Has anyone 'pimped' a Ritchies Simply Bitter Kit?

[markyuk]

I've read pretty mixed reviews on this budget kit (Ritchies Simply Bitter) - most saying it's pretty bland.

I'm after a slightly weaker drink ~3.8 % (kit is 4.4%) so was going to half the amount of additional DME/sugar to 0.5kg (in addition to the LME in the kit)

I also fancy a light hop kick so was going to dry hop with some Bramley cross or EKG few days before bottling

Any thoughts? Anybody tried the kit or anything similar?

 

[Rodcx500z]

I did about a year ago, but not in the way you are i added 500g of light dme and a jar of golden syrup, from what i recall it was not a bad pint but the abv was about 5.3% from memory

 

[markyuk]

Thanks Rod

I just found an old post of yours where you did 1kg malt/.5kg sugar and citra hops which sounds pretty good! What stage do you usually add the hops?

What are you drinking tonight 2021?

 

[Rodcx500z]

If i remember rightly at the end of fermentation for 3 days

 

[clib]

To drop the ABV I would reduce the sugar but not the DME. Put your hops in a couple of days before you bottle the beer.