Woodfordes Headcracker- Tips?

brookenstein · Jan 30, 2013

Afternoon, getting ready for my second brew, bought myself this kit, now it says it makes 24 pints (13 litres ), just wondering if there's any way of increasing the yield? I don't mind losing some of the ABV, but would like to keep the flavour ( been told it's very tasty, along the lines of King Goblin) any help greatly appreciated, Wayne.

carl_saint · Jan 30, 2013

You can make it to any length you like but at the loss of ABV. Head cracker is all about the strength and flavour so if you wanna increase the volume I wouldn't go above say 16L. That should give you close to 30 pints and prob bring the ABV to around 6%.

I wouldn't suggest adding any extra DME/Sugar to this as your more than likely gonna spoil the flavour!

brookenstein · Jan 30, 2013

Excellent information, I'd be happy with a 30 pint yield, thanks, I'll be brewing up over the weekend, Wayne

mickthetrick · Jan 31, 2013

if you have not tried it then i strongly suggest you make it to the kit instructions of 24pts. don't think about drinking it for a good few months as it does take time to come good.
then after that consider tweaking it but im pretty sure you wont want to. its a really nice drink made to the instructions believe me. :thumb:

scotttc · Jan 31, 2013

I made two kits in one 25l batch so that i had a full barrel. A bit more expensive than I'd normally fork out but it was well worth it, a great pint! Adding the two yeast sachets wasn't such a good idea.....

brookenstein · Apr 21, 2013

First pint today,

Used a kilo of Muntons spray malt light, transferred to a PV with 100g of brew sugar syrup, fv time was 16 days, pv was 2 weeks warm and then left in the pub under the stairs until today. Taste is very nice, sort of a halfway hobgoblin / Rev James, good mouth feel and, thanks to Campden tablets, no tang :-)
Top tip - use a thin smear of Vaseline around the edge of the FV to get an uber tight seal and push excess pressure up the airlock. This was only my second brew, but thanks to the advice on here the difference between my first and second brew is massive, thanks.