Still using kits

[ncosh]

Hi folks,

I've been using the Mr Beer beer kits as I'm still trying to get my hand into home brewing and learning the basics, but their selection is tiny and I'd like to try other beer types.

I don't have a lot of room and have a small fermenting vessel (15ltr), but a lot of the kits make 23ltr and above. Is it ok to split a kit and store the remainder in the fridge until I bottle the first batch?

Cheers for any help!

 

[terrym]

Some kits come as two cans e.g. Wherry so there is no reason why you couldn't brew one can only made up to 12.5 litres which would solve your problem.
Alternatively you could buy 1.5kg one cans and reduce the amount of extras you add so that the brew volume fits in your FV. There are many 1.5kg kits available including Wilko, Geordie, Youngs Harvest etc

 

[Neil Whittaker]

One of the main issues you will have is a massive risk of infection in the stored wort.
I think a 25Lr fermentation vessel from wilko for £10 is going to be a great investment.
It is still open for essentials too.

 

[MickDundee]

I think a 25Lr fermentation vessel from wilko for £10 is going to be a great investment.
It is still open for essentials too.

This. I have a 15L fermenter which I only use for weighing grain and it’s just the same diameter as a standard 23L bucket but about 75% of the height.

 

[chuffer]

IIRC the St Peters kits came in two cans (the ruby one did anyway) so you could just do a half batch.

 

[dwhite60]

Moving from kits to formulating your own recipes using extract and hops isn't a big deal. This way you can control your batch size. You can buy dry malt extract, use what you need and store the rest without problems. Hops the same way. If you use it quickly splitting a pack of yeast works too.

Do a Google search for extract beer recipes. Find something simple and cook it up. If it's a 23 liter recipe and you want to make 11.5 just reduce everything fifty percent.

This is fairly simple.
https://beersmithrecipes.com/viewrecipe/1428319/smash-cream-ale

 

[ncosh]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will just buy a larger FV like the one from Wilko and maybe have a go at using dry malt extracts/hops/yeast. Ye only gain from trying and learning from mistakes I guess!

Cheers!

 

[Neil Whittaker]

and youtube........

 

[dwhite60]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will just buy a larger FV like the one from Wilko and maybe have a go at using dry malt extracts/hops/yeast. Ye only gain from trying and learning from mistakes I guess!

Cheers!

Seems to be a very helpful bunch of people here. Only stupid question is the one not asked.

Happy brewing!

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Welcome Ncosh
I'm a all grain brewer but have just ordered a St. Peter Stout kit which is 2 cans. I'm not that keen on stout but my wife likes chocolate stout. So I will use one can with cocoa nibs and Lactose in a 10 litre FV. I will store the other can until needed.

 

[crowcrow]

I only did it a couple of times, but the first 2 kits I did I split in 3 (so made 6 brews out of 2 kits).

I kept it in the tin can in the fridge with cling film on top, and used it up within a month. No issues, no infections.

I might have been lucky but don't forget people brew like this in other countries...

 

[kelper]

I made a chocolate stout thinking it referred to the malt's colour! Recipe included real chocolate nibs. But we both enjoyed the result and I don't like stout! It

 

[Cheyne_brewer]

What I'd do is to get whatever 1.7/1.8kg kit you can lay hands on in these dark times (if you have a nearby Wilkinsons with brew dept you are lucky) and try making up to 15L rather than 23L and don't add any extra sugars until you've taken a hydrometer reading. The increase in hop bitterness should be balanced by the additional body and malt sweetness. I've got a Wilko Artisan Bitter sitting waiting - I quite fancy giving it this treatment.

Paul.