Should i just bin my hydrometer?

[Rodcx500z]

I learned fairly quickly first thing to do with a kit is, 1 the size ie 23L then throw the instructions in the bin, 2 dont use sugar or enhancer use straight DME color of your choice, 3 ditch the yeast,4 brew it 2l short pitch the yeast of your choice lid on leave for 2 weeks, 5 when it's ready keg or bottle, i made many a fine brew this way but give the instructions to the dog or bin there is no way you can do a kit in 21 days, they just want you to buy more kits

 

[fury_tea]

If I do a kit beer I save the kit yeast for my 10 litre batches or when I have 2 I pitch both. I will say I rarely use them as intended though, but use them as a shortcut/time saver and treat them as a pre-bittered LME (which is what they are, essentially).

As @Rodcx500z says brew it short (I always do 20L so it can go in a corny keg) and don't bother with enhancer use LME/DME (or even a stock pot mini mash if you are feeling adventurous!).

Also I dry hop them and have even turned a cheap lager kit into a milk stout

The main thing is to have fun with it I think, and don't bin your hydrometer!

 

[MashBag]

Do people still use them then

 

[Agentgonzo]

Do people still use them then

You should start a petition to change what HMRC insist people use when commercially brewing beer.

 

[MashBag]

Never catch on. Just like airlocks!

 

[peebee]

@MashBag! You can't say words like "***locks" on this forum ... The Moderators will get upset.

(Okay, what d'you want ... What you mean "put yer glasses on"? ... If I could find you, I'd wrap 'em round your neck ... )




And @Agentgonzo ... I already have a petition insisting on the HMRC forcing the use of Pyknometers on commercial brewers. I don't want any rival campaign distracting from that.

 

[Paulus]

St Peters kits are made by Muntons, as are the Woodfordes kits.

Beer enhancers usually contain at least some malt extract but not always. Coopers 1 is brewing sugar and maltodextrin. A ridiculous product. Just buy DME and if you want to cut it with sugar just buy some sugar (you could even buy some nice brown sugar and still save money).

Something else to be aware of is the fact that fermenters can sometimes be off in terms of their measurement markings. 23 litres in my fermenter is significantly less liquid than the 23 litre marking down the side. It's a perfectly good fermenter in other ways but a bit ridiculous that they can't get a simple detail like this right! Variations in the accuracy of OGs might be influenced a bit by the accuracy of these markings, with people adding too much water. Always worth checking how accurate your fermenter is and if necessary adding your own markings.

You are right about the level markings, after a few kits I measured out the water and put my own markings on my fermenter, then used the water for a brew the next day (waste not etc.). I only have markings for 23, 22, 20, 16 and 12 and 9 as they are the only volumes that matter in my kits.