Tasteless Lager

[PTV]

Hello,

Bottled my 3rd kit a week ago. It’s an UBC German Pilsner. Followed the instructions as per. I’ve only had it in the bottles for a week at room temperature. Opened one just out of curiosity, it was very fizzy. So much so it stirred up the sediment at the bottom right through the bottle. I had a taste and it was very tasteless. Now, I know I’ve not left it very long, the plan is to leave it another few weeks. When I tried my previous kits at this stage they were not as fizzy but had more taste. I’m hoping it’s just a case of trying it too early. It’s also cleared up very quickly.

 

[Portreath]

I think it should be put down for a min of 6 weeks, I'd be inclined to leave it go a bit longer than 6 myself.

 

[PTV]

Oh yeah I’ll give it more time. I just tried it at the same stage with 2 previous kits from the same company and this one was just so different I thought I’d ask

 

[Clint]

Different beers can be ready sooner than others.

 

[Drunkula]

It's a lager kit. They're ****. They are tasteless by nature. It's like learning to cook and making rice cakes.

 

[Portreath]

@Drunkula does have a point. Kit lagers are often quite weak bodied, and often insipid at the best of times.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

It's a lager kit. They're ****. They are tasteless by nature. It's like learning to cook and making rice cakes.

@Drunkula does have a point. Kit lagers are often quite weak bodied, and often insipid at the best of times.

Any advice on a lager like kit he may enjoy?

 

[Clint]

Wilko cervesa isn't bad...not a true lager but lagerish...

 

[terrym]

@PTV
I'm afraid many kit lagers are a bit anaemic from what I understand. But then many lagers are, especially the rubbish you get served from a shiny tap in most UK pubs.
And the most probable reason your lager is fizzy is because you have used a lot of priming sugar as required by the style and/or it hadn't finished fermenting when you bottled it.
I don't normally drink lager but do make up the Coopers European lager kit. However I ferment it at about 13*C add crystal malt to give it a little body and add a hop tea which then all goes into the FV after the steep . I have tried Motueka, Saaz and Hallertau hops but I think the one best suited is Hallertau. However this kit does need about 12 weeks before it properly comes good although you can drink it earlier.
Kit reviews are here including some lagers
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/beer-kit-reviews-a-z.77650/

 

[Covrich]

Sadly I have to agree with a lot of the above, I never made a kit lager but my Dad did and a few were bland, the best one I can remember which he liked was the coopers cerveca.. he used to use coopers beer enhancer with it it was certainly drinkable but not amazing.

He still has one left in the attic, I keep thinking I should knock it together with a partial mash and some noble hops.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Wilko cervesa isn't bad...not a true lager but lagerish...

Thats what i meant earlier Clint though i didn't explain myself well :thumba:

There must be decent beer kits out there that are similar to lager but much better.

 

[Ghillie]

IMO, kits will never replicate something you can make yourself or buy in the shop.

@Drunkula if right in what he says. You'll be hard pressed to make any kit beer, especially a lager kit beer, taste nice.

 

[keat64]

Personally, I find all lager tasteless.

I nick named it fizzy p1$$

 

[phildo79]

If you can get your hands on a Toheey's Extra Dry lager kit, you could try that one next. IMO, it's one of the better lagers but quite difficult to source due to it being from Australia.

 

[IainM]

Lager is Bear Grylls' second favourite drink.

 

[Slid]

I quite liked the old Green Topped Coopers Lager kit, although it was my first "new" kit when I returned to HB 5 years or so ago. It seemed to me similar / marginally superior to the cheap 250ml bottled supermarket own-brand stuff (brewed in Northern France) I had drunk for many years. Always used 500g DME and 1kg sugar to 25L.

I found the Wilko Lagers Ok but best doubled up to total of 3kg LME plus sugar. These sort of kits make OK-ish beer that is bland enough to be drinkable at 6 weeks and not that bad at 12. I added blackberries a couple of times and that gave it a nice copper sort of colour. You can add hops, as TerryM suggests, but with using ale yeast, it will always be a sort of pale ale and not a lager.

 

[PTV]

Thought I would re-visit this thread.

I've just started another brew of this kit, ready for Xmas.

I found that when I had left this UBC brew for another 6 weeks, it was perfect. I really enjoyed it.

 

[the_quick]

I have done MJ Pils (Czech Pilsner), lagered for 2 months and it was really good ! Much better than any lager you can buy in supermarket !

 

[Arcs]

This thread does not sound promising for my win I take good note at TerryM's advice and will consider it in a few months when I get round to making an MOY lager hmmm I enjoyed reading this, not a lager fan myself but duty calls

 

[Grealish]

Tasteless lager is a tautology.