Pub quality extract kit.

[BlackRegent]

No Englishman should ever drink lager unless he is abroad!

I agree with you in the most part, although there are some notable exceptions. Albert's Schloss in Manchester gets Pilsner Urquell shipped in tanks and serves it from the tanks. Lovely stuff.

 

[Rover69]

Amstel dark bok is a cracking beer if ever allowed back in Greece,brewed in Athens 6% very smooth.

 

[Kye]

I've done 5 Mangrove Jacks kits in the last 6 months and all have been excellent, big vote for them (admittedly all IPA but if interested - Juicy IPA, Simcoe IPA, Pink Grapefruit, Brut IPA, Red IPA)

 

[Stu123]

Best kits I made last year were Festival German Weiss, this was indistinguishable from a commercial wheat beer. Festival Belgian Dubbel, again if I tasted this blind I'd believe I was drinking a proper Belgian beer. Final one I really enjoyed was the Bulldog Strawberry Pale, might not be to everyone's taste though, depends if you like fruit flavoured beers or not.

Aside from that always found the Woodforde's kits (Wherry etc.) to be pretty reliable but not that unusual e.g. on a par with a well kept bitter from a pub.

Second the comment on german wiess, first belgian dubbel on the brew

 

[Rover69]

Think I need to get a bigger shed,insulated and boarded out,with electric fed in!!

 

[Rover69]

I'll add them to list kye and Stu, cheers.I do like a Wheat beer.Had a 5 litre keg of clootie dumpling from Orkney brewery over Christmas which was similar in taste to Belgian Dubbel.Kegged on day sent out and received following day,so nice and fresh.

 

[ScrumpyRam]

If there's no hand pump, I walk out. And that means every pub near me.

If you're ever allowed to travel south, you're welcome to call in the garden bar (The Mill). There's always something on tap

 

[Rover69]

Looking good scrumpyram.

 

[kelper]

If you're ever allowed to travel south, you're welcome to call in the garden bar (The Mill). There's always something on tap
View attachment 39470

can you post more photos? Looks great. Is it in a shed? Or part of the house? is it beer or cider?

 

[Pavalijo]

A pal came and tried the Presidents Sierra APA, which we both thought was good but a little sweet.
Then we tried my last bottle of Festival Razorback which had been really good when drunk in the first month after its 2+2+2, but now after another 3 months was great - my pal said “wow, if you were served that in a pub you would be REALLY chuffed”. I agreed, and that’s the one that gets my vote.

Another pal raved about the Festival New Zealand IPA. Those are the two I would do again, although I want to do a few others first.

 

[Rover69]

Thats 6 recommendations for Festival kits ,now to choose one for next brew.
Well after the Wilko Hoppy IPA the wife gave me for Crimbo.

 

[RichardM]

All the kits I've brewed have been at least as good, normally way better as I hate beer that is served too cold or too gassy. Of course, you own brews can be served as gassy and cold as you like. And the beer is consistent unlike the beer from any pub that does not get through every cask in just a few days. You won't drink stale beer at home!

You're drinking in the wrong pubs.

 

[Rover69]

Some pubs,I drank nothing but Guinness for a good few year,went to Dublin after being told i'd have the best draught Guinness ever.
Went in a pub just outside train station,worst pint of Guinness I have ever been served.And other pubs were no better than any other decent pint I had .

 

[RichK]

Thats 6 recommendations for Festival kits ,now to choose one for next brew.
Well after the Wilko Hoppy IPA the wife gave me for Crimbo.

Make it seven. If (IF) I had to do a kit tomorrow, I'd plump for one of theirs as I got some good results from theirs when I was doing kits.

 

[Rover69]

Cheers RichK.
Good response from you all.Thanks

 

[cjibbo]

I Echo festival kits as being good.

I've just moved to all grain but spent many years on and off with extract. The point made earlier that you will never get a good extract kit is nonsense.

Extract malt starts off as grain and is mashed and concentrated by professional maltsters more often than not.

The challenge with extract is ensuring they are as fresh as can be, if its sat on a shelf or warehouse for too long or stored at the wrong temp then its not going to be good, as the malt and yeast go stale.

I recommend choosing a supplier that has a good stock rotation. Fermentation temp control is important and a good yeast is very important for a clean taste.

I used https://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/beercider-kits-bruphoria-30kg-40-pints-c-1_248.html ( the dead Phoney was a nice one ).

Good Luck

 

[EveryoneKnowsADave]

...
The challenge with extract is ensuring they are as fresh as can be, if its sat on a shelf or warehouse for too long or stored at the wrong temp then its not going to be good, as the malt and yeast go stale.
...

Good Luck

I was trying to find this out. Using the kit straight away is probably the best solution but if it has to be stored for a few days, what's the best way of doing that?

 

[cjibbo]

I was trying to find this out. Using the kit straight away is probably the best solution but if it has to be stored for a few days, what's the best way of doing that?

@DavieC.

There is no need to use the kit immediately, extract kits and dried yeast have a decent shelf life. You could keep it in a cool cupboard for months so long as its within is best before date.

The challenge is when buying you don't always know how long the retailer has had the items and what condition it has been stored in. That is why I recommend a good retailer that turns over good amount of stock and understands how to store them.

Rather than getting a kit from say wilkos and run that risk i would use someone like Get er brewed or the Home Brew Company.

 

[EveryoneKnowsADave]

Makes sense @cjibbo , thanks

 

[Rover69]

I'm second fermenting hammer of Thor at moment,was in wardrobe for 6 month and who knows how long stored before that .The aroma coming off it when bottling and the colour looked great.Another week fermenting then 8 week in shed.Ive no doubts about it being a good beer.