Hamstead homebrew kits

[dowden87]

Have anyone made any of the hamstead homebrew own brand kits ? I'm thinking about making the cardinals ale which is a take on abbot ale. Cheers Pete

 

[MashBag]

No I have not, but I can vouch for hamstead homebrew.

 

[soupdragon]

Is that one of those kits with grain that you need to steep?

Cheers Tom

 

[dowden87]

Yeah that's the one

 

[soupdragon]

If you do get it I'd be interested to hear how it compares. I presume that I'm in the rather large minority here but I do quite like Abbot

Cheers Tom

 

[dowden87]

I'm going to order it next week. I will let you know

 

[soupdragon]

Nice one Pete

Will await your report in around a month or so

Cheers Tom

 

[dowden87]

I will keep you updated:-)

 

[Jim Brewster]

Could I have a link to these by any chance?

 

[soupdragon]

Could I have a link to these by any chance?

https://www.hamsteadhomebrew.co.uk/DAB-Craft-Pack-Cardinals-Ale-kit
Cheers Tom

 

[soupdragon]

I enquired about the quantities of extract and grain, the reply is below

"Hi Tom,

This is a stunning brew it is a total of 3.9kg and has 3kg of concentrated commercial brewery grade extract, 500gm of stunning dried extract, grains and hops and yeast all together in a simple to produce pack less than an hour to produce will ferment in 4 to 6 days, a couple of days to condition and enjoy a week after that

Regards

Chris"

Sounds like it could be a good-un
Although I'd take the timings with a pinch of salt

Cheers Tom

 

[soupdragon]

@dowden87
If it does turn out to be similar to Abbot ale can you post a comment in the thread below?

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/pub-beer-kit-beer-taste-alike-list.101774/
Cheers Tom

 

[dowden87]

I enquired about the quantities of extract and grain, the reply is below

"Hi Tom,

This is a stunning brew it is a total of 3.9kg and has 3kg of concentrated commercial brewery grade extract, 500gm of stunning dried extract, grains and hops and yeast all together in a simple to produce pack less than an hour to produce will ferment in 4 to 6 days, a couple of days to condition and enjoy a week after that

Regards

Chris"

Sounds like it could be a good-un
Although I'd take the timings with a pinch of salt

Cheers Tom

He said the same to me. He seems really friendly and helpful.
The thing that bothers me is most of my brews I brew for 12-14 days.
I don't think it would brew in 6 days for me, as my temperatures are a bit on the low side about 17.5 degrees. I've never had an issue brewing at a lower temperature but it takes longer.
On the instructions you add the grains and hop bags to water steep for 30 minutes then add the liquid and hop bags to the brew at the start.
If you brewed for 6 days it would be okay but leaving the hops in the brew for say 14 days would really mess up the taste of the brew I think.
I might have to invest in a heat belt to brew this one

 

[dowden87]

@dowden87
If it does turn out to be similar to Abbot ale can you post a comment in the thread below?

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/pub-beer-kit-beer-taste-alike-list.101774/
Cheers Tom

I will do no problem

 

[dowden87]

I enquired about the quantities of extract and grain, the reply is below

"Hi Tom,

This is a stunning brew it is a total of 3.9kg and has 3kg of concentrated commercial brewery grade extract, 500gm of stunning dried extract, grains and hops and yeast all together in a simple to produce pack less than an hour to produce will ferment in 4 to 6 days, a couple of days to condition and enjoy a week after that

Regards

Chris"

Sounds like it could be a good-un
Although I'd take the timings with a pinch of salt

Cheers Tom

I think I would steep the grains and add the liquid to the brew. Then brew it for 10 days check the gravity and if it was at 1.010 I would add the hop bags for the last two or three days

 

[soupdragon]

One thing to consider.......

I've asked for confirmation but the liquid malt extract seems to be the American Briess brand that has been produced using

"A multiple step infusion brewing process gives high fermentability & FAN, which is critical for brewing"

Don't know what the FAN refers to but it may be more fermentable than the usual muntons stuff that'll stick at the drop of a hat. So maybe an extended ferment may not be nessesary (forgetting the yeast clean-up stage just for arguments sake)?

Cheers Tom

 

[dowden87]

One thing to consider.......

I've asked for confirmation but the liquid malt extract seems to be the American Briess brand that has been produced using

"A multiple step infusion brewing process gives high fermentability & FAN, which is critical for brewing"

Don't know what the FAN refers to but it may be more fermentable than the usual muntons stuff that'll stick at the drop of a hat. So maybe an extended ferment may not be nessesary (forgetting the yeast clean-up stage just for arguments sake)?

Cheers Tom

That's good to know I will give it a go as it is then :-)

 

[soupdragon]

Fingers crossed, I hope it turns out well. Will let you know what they say when I get a reply

Cheers Tom

 

[Jim Brewster]

Don't know what the FAN refers to

Fermentation assisting nutrients?
...just a guess, haven't heard that one before

 

[Mash Monster]

Free Amino Nitrogen ????

Free Amino Nitrogen (FAN) is a critical parameter in beer analysis that leads to healthy fermentation, and, thus better beer quality. It is a measure of the concentration of amino acids and small peptides that are essential for yeast metabolism
A direct lift from White Labs website