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Links to Kit Reviews - Thinking of trying something new?

Started by LordEoin, September 23, 2013, 11:52:22 PM

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LordEoin

There are a shedload of great kit reviews on here, so here's a list of different reviews to act as an 'index'.
Personally, if I'm going to do a quick kit I'd gravitate towards Coopers kits as they're reliable and tasty, and I'd generally only venture to a different brand after seeing a review or wanting to review something new.
So I figured there are probably more out there like me who have found a comfort zone, and a review list might help get some information out there.

          Beer Kits
  • Brupaks Brewer's Choice, Premium Lager, by Garry - Click Here
  • Brupaks Brewer's Choice Ultimate, Traditional IPA, by LordEoin - Click Here
  • Brupaks Brewer's Choice Ultimate, Czech Pilsner, by LordEoin - Click Here
  • Brupaks Brewer's Choice Ultimate, Scottish 80 Shilling, by Garry - Click Here
  • Coopers English Bitter, by LordEoin - Click Here
  • Coopers European Lager, by BitterPil - Click here
  • Finlandia Premium Lager 1.5kg, by LordEoin - Click Here
  • Bulldog Triple Tykes Special Export Ale 4kg, by Garry - Click Here
  • Bulldog Triple Tykes Northern Export Ale 4kg, by Thomo - Click Here
  • Bulldog Brews Pennine Peak Yorkshire Bitter 3.3 Kg Beer Kit, by DrowningManatee - Click Here
  • Bulldog Brews Evil Dog Double IPA Kit, by Dunkel - Click Here
  • Brewers Spring Pilsner Liquid Wort kit, by DrowningManatee - Click Here
  • St. Peter's Cream Stout 3kg, by Garry - Click Here
  • Festival Razorback IPA 3.6kg, by Benji - Click Here
  • The Craft Range Irish Stout, by LordEoin - Click Here
  • The Craft Range IPA, by FishJam, Click Here
  • The Craft Range Blonde Lager, by Chris - Click Here
  • The Craft Range Citra American Pale Ale - Click here
  • Brewferm Mini-Keg starter kit, by Molc - Click Here
  • Young's American IPA, Click Here
  • Young's New World Belgian Saison, Click Here

    Extract & All Grain Beer Kits
  • True Batch Brew AllGrain Porter (1gallon with equipment), by Brian - Click Here
  • True Batch Brew AllGrain Pale Ale (1gallon with equipment), by Motorbikeman - Click Here
  • HBC Full Extract Irish Stout, by DrowningManatee - Click Here
  • HBC Full Extract American Pale Ale, by Damo Click Here
  • HBC Full Extract American Brown Ale, by Garry - Click Here
  • HBC Full Extract Blonde Ale, by Chris - Click Here
  • HBC Full Extract Irish red ale, by LordEoin - Click Here
  • HBC All Grain Mash Kit Premium Pilsner, by Brenmurph - Click Here
  • HBC All Grain Mash Kit Bavarian Hefeweizen, by Pob - Click Here
  • HBC All Grain Mash Kit Irish Stout, by Irish_goat - Click Click Here
  • HBC All Grain Mash Kit American Pale Ale, by Jacob - Click Here
  • HBC All Grain Mash Kit Apollo IPA, by Partridge9 - Click Here
  • Brupaks Craftsman Extract, London Bitter (with 3kg LME), by Garry - Click Here
  • Brupaks Allgrain Mashkit, London Bitter (with Pre Crushed Grain), by LordEoin - Click Here
  • Brupaks Allgrain Mashkit, Irish Stout (with Pre Crushed Grain), by Delzep - Click Here
  • GetErBrewed Creamy stout Extract Kit, by Molc - Click Here
  • GetErBrewed Proper English IPA Mash Kit, by Quiet_Man - Click Here

    Cider Kits
  • Geterbrewed 20L Locally Sourced Cider Juice, by Tube - Click Here
  • Prestige Powdered Apple Cider 23liter, by Damofto - Click Here
  • The Craft Range Mixed Fruit Cider, by shiny - Click Here
  • The Craft Range Raspberry & Lime Cider, by Jacob - Click Here
  • The Craft Range Cherry Cider, by Rossa - Click Here]
  • The Craft Range Ice Cool Apple Cider, by Will_D - Click here

    Wine Kits
  • Muntons 6 Bottle Country Wine Chardonnay, Pob - Click Here
  • Muntons 6 Bottle Country Wine Elderberry, Damo - Click Here
  • Muntons 6 Bottle Country Wine Strawberry, LordEoin - Click Here
  • Muntons 6 Bottle Country Wine Elderflower, Will_D - Click Here
  • Sadler's Reserve Merlot/Shiraz 12 bottle kit with equipment, by LordEoin - Click Here
  • Sadler's Reserve House Red 30 bottle kit, by Shiny - Click Here
  • Sadler's Reserve Pinot Grigio 30 bottle kit, by Marcuspd - Click Here
  • Sadler's Reserve Pinot Grigio Rosé, 30 bottle kit, by Dodge - Click Here
  • Sadler's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (white) 30 bottle kit, by Dunkel - Click Here
    [/quote]

Garry

Good idea.

Are hacked kits allowed? I'm thinking of the oatmeal coopers stout one I did, when it's finished of course?

Will_D

September 24, 2013, 08:13:14 AM #2 Last Edit: September 24, 2013, 11:43:53 AM by LordEoin
Great work Eoin!

@Garry: I would say no. Lets keep this simple and not too long. This is meant for new-commers or brewers who fancy doing one of the much more expensive kits.

If we allowed hacks then each kit entry could multiply so that there would be too many reviews!

By all means start a "hacked kit thread"

After all I have been banging on for ages about having some decent structures to our data particularly in the recipe area!

I would consider "kit reviews" as the same as "Great AG recipes" in that its a collection of recipes and not "long threads: much commented on recipe suggestions"

<note. sorry, I hit modify instead of quote. reinstated original post. LordEoin>
Remember: The Nationals are just round the corner - time to get brewing

Garry

@Will, I understand. A hacked kit is more of a recipe than a review.

irish_goat

Good idea Eoin.

I think for hacked kits maybe start threads based on how you are hacking them.

e.g.

"How to add hops to a kit"
"How to add coffee to a kit"

The thread can then be about the process involved but wouldn't necessarily need to focus on one particular brand of kit.

LordEoin

I don't see a problem with minor alterations to kits though.

for example,
'here is my review and by the way I will add 150G carapils because I like it'
'here is my review, i'll be dryhopping the hell out of this because  it smells like ass'

Otherwise eventually people will get bored of reviewing  standard kits and having a large supply of pretty ordinary beer.

Will_D

If we review a kit it should be unhacked especially if its a free commercial one.

Some people will read a review, Read that you made great beer from it. Unfortunately as they don't know there Carapils from their Fuggles they don't addd anything and then are disapointed that their beer is nowt like yours.

Its like reviewing a small family car: "For a small family car the performance is amazing 0 - 60 in 2.9secs Max speed 250 mph!

Oh and by the way I replaced the engine with one from a spare Ferrari I had in the shed

Sorry but that is how I see it.
Remember: The Nationals are just round the corner - time to get brewing

LordEoin

September 24, 2013, 10:56:40 AM #7 Last Edit: September 24, 2013, 11:24:00 AM by LordEoin
For free kits, fair enough.
Just remember that most kits brewed are not free.

Its more like reviewing a small family car: "For a small family car the performance is amazing but the tyres were brutal so I had to change them all. It now no longer skids dangerously and it's a great car."

TheSumOfAllBeers

Quote from: Will_D on September 24, 2013, 08:13:14 AM
@Garry: I would say no. Lets keep this simple and not too long. This is meant for new-commers or brewers who fancy doing one of the much more expensive kits.

If we allowed hacks then each kit entry could multiply so that there would be too many reviews!

Kit hacks can go in follow up comments in the kit review thread?

LordEoin

September 24, 2013, 11:44:07 AM #9 Last Edit: September 24, 2013, 11:58:15 AM by LordEoin
QuoteThis is meant for new-commers or brewers who fancy doing one of the much more expensive kits.
kind of... but also for people who just want to know about a kit before buying it.
It doesn't have to be an expensive kit or a beginner.

For example, Finlandia Kits were pretty forgotten about until a few were reviewed and hacked. many people would have seen them as too cheap to be any good. But now their traditional ale and dark ale are a favorite in my kitchen and regularly sold out.
Oddly enough, there are no reviews of the Cooper Irish Stout kit but if someone wanted to use something like molasses or brown sugar that'd be fine in my opinion.

However, there is a pretty fine line between hacking the crap out of a kit or adding a minor hack to improve a product.
Lets just run with it as it is, minor hacks are acceptable provided it's educational and there's a reason behind it, and if the publishing team want to condense any review into something for the frontpage it can be done separately.

LordEoin

Which of those beers you gave me last week were from reviewed kits Garry?
I'll stick a tasting onto them :)

LordEoin

Sure, I'll tag them all at lunch time

Garry

Quote from: LordEoin on September 25, 2013, 01:26:37 PM
Which of those beers you gave me last week were from reviewed kits Garry?
I'll stick a tasting onto them :)

Just this one:

•Brupaks Brewer's Choice Premium Lager
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,3207.0.html

LordEoin

Quote from: irish_goat on September 24, 2013, 09:18:43 AM
I think for hacked kits maybe start threads based on how you are hacking them.
e.g.
"How to add hops to a kit"
"How to add coffee to a kit"
There's already a guide like that here
Debating whether I should just tag it onto the end of the beginners' guide sticky, or if it would be way too much information..