Expectations / Reality

[chuff76]

Hi guys

New to home-brewing, just completed my first ever brew with a Youngs American IPA kit.

I was very careful, obsessive about sanitisation, meticulous and patient.

It was in the FV for over 3 weeks, in the bottle for 2 1/2.

I think I did everything right

I drank a few at the weekend, and just wanted to ask what really I should expect from my home brews?

This kit was touted as being as close to Goose Island as you could possibly get, and thats what I wanted to achieve.

6.56%, It has carbonated, there's a thin film of yeast at the bottom but it's nice and clear, it is drinkable and it's really not a bad drink at all - I've certainly bought worse beers before and it also went straight to my head... but it's not Goose Island.

It's hard for me to describe - It does have a nice hoppy smell, but not much of the aromatic/sweet flavours that I expected. If anything it tastes a bit bitter. I can tell it still needs longer as it tastes a bit lively/fermenty, that kind of fizzy feeling when you eat pineapple thats out of date.
It tastes a bit thin, almost metallic bitterness.
I'm just wondering if this is as good as it gets? Will it improve further in the bottle(I'm sure it will, but don't expect it to 'that' much), I dry hopped for 4 days using a muslin bag, maybe it didn't take on as much of the hops as if I'd chucked them straight in there, but I'm still not convinced that this is all that's missing.

I think I've brewed a decent beer and I am pleased with it, but I expected something more - Is this just a case of me readjusting my expectations? Is this the best that can be achieved at home?

Cheers

 

[Sandimas]

First off, it's really difficult to clone beers, even if you have the recipe. Some companies sell clone recipe kits, me and my mate have bought two of the same and made them up, and they taste different: different water, different brewing conditions, etc.

The Youngs kit is a generic American Pale Ale and doesn't claim to be Goose Island. Maybe someone mentioned somewhere that it's a bit like Goose Island? Everyone's taste is different, I've seen reviews on here of kits saying they taste like Timothy Taylors landlord, have made up the kit and it's nothing like it. So yes, I think you need to adjust your expectations a bit.

Remember that kits tend to be the starting point in brewing, they are always going to be a compromise, you can make better beer by going Extract and All Grain. Sounds like you have done everything right, get a few kits under your belt and move onto Extract and/or All Grain and then you'll be making the beer you crave. :

 

[Covrich]

Well it is your first go and from the sounds of it you have made a pretty drinkable so that is a good start.

It is a strong one aswell so it could just take a while to settle down, I haven't done that one but have heard its pretty good.

What or how did you carbonate it?

I am not too sure what could be causing the metallic flavour, sounds like an off flavour but I am not sure how it could have got in there. Or your water quality.. what is your drinking water like?

Sometimes I dare say this the quality of results from kits can vary, I think kits need to be pretty fresh, kits which have been sat around in a shop can potentially have some diminishing results I hear..

Do not worry too much just enjoy it and see how it goes and plan number two.

 

[Covrich]

First off, it's really difficult to clone beers, even if you have the recipe. Some companies sell clone recipe kits, me and my mate have bought two of the same and made them up, and they taste different: different water, different brewing conditions, etc.

I second that, infact I am no longer going to try and clone commercial beers I like.. tried it twice and whilst the results are good and to a person who doesn't know otherwise, because I am using a personal reference I feel disappointed its not the same even though the beer is good.

 

[clibit]

If you are hoping for Goose Island from a kit then yes, your expectations need adjusting. There are some good kits out there, but they won't reproduce the best beers in the world. You can make excellent beer at home with grains, though, if you are prepared to take several hours to make a brew each time, and learn through practice.

 

[CreweBrewer]

If you are hoping for Goose Island from a kit then yes, your expectations need adjusting. There are some good kits out there, but they won't reproduce the best beers in the world. You can make excellent beer at home with grains, though, if you are prepared to take several hours to make a brew each time, and learn through practice.

He's right you know. I never thought homebrewing could taste better than pretty much anything I could buy from the pub/shop before I started all grain brewing. I did kits for a few years and although some were very tasty, they never really met my expectations. In the end I just learned to accept that that was how it was and at least I wasn't paying £2 a bottle for it.

Get used to the routine. Find your own way of doing things etc. and step up to small all grain batches that you truly enjoy drinking. Loads of helpful folk on here and the search function is mega.

Dave

 

[chuff76]

Hi gentlemen, thanks for the encouragement.

I guess what I really need is for one of you to drink a bottle and give me an opinion

It really is quite a decent beer I've created, I shouldn't knock it. I got 45 bottles and every single one will get drunk... I guess its just a case of adjusting my expectations and forget about comparisons to commercial beers, try to appreciate my brews for their own charms.

I'll try another different kit soon(I'm looking at Bulldog Evil IPA) and I've got a full mash course booked next month in London

Not disheartened, just wanted to know if something wrong or par for the course

Cheers

 

[Dads_Ale]

I have just done an American Double IPA AG beer and would be happy to send you a bottle in a couple of weeks time when it has carbonated up. Just PM me your address if interested.

I would also be willing to try your beer and report back. If interested you could wait for mine to arrive and re-use the bottle packaging.

Cheers

 

[Twostage]

Re: the fizzy comment. Try pouring it from a height so that it froths and loses a lot of the fizz. You might find that helps the taste and brings the hops out.

Also I understand that higher strength beers take longer to get into good drinking condition.

 

[sausagefingers]

I started homebrewing with the intention of moving on to all grain but I'm more than happy with the results I'm getting with the kits and in particular the Young's IPA,APA and Saison, all make fantastic pints - every bit as good as anything I've had in the pubs. Don't forget that yours has on ly been in the bottle a little over 2 weeks, you will hopefully be amazed at the difference another 3 weeks will make.
When I did my first 2 brews I almost packed it in, they were bloody awful ( drinkable but not worth the hassle ) but it was only because I hadn't given them long enough. Stick with it and have a bit more patience, it will all come good in the end :drink:

 

[ian808]

I've made this kit twice and i don't l look at any kit until about 8 weeks in the bottle you will definitely notice the difference after 4 weeks. I take it you added the hops 4 days before bottling you should have a real hoppy taste to it. The evil dog is very similar i prefer it and have brewed it more. Both of these i have fermented for around 25 days before bottling and recommend you leave 6 weeks to see the benefit

 

[chuff76]

Just a quick update

It isn't Goose Island, but it is a magnificent beer - It's been in the bottle for ~5 weeks now and it's definitely improved with age.

Much clearer now, the early bitterness has subsided - Perfect level of fizz

Pleased as punch with what I made, and given a choice I'd rather drink a bottle of this than any other beer - Shame it's running out!!

I will certainly make this again, try to get a bit more from the hops next time and will leave it for 4 weeks in the bottle before I touch it.

Cheers

 

[cornyandy]

I think with kit beers you have to adjust your expectations a little, they to me are very nice drinks, especially the 3KG kits.. But they have a different mouthfeel from mashed and commercial beers something in the concentration of the wort I think caramelises some of the sugars and especially in cheaper brews it is noticeable as "Kit Twang"

I think recognising and accepting that kits are different but good is important. For example I taste what is wrong with a kit rather than what is right sometimes, where as my neighbour is less critical and declared a well matured Wherry Kit as better than what he drinks in the local.

 

[mrobinson]

I'll try another different kit soon(I'm looking at Bulldog Evil IPA) and I've got a full mash course booked next month in London

That is a spectacularly nice beer, if it's the one I'm thinking of. It puts cheap kits into context of how cheap they really are.