Using 2x1can kits

[Tony dodds]

I've got 2 wilko hoppy copper bitter kits that I intend brewing as 1 batch. If I add a kilo of sugar would this affect flavour or simply bump up the ABV?
Also if I mixed a can of bitter with a can of stout kit would I get a decent porter? Thank you

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

The Wilko one can kits are designed to be used with unhopped malt extract or sugar. The can contains the correct amount of hop bitterness required for the full 23 litres. If you use two cans in 23 litres you then have twice the amount of bitterness which could make the beer far too bitter. I made the mistake once of using hopped DME in a one can kit thinking it would add extra hop aroma and flavour but it just made it extra bitter, to the point it went down the drain.

 

[Tony dodds]

The Wilko one can kits are designed to be used with unhopped malt extract or sugar. The can contains the correct amount of hop bitterness required for the full 23 litres. If you use two cans in 23 litres you then have twice the amount of bitterness which could make the beer far too bitter. I made the mistake once of using hopped DME in a one can kit thinking it would add extra hop aroma and flavour but it just made it extra bitter, to the point it went down the drain.

Cheers mate. The wilkos one can kits I've done have been very wishy washy and tasteless so maybe double bitterness would be a bonus?

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

Cheers mate. The wilkos one can kits I've done have been very wishy washy and tasteless so maybe double bitterness would be a bonus?

Probably better to use unhopped DME

 

[Tony dodds]

Probably better to use unhopped DME

I got the two kits for a tenner so I've got little to lose by trying

 

[Rodcx500z]

Use one tin and 1kg medium dme and 500g golden syrup after 10 days dry hop with 30g of ekg for 4 days then cold crash for 3 days take a reading, if ready bottle or keg

 

[terrym]

Cheers mate. The wilkos one can kits I've done have been very wishy washy and tasteless so maybe double bitterness would be a bonus?

The reason they are as you describe is that they are cheap for a reason i.e. not really enough malt. If you want to improve them brew short say 20 litres and use more malt than sugar as a top up. In my view 1.5kg kits are a throw back to the 1980s when nearly all kits came like that. Nowadays there is better out there for not much more cost with a disproportionate improvement in quality.

 

[Tony dodds]

The reason they are as you describe is that they are cheap for a reason i.e. not really enough malt. If you want to improve them brew short say 20 litres and use more malt than sugar as a top up. In my view 1.5kg kits are a throw back to the 1980s when nearly all kits came like that. Nowadays there is better out there for not much more cost with a disproportionate improvement in quality.

Yes I understand that. But I got them for a fiver each so worth a go

 

[terrym]

Yes I understand that. But I got them for a fiver each so worth a go

Whether its £5 or £12 the end product will still taste the same.
I would rather spend more on a beer and produce something that I enjoyed rather than something that was
"very wishy washy and tasteless" .
Each to their own though.

 

[Tony dodds]

Whether its £5 or £12 the end product will still taste the same.
I would rather spend more on a beer and produce something that I enjoyed rather than something that was
"very wishy washy and tasteless" .
Each to their own though.

That's my point, doubling up should give flavour, body and head retention in theory

 

[AMyd666]

Tony, 2 cans and a kilo will be strong, one and a stout will be a bit lighter, but bitter. Whichever, you're up for it, so just do it (maybe to 25l just in case it's too bitter) and report back. Sometimes experiments prove good and like you say it was a tenner- no going back!
Maybe expect a long conditioning time though to smooth out any harshness. I added hopped DME to a can and it had an unpleasant back of the tongue bitterness that needed ages to mellow.
Conversely, listen to Terrym 4 posts back.

 

[Tony dodds]

Tony, 2 cans and a kilo will be strong, one and a stout will be a bit lighter, but bitter. Whichever, you're up for it, so just do it (maybe to 25l just in case it's too bitter) and report back. Sometimes experiments prove good and like you say it was a tenner- no going back!
Maybe expect a long conditioning time though to smooth out any harshness. I added hopped DME to a can and it had an unpleasant back of the tongue bitterness that needed ages to mellow.
Conversely, listen to Terrym 4 posts back.

I've gone 2x tins of hoppy copper and 500g of sugar. The raw wort tastes promising. I've got some east Kent goldings and fuggles lying around so I'll dry hop it with those. Og was 1.052. I'll update as and when. Thanks for the advice and encouragement

 

[terrym]

@Tony dodds
I'm interested to know why you ignored all the advice you were given (and not just from me)?
There's not a lot of point asking a question (in this case the same in two separate threads), people taking the time and trouble to answer your question and give you the benefit of their experience, then completely ignore it all and do what you going to do in the first place!
Bizarre

 

[Tony dodds]

@Tony dodds
I'm interested to know why you ignored all the advice you were given (and not just from me)?
There's not a lot of point asking a question (in this case the same in two separate threads), people taking the time and trouble to answer your question and give you the benefit of their experience, then completely ignore it all and do what you going to do in the first place!
Bizarre

As you can see I had conflicting advice

 

[terrym]

As you can see I had conflicting advice

Certainly member's words were different, but the overall message was the same.

 

[Tony dodds]

I made a decision based on advice from here and from a friend who is a professional head brewer. Terribly sorry to offend you mate

 

[Drunkula]

one can kits I've done have been very wishy washy and tasteless so maybe double bitterness would be a bonus?

I've brewed cans of Geordie Bitter down to 2 gallons and they were fine. A few others, too. None of them were even as bitter as a bottle of Banks's Bitter which I'm drinking right now on the drive home.

 

[Tony dodds]

I've brewed cans of Geordie Bitter down to 2 gallons and they were fine. A few others, too. None of them were even as bitter as a bottle of Banks's Bitter which I'm drinking right now on the drive home.

Ha ha ha ha