Kits are bad mmmkay

[Mike]

I've made a lot of kits at this stage and I have yet to make one where I think - "wow, thats just like a beer I'd take off the shelf." 

Recently, I moved to All Grain and even before I bottled I tried a sup and it was fantastic.

Is it the way I make kits or are they all just a poor imitation of beer?  It feels like instant coffee v's freshly ground coffee.

[pk]

Hi Mike,
I'm on kits here too. Do you mind me asking what you had to buy to get started on all grain? I don't have a lot to spend.

thanks
Paul

[JimmyM]

Its probably to do with the hop additions in all grain.
And a  bit to do with the fact that malt was mashed ages ago and went through whatever process to concentrate it into a can...

If you hack the kit with hops and use malt extract instead of sugar (which u prob have been doing anyway) you may get better results.

[trombyy]

I never had any look using kits , the 2 can versions had the same result, one worked out fine on the advice of Rossa to hack the kit by adding hops.

[Mike]

Hi Mike,
I'm on kits here too. Do you mind me asking what you had to buy to get started on all grain? I don't have a lot to spend.

thanks
Paul

I was probably a bit hard on kits and I dont mean to discourage anyone from brewing.  I still drink every single drop I brew and I enjoyed them - I just wouldnt be able to compare them to a craft beer I really enjoy.

As far as the kit goes - I had a lot of fun putting them together.  I bought them bit by bit and made it as I went along.  You'd make all the nececarry stuff for about €200.  Rough cost is:

Boiler - €80 (Bucket, 2 kettles, tap, hop strainer)
Mash Tun - €60 (Ice box, hop strainer, tap)
Wort Chiller - €40 (10m of 10mm copper pipe and some hose bits)
Other bits - €50 (weighing scales, jugs, extra fittings for the above that you didnt think you would need but you do in the end... etc)

Its changed a bit at this stage but this would give you an idea of what I have:

http://imgur.com/a/8Pouq

[Spud395]

Yeah I think I cobbled together my 1st AG set-up for around €30, mind that was using some stuff I had around, old fermenting bucket and cool box that I had.

It was rough and ready but I made almost 750 Liters of beer on it 

[Rossa]

I have done an AG pdf that I'll try put up at the weekend. It's a pictorial guide for beginners. I've started an equipment version too and although it is very basic it shows you what can be done with a little bit of DIY....so stay tuned.

[Metattron]

Jeez lads, you must be very hard to please.  I've never had bad beer from a kit.  I do mostly all grain now, but have a few kits in the press for when I'm short of time and want to get some beer on.  Throwing a few hops in doesn't hurt, even if just dry hopping in a secondary fermenter.  Sure you can get a better beer doing all grain, but it's not the route to a cheap beer.  Try a hop tea, or steep a few grains to add to the kit, don't boil your kit though.  You don't have to spend a fortune and jump into all grain with all the bells and whistles.  Take small steps by hacking your kits, as the lads say, and you can gradually build up to giving partials and then all grain a go.  Have a look on youtube for videos.  I watched a lot of them from a guy called craigtube on there, his early videos on how to brew are good and mostly about kits and partials using basic equipment.  He comes in for a bit of slagging from the all grain snobs but I found his videos useful.  Maybe I'm easily pleased with my home brew, but most of the people who tasted them have liked them and I've made a few home brew converts who are getting into kit brewing.  Most important is to have fun with it!

[MAF]

Woodfordes Wherry is a lovely kit beer. Tasted a couple of different batches (none hacked) and all were top class.

[pk]

Quick kit question:

When you pour in the little packet of yeast into the fermenter, do you stir the mixture or just let it sit on top of all the foam?

Paul

[pk]

Thanks!

[Spud395]

You could also rehydrate it which willgive you a much healther yeast to add to your wort. If you google how to rehydrate yeast it will explain better than I ever could,  but worth doing

[Rossa]

You could also rehydrate it which willgive you a much healther yeast to add to your wort. If you google how to rehydrate yeast it will explain better than I ever could,  but worth doing

yeah, hydrate the yeast for 15mins or more. improves viability and sets you up for a better fermentation.

[DEMPSEY]

a note on pitching re hydrated or any liquid yeast is temperature. Yeast hitting colder wort can get a shock and take a while to get up to speed. Think of your randy moment when you hop into a bath with your other half,if the water is too cold it can cause a wilting effect.  :

[Stitch]

I have done a few kits and find that they serve a purpose (beer is not great but very quick to knock one out). Advice would be always throw some grains and hops in (if possible) and never use sugar only DME. Take the yeast and dump it (you don't know condition and there are not enough cells to carry out fermentaion). Any time I have done a kit (by using the yeast and DME) it has never turned out great due to the yeast being stressed.

Last night I knocked out 2 Brews one being I kit I did while waiting for my boiler to bring water up to temp (full extract). For the kit I used Coopers Stout, 250g Chocolate Malt, 70g Brown Malt and some dextrose. Yeast was re-used US-05. Longest part was waiting 30 minutes to steep the grain!!!!

With the kits I find try to get something that is popular. Getting an obscure kit can be a recipe for disaster.

Back to my original statement I find other peoples palate (those who do not drink craft beer generally) find the kits to be very nice so handy for giving to people who ask you for beer

Sorry if last statement offended anyone!!