good already! If I'd bought that in a pub I'd be very happy. Given my relative inexperience that's a fantastic result

 

[Eight Ace]

So to follow up on yesterday...

Kegs are properly chilled, and (eventually) sorted pouring issues! And the results?

Rebel IPA is very nice. It's not quite Punk from memory, but it's close enough and very nice. Will need to compare. But ultimately very happy...except...

The Painted Tiles is far better than I could have hoped for! I've never tried it as a reference, but it's light, fruity, and a genuinely excellent beer. I cannot recommend it enough.