Hambleton Bard dry beer kit question

[Virgilartois]

Hi again everyone, I picked up one of these today for £5.95 and was wondering if anyone had ever made one.

If so, how did it turn out? It's nothing but a bag of DME, some yeast, and hop extract. I'm planning on using another kilo of DME as fermentables in place of white sugar and using Saflager yeast instead of the included stuff. If this type of kit usually turns out mediocre, I'd rather not waste the DME and Saflager on it. Any thoughts are MUCH appreciated!

~V

 

[Kyral210]

Make it, see how it goes, and then go and make this:
http://www.thethriftyshopper.co.uk/brew ... packs.aspx

you will need 3Kg LME, but thats ok, just add it to the order. Then see the difference between basic kits and proper extract brewing.

 

[Virgilartois]

I would love to move on to extract brewing or, better yet, all grain. Looking at the cost of ingredients (not counting equipment) though, kits still seem to be the most economical method of homebrewing. I know, making quality beer costs more than making mediocre beer but it's tough times...

I have a 32 litre Coleman cooler down the cellar and Burco's are reasonably-priced on eBay... it wouldn't cost a lot to make a simple AG setup. A decent, large stockpot for extract brewing is beyond my means right now and I can't find a used one out here in West Wales. Still, buying the grains and the yeast with the postage costs more than a kit of Wherry. Right now, Wherry, and whatever is on offer at the local homebrew shop, is going to have to be good enough for me.

 

[Kyral210]

For extract brewing you can use this (as I do):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002YK2ERG/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

That pot and your standard can brewing equipment is all you need. Sure, the price may be a bit higher, but the way I see it is I would rather drink less beer but great beer than lots of beer but bad beer.

 

[Virgilartois]

11 litre stockpot is big enough? I had it in my head it'd need to be nearly twice that size. Cool, that's affordable enough! Thanks!

 

[Grumpy Jack]

One of my earliest kits was a dry HB bitter kit and it turned out very well for a cheap starter pack, one that could easily be played with by adding different sugars or other flavours if you were inclined... only did the one, but not through any effort not to get another, it just panned out that way, should be a perfectly acceptable brew. :

 

[Kyral210]

Yeah, 11 Litres is big enough. Here is a link to how I learned how to brew great beer:
http://www.howtobrew.com/section2/index.html

I would strongly recommend moving from kits to ingredients, but it is a little scary. After all, a kit is pretty idiot proof, how do you know your brew will be good?

Well, I use beer smith as a recipe book (300+ brews built in) and beer designer.
http://www.beersmith.com/

There is a free trial, which is what you need, but I bought it as I think it is well worth the money. But as an extra prod to get you going, here is a Coffee Stout I brewed recently for a friends birthday, and it was GOOOOD!! So good I am planning on another brew VERY soon.

The Name:
Dead Man's Coffee!!

The Recipe:
http://www.beersmith.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3952.0;attach=1207
(you need to open this with Beer SMith)

The Label: