Kits I Wouldn't Brew Again

[Appleton Brews]

The only kits I’ve brewed in the last 5 years have been Range Stout kits which are average but drinkable because the bitterness overpowers are twang. I have given up on these my stout is exponentially better.

 

[Dark Arts]

The only kits I’ve brewed in the last 5 years have been Range Stout kits which are average but drinkable because the bitterness overpowers are twang. I have given up on these my stout is exponentially better.

I've got a range myo stout sitting there to do at some point, it's got a dry hop addition so this will taste better than the usual 1can kits?

 

[Appleton Brews]

I have added brown sugar, Dextrose or treacle plus cocoa nibs and rolled oats to mine plus more hops. My last brew with the Range stout was 12/9/22 where I made 18 litres of Blackberry Stout. The recipe was
2200g Range stout kit
500g Dextrose
400g Brown Sugar
500g Blackberries
Hops were
16g Admiral start of boil
15g Gallena dry hop
Yeast was US05
ABV 5.2%
DO NOT USE THE KIT YEAST

 

[Jim Brewster]

I've done about 4 or 5 kits vs more than 50 all grain brews, but there is none of them that I would brew again. I'll still brew more kits to see if there is ever one that I'm happy with, I've got 2 in the cupboard to try. My preference is rather to use dry extract if not doing all grain

 

[GhostDoggyWoofWoof]

Still lots of average to bleh kits out there, but some good ones. Mangrove Jack's Raspberry Berliner Weisse was very tasty. Brewed e times so far and have one left. Shame it's discontinued.

 

[Suffolk Newbie]

Something I know about every kit I've made, regardless of kit, is that the last pint was so much better than the first - leaving me to believe that I just need to make more beer, so that it all gets more time. Given that there is so much variation (that I experience anyway) based upon time conditioning, how do you factor this out?

I'm a bit of a newbie at brewing but not at drinking, and I do know that cask ales in the pub are highly variable in quality - usually, I presume due to cellar and turnover. I like a Wherry kit, I like a St Peter's kit - probably because (with Adnams) they are the beers that I drink in pubs and buy in bottles.

I get that it is very much a personal choice... are there really 'bad kits'? Or just unmet expectations?

 

[GhostShip]

Something I know about every kit I've made, regardless of kit, is that the last pint was so much better than the first - leaving me to believe that I just need to make more beer, so that it all gets more time. Given that there is so much variation (that I experience anyway) based upon time conditioning, how do you factor this out?

I'm a bit of a newbie at brewing but not at drinking, and I do know that cask ales in the pub are highly variable in quality - usually, I presume due to cellar and turnover. I like a Wherry kit, I like a St Peter's kit - probably because (with Adnams) they are the beers that I drink in pubs and buy in bottles.

I get that it is very much a personal choice... are there really 'bad kits'? Or just unmet expectations?

Some kits are very definitely better than others but you make a good point. Having been brewing for a few years, I have learnt that patience is key. 10-14 days for primary fermentation, 2 weeks for secondary and then a month's conditioning out in the shed before drinking. Even then, after 6 weeks or more outside, many beers seem to improve.

 

[Clint]

I've looked back at my notes...seems I was rarely underwhelmed by kit brewing! Including the one can kits with Malt extract or a mix of malt and dextrose. Perhaps I was lucky.

 

[Bjorn Toulouse]

@Dark Arts, I take it you ment coopers Canadian blond? I found it an OK golden ale. Nothing special but will always pick up a can if its on special. As a rule of thumb with the coopers kits, ferment for 3 weeks and leave in the bottle for at least 4.
On the bright side now winter has come time to crack open the true lager yeasts.