Hi guys, a swift hello

[Drew_L]

Hi Guys.
I've been knocking up kits for about six years now, but want to delve into the world of using grain.
To be honest, I have neither the time nor space to go the full all grain route, but would like to pimp up the kits with a mini mash, or steep (as you can see, I don't really know what I'm talking about) and boil of grain to add to kits.
I'm pretty sure I can find what I'm after here!

My fave kits are
Coopers Stout w/ 1.5KG DME. PB. 22L
Coopers English Bitter w/ 1KG brew enhancer and 200G demerara. PB. 22L
Coopers Dark Ale w/tin of LME (I think this is **** when young but sublime after a few months) PB 21L

The above three are my go to brews, the PBs live in the shed (I wish I could with 'em)

John Bull IPA w/ 1KG brew enhancer. Bottled. 22L

Finally, a two can Wilko delicate pilsner w/1KG brew enhancer brewed long 26L. Bottled.
I originally did this as I was gifted two of the pilsner kits and didn't know what else to do with them.
(I'm not a fan of lagery type stuff)
I use the Wilko Gervin/Notts yeast for this. I absolutely love the result. Perfect as/is, almost a pale ale type of affair. I use this to experiment with some gentle hop teas and dry hopping.
Thoroughly, thoroughly recommended if anyone wants to try it and Wilko ever have a sale again so you can justify it.

Cheers guys

Happy brewing

Drew

 

[LarryF]

Welcome aboard Drew, I'm doing very much the same thing with kits. Brewing them with Brew Enhancer, then bumping them up to about 6+% with honey/Golden Syrup/dark brown sugar. I add a hop tea at the start, dry hop nine days in and then bottle. I'm drinking a Coopers Stout and a John Bull IPA, I bottled a Coopers Dark Ale with Mosaic last week and I've got a Cooper English Bitter and a couple of Wilko kits to do. Here's a link to pimping kits that might be helpful: http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=69567

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Welcome to the forum :

 

[terrym]

Welcome.
I boost kits with grain and extra hops, unless they are premium kits.
In order of simplicity it's
- dry hop or a hop tea
- grain steep usually 30 minutes at 65*C or thereabouts followed by a wort boil for 15 mins to sterilise
- mini mash with pale malt and often torrified wheat
I also do partial mash extract brewing with or without grain steeps and/or minimashes and that's not a great deal more complex and can provide an opportunity to experiment, and you don't need a massive pot to do it since you don't need to boil all of the extract.