Toucan or should I say onecan minus a bit

[Richfarr562]

I read a couple of articles about using two cans and no additional fermentables. So I got to thinking, if I use one can and only half the suggested fermentables topped up to 16ltrs. Will i get a better taste with out some of the two can issues of bitterness?

 

[pms67]

Brewferm only recommend topping up to 12 litres for the 1 can kits I believe and that’s with some dextrose, every Brewferm kit I have made has been good so maybe that’s a more realistic amount for 1.2-1.5kg of lme?
Terrym could answer your question better but it’s a good question

 

[Graz]

Can't see why it wouldn't work. Should give more body and possibly bitterness than that which you'd get using the single can, all the sugar they suggest and topping it up to 23L.

That said I only make (premium) kits with 3kg or more of extract only adding extra sugar if it's included. Never really found a one can kit that has produced a decent result, only possible exceptions being Coopers Stout and Brewferm but then they're really the same as premium kit as most of the only make half the volume i.e. 12L instead of 23L

 

[Richfarr562]

Just made it
Wilko classic lager kit
500g of Dextrose
140g Crystal malt (steeped)
Topped up to 16ltrs og1042

 

[terrym]

Just made it
Wilko classic lager kit
500g of Dextrose
140g Crystal malt (steeped)
Topped up to 16ltrs og1042

Brewing to 16 litres has concentrated the bitterness in the can intended for 23 litres, or put another way your beer will now be about 40% more bitter than intended, which may be of concern to you given what you have said in your OP.

 

[Richfarr562]

I went with the lager kit as I guess it has a low bitterness, I will dry hop and hopefully end up with a hopped lager

 

[Slid]

Can't say I was ever overwhelmed by the bitterness of any of the kits I doubled up on - usually they would have been labelled as "lager" or "stout".
Dry hopping a lager kit gets you a fairly pleasantly aromatic pale ale - worth the effort and expense of the dry hop.

 

[Sandimas]

Can you elaborate on what you are trying to achieve?

Like Slid I've never found kits particularly bitter, in fact quite the opposite. You may need to manage your expectations on what can be achieved with a kit, they are so much better these days than they were, but they are still only pre-hopped pasteaurised malt extract, you will get better results from Extract or AG brewing with malt and hops.

 

[Richfarr562]

Darrellm. I had read a couple of articles about using two tins of a one kit and then not adding sugar, they suggested that you get an improved taste and less like homebrew. I thought that using a one tin kit with half the fermentables and less water might give an improved taste. I choose the lager kit a because I had it and 2 the possible issue of bitterness I gues the answer to your question is an improved beer

 

[Richfarr562]

Darrellm unfortunately I don't have the space, so for now I am stuck with tinkering with kits

 

[Sandimas]

As Slid says, dry hopping a lager can help a lot - 30g of Saaz or Hallertau. One of the best kits I made was Coopers Australian Lager hopped this way.

If you like hoppy IPA-stle beers, the Tiny Rebel Cwtch kit is one of the best out there and comes with hops, can all be made up in the FV and produces a surprisingly good beer.