new to the homebrew!

[rickthebrew]

Just started to brew my own - on my first kit - a cheap geordie mild that i`m just about to bottle up , would be glad of any suggestions for my next brew (kit untill i get the hang of it) i`m into real ales,bitters and beers - not really lagers.

cheers for the help in advance!

 

[A T]

Just started to brew my own - on my first kit - a cheap geordie mild that i`m just about to bottle up , would be glad of any suggestions for my next brew (kit untill i get the hang of it) i`m into real ales,bitters and beers - not really lagers.

cheers for the help in advance!

Any of the 3kg kits are good :thumb:

 

[Dunfie]

Welcome to the hobby - very good move. :clap:

I have limited experience with kits but I agree with AT - if you want some quality then go for the 3kg kits. They cost more but are definitely worth the extra - imo.

I brewed Woodfordes Wherry about 6 weeks ago and I am genuinely surprised at how good it is. Its a light coloured session ale (3.8% abv), good balance of malt and hop bite. :drink:

 

[prolix]

wherry is easy to get if you have a wilkos nearby, if you don't have a Hb shop near then something like hop and grape have a great selection

these are what you want to be brewing

 

[bolty]

Just had a bottle of Wherry off a mate of mine and must say I am most surprised by the good hoppy taste of this kit, and no discernible 'twang' ... Very nice indeed.

Even though I have gone AG, I may have to make a batch of this stuff up :drink:

 

[rickthebrew]

Thanks for the tips everyone - my local wilkos does woodfordes wherry kits for 14:99 which is a bargin - so of to get one !

cheers!

my mild is all bottled - took a bit longer to bottle then i thought but will be worth it!

 

[commsbiff]

You got a bottling stick? I got one from my lhbs with a tap included for about a fiver. Screwed it into the hole I made in my FV and it makes life so much easier - and quicker.

 

[llannige]

You got a bottling stick? I got one from my lhbs with a tap included for about a fiver. Screwed it into the hole I made in my FV and it makes life so much easier - and quicker.

:clap: :thumb:

 

[rickthebrew]

cheers for the tip - looked on the internet and the bottling stick looks perfect - i guess it stops the beer from frothing up as you bottle - also i have bottled my first brew in clear 1pint newcastle brown bottles but have read that beer can get tainted in clear bottles so as a precaution i have put them in two boxes as they start to condition - is there any truth in this? I work as a chef and have a ready supply of bottles so would be a shame to not be able to use the clear ones any help on this would be great!

 

[prolix]

unfortunately sunlight breaks down hops to form nasty smells, this is called light struck, or skunking for our colonial brethren. If you keep them in the dark then there will be no problem. Light bulbs are fine as they give off no UV. but strip lights and neons do so avoid those as well.

there are those who claim they can taste light strike in a pint of beer on a sunny day in the beer garden, to them I say you are drinking too slowly get the next round in.

 

[toasted]

ive only tried one of the more expensive kits which was milestone lions pride, it was quite nice but fermentation stalled
my lhbs doesnt stock too many kits so only realy had a choice of the cheaper ones and so far geordies victorian bitter was the best one made with medium dry malt instead of sugar
good luck with your new hobby :thumb:

 

[rickthebrew]

thanks for the info on the bottles - if i substitute sugar for malt do i use the same amount and do i use dried or liquid - sorry really new to this! Also is there a great benifit in using brewing sugar or enhancer over normal sugar?

 

[Parva]

Since nobody is around at this hour to answer I'll do my best but I went straight to AG from kits. However, I do know that using liquid or dried malt extract will give you a far superior brew to one that's made from sugar but it will cost you more. And no, there's no great advantage in using brewing sugar over normal Tate & Lyle. I'm sure somebody will be around to give a more definitive answer soon.