Wilko Geordie lager kit

[Flan]

I plan on doing a cheap kit brew for a golf trip away with the lads in August so i picked up a couple of the wilko’s geordie lager kits, now would there be a problem using both packs of malt in one brew, that would be 3kg of kit malt instead of 1.5kg. Would this make a terrible tasting beer and would i need extra yeast adding.

 

[Random Badger]

Depends what result you want. Using two cans in one brew will give the beer a lot more body and flavour. Are you going to add sugar? If you still add (say) 1kg of sugar with 2 cans it will be strong (7% or more) as well as tasty. So that's what I would do. :-) One packet of yeast should do it, but obviously pitching both should get it off to a good start.

 

[Random Badger]

Actually this video seems to contain the information you need:

 

[trummy]

You might as well have bought a good high end kit in the first place and then you could be sure the balance would be right

 

[Flan]

Actually this video seems to contain the information you need:

Thanks badger that’s just what i was looking for, I’ll add 500g of brewing sugar and see what the OG is from there and decide if it needs any more sugar. Just wondering if i pitch the 2 yeast would it cause any taste or flavour problems.

 

[Flan]

You might as well have bought a good high end kit in the first place and then you could be sure the balance would be right

I know but where’s the fun in that.

 

[obscure]

Thanks badger that’s just what i was looking for, I’ll add 500g of brewing sugar and see what the OG is from there and decide if it needs any more sugar. Just wondering if i pitch the 2 yeast would it cause any taste or flavour problems.

With regards to the yeast honestly it would probably improve it, kits especially one can kits I find our often pretty stingy with the yeast. While I know that over pitching is meant to be a thing I regularly do 9-10L batches and pitch a full 11g sachet of yeast with no ill effect (that I can detect at any rate).

 

[Slid]

Depends what result you want. Using two cans in one brew will give the beer a lot more body and flavour. Are you going to add sugar? If you still add (say) 1kg of sugar with 2 cans it will be strong (7% or more) as well as tasty. So that's what I would do. :-) One packet of yeast should do it, but obviously pitching both should get it off to a good start.

Two cans, 1kg sugar brew to 25L, both yeast packs. Be great for its purpose! After 10 weeks or so, it should be just the job chilled.

 

[Flan]

Two cans, 1kg sugar brew to 25L, both yeast packs. Be great for its purpose! After 10 weeks or so, it should be just the job chilled.

sounds just the job, cheers slid

 

[clib]

You'll be doubling the bitterness, that's your only real issue. But I bet the kit bitterness is very low tbh.

 

[Random Badger]

You'll be doubling the bitterness, that's your only real issue. But I bet the kit bitterness is very low tbh.

Yeah but no but.

Yes there will be increased bitterness, but there should also be more body and sweetness from the extra malt (and more alcohol kick) to balance it out, so it won't be the same as simply doubling the bitterness of the original kit in isolation.

 

[Flan]

Ok an update on this kit, i used 2 cans of malt and 1kg of sugar and the OG was 1,055 i rehydrated both sachets of yeast and pitched at 22°, brew fridge was set at 22.5° and after a week bubbling has stopped, gravity reading at present is 1,012 so not sure if fermentation has stalled or the reading is a bit high because of the extra non fermentables (2 cans of malt instead of 1) I’ve given it a little stir to see if it gets going again but ill leave it the full 2 weeks to ferment anyway. Looks like lager and tastes like lager, lots of flavour.

 

[Arcs]

I plan on doing a cheap kit brew for a golf trip away with the lads in August so i picked up a couple of the wilko’s geordie lager kits, now would there be a problem using both packs of malt in one brew, that would be 3kg of kit malt instead of 1.5kg. Would this make a terrible tasting beer and would i need extra yeast adding.

Pirate Pete swears by Toucan's as he calls em. I'd still go for some light DME for body - the amount though would also depend on how strong you want it =)

 

[Random Badger]

Sounds as though it's going well. My Toucan stout seems to have stopped at 1014, but I will give it the full two weeks in the fermenter to be sure.

 

[Kingtj64]

Ok an update on this kit, i used 2 cans of malt and 1kg of sugar and the OG was 1,055 i rehydrated both sachets of yeast and pitched at 22°, brew fridge was set at 22.5° and after a week bubbling has stopped, gravity reading at present is 1,012 so not sure if fermentation has stalled or the reading is a bit high because of the extra non fermentables (2 cans of malt instead of 1) I’ve given it a little stir to see if it gets going again but ill leave it the full 2 weeks to ferment anyway. Looks like lager and tastes like lager, lots of flavour.

Hi Flan, how did this turn out ?
Might try it next as haven't done a lager for a while & it's time for another brew as brew fridge is empty

 

[Flan]

Hi Flan, how did this turn out ?
Might try it next as haven't done a lager for a while & it's time for another brew as brew fridge is empty

FG ended up at 1009 bringing it in at around 6%. At the moment it’s in secondary in my fridge at 2° I’ll be bottling it this week and leaving it for a month to condition, I’ve had a taste and it tastes pretty good lots of flavour even without carbonation. I did this as a bit of an experiment to see how doubling up on 1 can kits turn out not as a money saving exercise. If I see any cheap 1 can kits on offer anywhere I’ll definitely do it again.

 

[Newbrewer1]

Hi all
I did this as my first home brew
Just opened first few bottles and it’s ok, I use the kit plus 1kg of brewing sugar, made 23L
I did brew at 24-30degrees (started my first brew in the middle of a heat wave)
Bottle Conditioned for 14days
Result:
Its a drinkable larger
It’s does have a tangy fruity aftertaste.

Wondering if anyone has used this kit before and noticed a tangy taste?
The back of the pack describes the larger taste a “tangy continental taste” (whatever that means) or have I brewed at a too high temperature and got come acetylaldehydes and higher alcohols in my beer?