Which Ale Is Best??????

[hansybebes]

Hi, i was just after a bit of advice please.........I dont have much interest in ale (sorry ), but i really want to get one going for my dad who loves real ale. I know he likes doombar and i am sure he has mentioned IPA (think thats it??). He isnt too fussy and tries MANY whenever we go anywhere!!

Please can someone recommend some ideas, ideally nothing toooooooo difficult as i wont know what i am looking for in taste when i 'try' it.

Any help would be great. Thank you :thumb: :

Hannah

 

[phettebs]

Are you doing kits or AG?

Timothy Taylor's Landlord is a nice pint.

 

[hansybebes]

Sorry, i should have said.....Kits. I don't know what AG is

 

[BIGJIM72]

Can't go wrong with a Woodefordes Wherry

 

[hansybebes]

ideal thats 1 then.....thank you

 

[johnnyh]

Yep, for a kit the Wherry is a safe bet. Just dont rush it through

 

[sam.k]

+2 Wherry is always a winner

 

[Rukula]

It depends, really. There are loads of different ales, if you are used to drinking pilsners and lagers, you may want to try a Pale Ale or an India Pale Ale.

I really really like dark and black ales, and the Wherry kit is a good place to start. I recommend taking a look at Coopers Stout, dark ale and IPA as well.

 

[hansybebes]

Looking like a wherry then :

It's for my dad and he doesnt drink lager but thanks

 

[Scott]

Got to agree with the Wherry, a good quality kit with great results when left for a couple of months!

 

[rich27500]

If he likes doombar he should like wherry. Pretty much the go to kit in the two can premium kit world.

 

[Ian...]

If he likes doombar he should like wherry. Pretty much the go to kit in the two can premium kit world.

Another one that gets excellent reviews (never read a bad comment about it) is St Peters Red Ruby Ale, my personal favourite.

 

[rich27500]

Never tried it ian but I did try their IPA and didn't like it as much. I believe the St. Peter's and woodfordes kits are all made by munton's in reality.

 

[warnie]

If you can wait a few months then yes do the wherry, but if you're looking to knock something up quite quick then go for a lighter beer like an IPA as they tend to need less time maturing to become clear and drinkable, in my admittedly short experience!

 

[Cononthebarber]

I agree with everyone else here, Wherry is the best kit I've made, and I think its reduced in Wilkos at the minute for £17 as well so even better! :thumb:

 

[hansybebes]

I think I will do the wherry then as I can wait :)

Thanks for all of the advice. It's much appreciated :

 

[dodsi]

If you are making a wherry, brew short to 20l, use spring water and upgrade the yeast to safale s04. All in all about £5 extra in costs but makes an ok beer into a nice beer.

 

[Rukula]

If you are making a wherry, brew short to 20l, use spring water and upgrade the yeast to safale s04. All in all about £5 extra in costs but makes an ok beer into a nice beer.

Indeed. Its always a good tip to replace the yeast included in the kit. S04 is brilliant

And try to tap the beer into glass bottles, because they are way better for aging. I tapped a wherry kit into both regular plastic PET bottles and glass bottles. I decided to let them age for a while. The beer in the plastic bottles are almost flat now, while the ones in glass has the perfect amount of fizz...

 

[hansybebes]

That's great. I am guessing that my LHBS will sell this yeast? I will be bottling into 500ml glass Amber bottles and had planned to use 1tsp of sugar in each.

 

[ryanshelton]

Personally I wouldnt use 1 tsp per 500ml. I used the equivilant of half tsp in my wherry and I find it to fizzy for my liking.
Its all down to personal taste though :thumb: