Crap kit's.

[johnc86]

I am fairly new to homebrewing. I have done a few kit's now and they have all been dissapointing.
They have so far been a Young's 'pub style bitter (came free with the equitment), a John bull one, and a Coopers beer kit (can't remember which but it was beer not stout or 'Lagar').

All pretty much drinkable - just about - with the exception of the Coopers which I had to force down :sick:. Hey, it was snowing, alright?

This leaves me wondering if it's the quality of the kit's that is the problem. I have been fastidious is sterylizing my equtment. The beer I have produced has tasted, well, like homebrew . The last one, the coopers was the worst like I say. It tasted like slightly metalic dish water with some flat beer content. :sick: .

Anyway this time Im going to do a Brupaks Kit because Im told they areabout the best. I have an extra barrel now which Iv aquired so I may do a Milestone black pearl stout as well.

Wish me luck .

 

[LeicesterLad]

Hi John

There could be 101 reasons why your kits turned out 'crap', did you tweak the kits at all, did you use DME or sugar or both or even neither, did you prime the pressure barrel and add co2, how long did you leave it ???

Anyways try the woodfordes im very happy with my 3month wherry :

 

[Sean_Mc]

Woodfordes kits are very good, two tins and no sugar needed.

With one tin kits you can make a difference by using a spray malt instead of sugar or by dry hoping. Also treating your tap water before starting a brew could help.

Sean

Ps hello LL not seen you in awhile :)

 

[LeicesterLad]

Hi Sean,

Ive been browsing bt not been brewing much of late trying to get through all i made before xmas ha ha ...

Im thinking of going to the darkside soon and attempting an AG and just looking for a recipe, im thinking a nice light ale maybe even a summer ale, nice and hoppy with good aroma ...ha listen to me lol

Do you know what i mean though any ideas ??

Sorry John didnt mean to hijack your thread...

Happy New Year to you all anyways !

 

[johnc86]

I didnt leave it long before drinking. Perhaps thats why it wanst as good as it may have been......

Think it was 3/4 weeks tops! I bet you lot wait months dont ya?

 

[Sean_Mc]

IMHO John its best bottled and left to condition for three months.

Only had my corny keg a week though, so may change my mind

 

[LeicesterLad]

Ha ha Corny Kegs are the way forward got mine last Saturday from Matchless

Good investment for sure :thumb:

 

[Sean_Mc]

Hoping for a delivery tomorrow to start building an AG setup :pray:

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

I am fairly new to homebrewing. I have done a few kit's now and they have all been dissapointing.
They have so far been a Young's 'pub style bitter (came free with the equitment), a John bull one, and a Coopers beer kit (can't remember which but it was beer not stout or 'Lagar').

All pretty much drinkable - just about - with the exception of the Coopers which I had to force down :sick:. Hey, it was snowing, alright?

This leaves me wondering if it's the quality of the kit's that is the problem. I have been fastidious is sterylizing my equtment. The beer I have produced has tasted, well, like homebrew . The last one, the coopers was the worst like I say. It tasted like slightly metalic dish water with some flat beer content. :sick: .

Anyway this time Im going to do a Brupaks Kit because Im told they areabout the best. I have an extra barrel now which Iv aquired so I may do a Milestone black pearl stout as well.

Wish me luck .

ENTER THE DARKSIDE :drink:

 

[LeicesterLad]

Fingers well and truely crossed but it looks light i might be able to borrow a kit for my first attempts before shelling out ..it should be fun though even if it does end up as plant food ha ha

 

[Aleman]

I bet you lot wait months dont ya?

I have a summer ale on tap at the moment I made in June . . . and am trying to get around to bottling My Russian Imperial Stout that I made in October . . . . . . 2008 . . . So I guess you might be right :lol:

 

[jonewer]

More recruits for the dark side. Mwahahaha!

Actually I tend to drink my beer a bit young. Probably should wait a bit more but really I'm just far too impatient....

 

[LeicesterLad]

I have a summer ale on tap at the moment I made in June . . . and am trying to get around to bottling My Russian Imperial Stout that I made in October . . . . . . 2008 . . . So I guess you might be right :lol:

Nice ....how have you kept the beer from going bad, surely it must be in a pressure barrel or something ? :wha:

 

[Aleman]

I have a summer ale on tap at the moment I made in June . . . and am trying to get around to bottling My Russian Imperial Stout that I made in October . . . . . . 2008 . . . So I guess you might be right :lol:

Nice ....how have you kept the beer from going bad, surely it must be in a pressure barrel or something ? :wha:

The Imperial stout is sat in a corny keg, which I purged with CO2 before filling . . . Cornii make great containers for long term storage being stainless. .. . I've had been served from one that has been 4 years old . . . incredible as it may be it was still sound . . . but the Durden Park recipes are like that . . . many are meant to be aged for 6 months minimum

 

[Muddydisco]

Going back to the original post.

Have you been treating the water with 1/2 a campden tablet before using it a brew?

 

[johnc86]

Going back to the original post.

Have you been treating the water with 1/2 a campden tablet before using it a brew?

No I havent done this mate. I will try this next time though. Problem is that I have to put the water in in stages with a jug so how would I do it?

 

[Muddydisco]

I'm sure you can add it as you put the last jug into the Fv.
Crush it up and stir it around in the jug then add it to the rest in the FV.

I always had a extra Fv for the water before I brewed so never did it your way. But the tablet works instantly so can't see it being a problem going in last?

If I'm worng someone will put it right soon enough :lol:

 

[tubby_shaw]

md you're wrong :lol:
The water needs to be treated before it is added to the kit gloop.
The chlorine in the water reacts with the malt and hops to create chlorophenols (iirc) which give rise to the tcp/metallic taste
The reaction is instantaneous and adding the campden tablet won't reverse it.
My advice is to buy another FV and treat your water in that prior to making up the kit :thumb:
Plus you have another FV then to get another brew going :party:

 

[Muddydisco]

Oh well learn something new every day. :thumb:

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Yeah, me too....thx T.S......from now on, all water treated :thumb: