First beer kit recommendations?

[Wackford Squeers]

Hi guys,
I apologise if this has been asked a zillion times. I want to buy a beer making kit for my dad for Chrimbo. Two obvious options seem to be
a) a Cooper's kit - 70 quid

b) Wilko's kit (30 quid) + a beer eg the Wherry one that people seem to like (16 quid)

(Sorry, I tried to post urls to these products but I'm being told "Your post looks too spamy for a new user, please remove off-site URLs." )

The Wilko combo comes in quite a bit cheaper 46 quid; but I can't tell if the beer making kit has all the stuff that the Coopers one does. Does anybody know?
Does anybody have experience with either, or even both of these, any opinions/recs are welcome, maybe there is better out there for the money (or should I pay more for something else?) etc. I'd like to get him something good, but not so good that he's going to get discouraged because it's too complicated. So probably basic is good.

Thanks in advance,
WS

 

[dennisking]

Hi and welcome. You can only post links after 5 posts, an anti spamming measure. Not sure about the difference between both products, someone else may be able to help, but if they list their contents tell us what is missing from the cheaper one.

 

[Wackford Squeers]

Hi and welcome. You can only post links after 5 posts, an anti spamming measure. Not sure about the difference between both products, someone else may be able to help, but if they list their contents tell us what is missing from the cheaper one.

Hi,
Thanks Dennis. Re the links, no worries, makes sense, cheers.
Re the contents of those kits, unfortunately wilko don't list the contents of their kit....erm, let me check again to be sure....yes, just checked, there's nothing there apart from the following measly crumb of information:
Brand :Wilko
Type:Beer Kits
Pack quantity:1
Size:40 Pints

Immediately after submitting that first post though I came across a "Starter Kit: The Woodfordes Wherry Microbrewery" for 69 quid which looks like it is probably better than both the Coopers kit and the Wilko kit + beer kit. Looks good and of course it's got that Wherry beer included. So that now looks like the best "budget" option. Does anybody have any experience with it?

Thanks,
WS

 

[dennisking]

Wherry is highly regarded amongst kit brewers as one of the best, and is the only kit I have ever brewed, won it in a raffle, and have to say it was a decent pint.

 

[dennisking]

Don't forget to get your Dad to join the forum when he gets his present.

 

[Wackford Squeers]

Don't forget to get your Dad to join the forum when he gets his present.

I think you'll be waiting a while...I think he has yet to send his first email

Re the Wherry - is it the beer (concentrate - sorry if that's not the right term!) that you used, or did you get the whole beer making kit?

 

[Bowl sprayer]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I think your question can be answered in this way. There is a difference between a "beer kit" and a "starter kit".

A "beer kit" is simply the concentrated barley malt that you will dilute with water and brew. It usually comes with nothing else other than the yeast you wil need. You will need a vessel to ferment it in and something to put the finished beer in, like a pressure keg or bottles. Without that equipment you won't get very far with just a kit.

A "starter kit" has all the equipment you need to start brewing. For example sterilising solution, thermometer, spoon, fermenting bin, hydrometer, syphon tube, pressure keg etc. it usually doesn't come with a beer kit, you will need to purchase that and any additional sugar separately. Be sure to get a beer you will also like so you can have a slurp as well when it's done.

Look at the sponsors sites (top of the page). They will show you the difference and I have found them really good value.
I hope that helps
Bowl sprayer

 

[Wackford Squeers]

Ok, will do, thanks.