Ultimate Brewery Classics Oktoberfest Special Beer Kit

[BigDDunc]

Has anyone tried this beer kit? I can't find anything in the reviews section.

*edit* Please can a mod move this to the right section.

 

[BigYin]

moved :thumb:

It's a two can kit, so should make a decent beer, and the description I found for it makes it sound quite appealing (as any good sales pitch should!)

Oktoberfest Special Superb rich and full bodied Oktoberfest beer with rounded smooth and rich full malt flavour. Brewed to 34 pints for a fuller body and increased alcohol to celebrate in style. The exquisite malt blend including Lager & Munich malts perfectly sum up this celebrated beer style that is topped of with the classical aroma of Hallertau hops. Full rich smooth bronze lager with a hint of sweetness & lingering full mouth feel

Go for it, and don't forget to then get a review up to help others :mrgreen:

 

[BigDDunc]

What I didn't get was the "increased" alcohol, yet says 4.9%? I would have thought ~7% for an Oktoberfest beer.

 

[BigYin]

is the kit meant to create 40 pints, and they are suggesting brewing it short to increase the ABV?

Anyway, don't get too hung up about ABV - it's all well and good having a high ABV beer, but you can enjoy a whole lot more of it, without a nasty hangover, if it's a more average ABV :thumb: :

 

[BigDDunc]

Hmm, It's not a 40 pint kit. The "specification" says this:

Kit weight :-3kg
Makes:- 36 pints / 4.55 gallons
ABV Approx:- 5%
Finishing Gravity Approx:- 1.010-1.012

But the description says better brewing short to 34 pints. I wouldn't have thought 2 pints would make that much difference to the ABV or flavour? Although I'm so new to home brewing I'm just guessing. How short would I need to brew it to turn a 36 pint 5% ABV into 7% ABV?

Thanks

 

[jared1984]

I bottled a batch of this a week or so ago. Didn't really fiddle the recipe except I did it a bit short and got I think 31 500ML bottles out of it. From start to finish its calculating at about 4.7 which seems a bit weak but can only see. It was mega hoppy and smelled brill when I first put it on, will try and get a review up when its done.

 

[jared1984]

Just cracked my first bottle as a tester (been off the drink for 3weeks) it was bottled, then kept warm inside for 10 days and has been outside for 1 month exactly today.

I'm not the best at describing but Its a copper colour which I wasn't expecting (but probably should have been) pretty much spot on to a Paulaner, I kid you not!!!! Its really really, really, really, good! At first I was disappointed but after a few swigs it clicked!
Its turned out exactly as it described - a real Munich style ale, hoppy and peppery - those hop character bottles are actually enjoyable but not overpowering as I had feared.

Only thing I would tweak is I primed 500ML with 3/4 TSP of brewing sugar but its not got much of a head, good fizz in the mouth but i'd like to try a full TSP per 500ML next time. there WILL be a next time!!!!