Using a kit to do an extract brew ??

[Pawlo7671]

I was in wilko's today looking at the homebrew section, they have cervaza kits for £9.00 each.
Don't get me wrong here, cervaza's are great on a hot day but useless the rest of the time as ( just IMHO) they are pretty tasteless and void of any mouthfeel, but as LME is hard to come by could such a kit be used instead in making up an extract beer ? I normally use DME but again I have to order it, I could buy 2 cervaza's and do a mini mash with some roasted malts, boil, throw in some hops and bingo ! Might try it what do you think ?

 

[lukehgriffiths]

Plenty do this. Presume cans are hopped so you'd only need late and or dry hops. You could also steep some grains to add flavor and use better yeast as those supplied in kits can be poor or old.

 

[RobWalker]

when the great tesco gold rush was on, I saw it that way. most cheap kits are basically light malt and isometrized hop extract, so what you've got is basically a blank canvas. I added steeped malts and hopped some too.

I dont think it would be that financially successful to be honest - with BKE (which I'd recommend over 1kg sugar any day,) it's what, £12? then you gotta buy hops, malts, maybe a yeast...how much are you paying for DME? I get mine for £2.29/500g at the LHBS. One to think about at least.

But then, there's no reason why it couldn't work at all. Have a look at the style you are brewing for what ingredients to expect. Cerveza will be light malt and around 10 IBU, so build on that. :

 

[lukehgriffiths]

Where do you get DME at that price?

 

[RobWalker]

My local (dee jays) in rubbery. Worcs hop shop sell it for 4 quid a kilo to and they're online only. I'm sure homebrew company is relatively cheap too - dont pay for muntons etc, its a right rip off!