Imroving my first beer kit?

[Rukula]

This is probably not a new thing for you guys, but I'm a beginner at home brewing and I'm soon starting up brewing some beer. I bought a cheap beer kit, just to get into the swing of things, even tho i know beer kits is cheating, and wont get you the best results..

I have watched some videos, and read some theory so i know what the different ingredients does and where the alcohol comes from etcetera.

The thing is; I'm from Norway, and in all the "How to improve your beer kit" videos, people mention loads of things i don't know what means. But the one thing I've understood in improving the kit is to not add sugar, but instead add malt extract. On the instructions, it says: Add half a teaspoon of sugar to each bottle when bottling. Shall i use malt extract here as well?
On the back of the can, there is a chart that shows you how much sugar is needed to get the % of alcohol you prefer. It reads:

Type: Sugar: Percent:
Low Alcohol: None 2.5 - 2.9%
Bar Strength: 0,65KG 3,8 - 4.3%
Import strength: 1KG 4.6 - 5.2%
Special Strength: 1,5KG 5.7 - 6.3%

I was thinking: Well, lets not add any sugar then, and it will be fine. But i really want to get up to at least bar strength, preferably between Bar and Import strength. But how much malt extract do i need? The same amount of kg's mentioned on the can?

Here is the instructions from the can:
1. Sterilize all the equipment
2. Pour contents of this can plus approx 4,5 liters of boiling water into fermentation vessel.
3. Add sugar or the same amount of muntons beer kit enhancer and stir until dissolved
4. Top up 22,5 liters with cold water
5. Check temperature is between 18-23'c and add the yeast (maintain the temperature
6. 4 days after fermentation begins, take a hydrometer reading. Normally when ready for bottling, the final specific gravity will be between 1.002 and 1.006. Your beer is ready for bottling when the desired gravity has been reached and or when bubbles no longer rise from your brew.
7.Bottle the beer adding 1/2 teaspoon of sugar per point bottle.
8. Place bottles in storage at approx 18'C for 6-10 days
9. Cool the bottles in the desired temperature for a few days
10. Drink responsibly, enjoy blablabla...

By the way, the can contains Hops and malt extract (Or hopped malt extract?) and i got a small bag of yeast. This kit will make 22,5 liters (5 gallons) of beer.


So I'm confused. Adding more malt extract to the mixture of malt extract makes more alcohol? And this tastes better than adding sugar to the malt extract?

And my last question. Is there anything else i can change in the instructions to get a better result?

Sorry for a long messy post, but this is my first post and i lack of knowledge.
Cheers! :

 

[abeyptfc]

Hi, adding dry malt extract or spraymalt will improve the body of your beer. you can either add 1Kilogram of malt extract(ME), 500 grams ME and 500 grams sugar or 1 Kilogram of sugar.generally the more ME the better, but the more it will cost. that will give you a beer in the region of 4-5%. when bottling just use a half or one full teaspoon of normal sugar depending how fizzy you like your beer, malt extract is a bit dearer than sugar so its better 'priming with sugar.I would start off nice and easy for your first kit and not to experiment too much until you get the basics right!

 

[Hollow Legs]

Rukula, welcome to the forum,

Sugar is not a bad thing to use as the yeast will turn it into alcohol Dextrose is a better sugar replacement as it is finer and dissolves easier, beer enhancer is spray malt and dextrose mixed which gives the beer more body and mouthfeel in short you pays your money and takes your chances(sorry don't know how that would translate to you in Norway)

It says leave it for 4 days to ferment DO NOT bottle/keg until gravity is down to desired level and if you have an airlock fitted wait until it has stopped blibbing and then take an hydrometer reading then leave it a couple of days take another reading, if it is consistent then you can bottle/keg, just be patient with it leave it for at least a week.

As for priming your bottles with sugar, if you have an extra FV(fermenting vessel) then it is best to batch prime i.e. 80grams of sugar (for 23ltrs) diluted in a little waterthis is for lagers and needs to be calculated for other beers, then microwaved until hot(this also kills any bacteria in the sugar), let it cool and add to the secondary FV, syphon the beer into the second FV without splashing the contents around and this will dissolve the sugar, at the end when the beer is in the FV give it a gentle stir and then bottle.

If going down the sugar in a bottle route then I would put 1 tsp of sugar in each pint bottle.

Bottle and then leave in a warmish room/cupboard for 10 - 14 days and then chill, the longer in the bottle the better the carbonation and taste.

 

[Rukula]

Hi, adding dry malt extract or spraymalt will improve the body of your beer. you can either add 1Kilogram of malt extract(ME), 500 grams ME and 500 grams sugar or 1 Kilogram of sugar.generally the more ME the better, but the more it will cost. that will give you a beer in the region of 4-5%. when bottling just use a half or one full teaspoon of normal sugar depending how fizzy you like your beer, malt extract is a bit dearer than sugar so its better 'priming with sugar.I would start off nice and easy for your first kit and not to experiment too much until you get the basics right!

Ok, So instead of pouring inn 1 Kg of sugar, i can replace like 50% of the sugar with malt extract, and get a better result?
Like: 0,5 Kg sugar and 0,5 Kg malt extract?

Do i have to use dry malt extract? Not the runny syrup kind?

 

[Rukula]

Another question!

I haven't bought the bottles yet. I only have one size to go for (700ml bottles)
But there are two colors; Dark green and transparent (they are both similar in shape), but I've read that you should not bottle homebrew beer in transparent bottles, since the light shining trough "ruins" the beer...Or something... I don't remember where i read this, but he also said that you should expose the brew to strong UV lamps before bottling.
Is this true? :hmm:

Its not a huge problem, i just think that the transparent bottles looks better

 

[abeyptfc]

Hi, adding dry malt extract or spraymalt will improve the body of your beer. you can either add 1Kilogram of malt extract(ME), 500 grams ME and 500 grams sugar or 1 Kilogram of sugar.generally the more ME the better, but the more it will cost. that will give you a beer in the region of 4-5%. when bottling just use a half or one full teaspoon of normal sugar depending how fizzy you like your beer, malt extract is a bit dearer than sugar so its better 'priming with sugar.I would start off nice and easy for your first kit and not to experiment too much until you get the basics right!

Ok, So instead of pouring inn 1 Kg of sugar, i can replace like 50% of the sugar with malt extract, and get a better result?
Like: 0,5 Kg sugar and 0,5 Kg malt extract?

Do i have to use dry malt extract? Not the runny syrup kind?

yeah your right! you can use 500 grams normal sugar and 500 grams malt extract/spraymalt.dry malt extract is the powder like this - http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/muntons-foil-pack-spraymalt-hopped-light-500grm.html

most bags of spraymalt come in 500 gram bags, I would give it a try.

yeah use the dark green bottles is possible, if you bottle in clear glass the beer can go off is exposed to light.

(P.S On behalf of the forum I would like to extend our sympathies to the Norwegian people who passed away after the terrible events on Friday.)

 

[Rukula]

(P.S On behalf of the forum I would like to extend our sympathies to the Norwegian people who passed away after the terrible events on Friday.)

Thank you. Norway has never seen the like...

And thanks for all the tips! looking forward to start the brewing!

 

[mtvessel]

From what i have read on forums just use brewing sugar(dextrose/corn sugar) to ferment.you can use 50% dextrose with 50% spraymalt/malt extract (which is beer enhancer). some use light or dark malt according to type of beer/lager. some even add a spoonfull or two of treacle or maple syrup to stout kits.
Use ordinary sugar to prime bottles either individually or batch prime, remembering generally that you use a little more sugar with lager than beer for more carbonation.

 

[Rukula]

Heya, i now have the rest of the equipment needed to start.
I got a few more questions tho... I bought a glass of liquid malt extract, which is about 0,5 kg. I saw i guy using that exact same brand on the same beer kit i have, and he said it turned out great. However, i got like 0,3-0,4 kg's of dark syrup, can i add this as well? shall i add some additional sugar?

Adding yeast question: Shall i just sprinkle it on top of the mixture and let it sit, or blend it around in there?

Bottling question: When adding the sugar to make it sparkling in the bottle, shall i put the teaspoon/half teaspoon to the bottle before pouring in the beer? After? Shall i give it a turn/shake after i put the cap on?

Sugar question: If i want to try using sugar in the mix, What kind is preferred? Regular household? Organic? Other sort?

And i need a name for this thing! I got a couple of names, but i'm not convinced over my own imagination. Do you guys have any names to spare?

 

[Rukula]

Bump. Starting in 2 days

 

[Hollow Legs]

Rukula, adding in syrup etc is down to personal taste and the more fermentable ingredient you add will just make the brew stronger in alcohol but will take longer to ferment out

Yeast...I've sprinkled yeast on top and it hasn't sunk before, so now I stir

Bottling...If you are using 700ml bottles then you will need around 1.25 teaspoons and add the sugar first, agitate the bottle when full

Sugar....Any sugar will do but brewing sugar (dextrose) is finer and will dissolve easier

Name.....Orinoco?

Cheers & Beers.