Beer kits (twin can) recommendations

[henry d]

OK guys, I`m off to the homebrew shop tomorrow, so I need a few recommendations for twin can beers.

 

Woodfordes wherry best is a cert, but what else?

[Guest cookoff013]

Just done nelsons rewenge.

 

Done the ruby ale by St peters , very goo.

 

I nearly always change the yeast to 11g of notty or s05.

Nog is OK.

 

I have done a triple can brew with added lager malt. We shall see.

[FalconFN]

Any of the Woodfordes are good, in fact I was told that they supply other home brew kits like St Peter's. I'm also a fan of the 1 can Coopers ales, particularly the IPA and the Irish stout - you just need 1 can and the spray malt packet.

 

I tried the Mexican cerveza last year - not great.

[Ernest]

I did the Woodfords this year and it wasn't too bad. But the St Peters ruby ale I also done was better in my opinion, really nice pint and kept a head throughout.

[leeds chimp]

St Peters was a nice one

 

I have done two cans of hoppy copper from wilkos and it came out pretty good

[Zapp]

I asked a mate who runs a homebrew supplies company and this is what he came back with:

 

Any of the Bulldog Premium range, which come with a hop tea bag you pop in the FV after the main ferment has died down, or the Youngs American craft beers, which have the same sort of thing.

Both kits give superb results. But my favourite would be the Youngs kits as the hoppy finish is more akin to what I like, think of Brew Dog or Sierra Nevada styles of beers

 

 

Hope it helps.

[Mentalmac]

Oh I am so tempted to have a go at home brewing!!!

 

Those starter kits are costly though, nearly £70 for the gear!

 

Any reccomendations?

[Zapp]

Look at it this way, the only part of the starter kit that isnt reusable are the beer ingredients themselves. If you get into it it will pay for itself in no time when compared to what you would pay from the supermarket.

 

I'd better just mention that although the owner of this website was one of the original partners in my microbrewery, and they are both called "Copper Kettle", he isnt involved anymore and I have no financial interest in his business.

 

http://www.copperkettlehomebrewing.co.uk/home-brewing-products/547/woodfordes-wherry-micro-brewery?PHPSESSID=161b553303689fb1e7c7acf075698665

 

The only thing you will be wanting fairly quickly on top of that is a second pressure barrel so you can rotate brews.

[Mentalmac]

Thanks Zapp,

I am really really tempted and there is a home brew shop here in COlchester that I may well pop into to enquire on prices and stuff.

Would barrel and not bottle I think, less faff and I tent to fluctuate from wanting a swift half to wanting 3 pints sometimes and it's just me here to drink it as the girlfriend won't have it.

 

I read earlier also about off tastes from water, would you advise I buy that cheap value bottled water from the super market? It's a few pence a 2 litre bottle so not too much if the taste is better?

 

So, 2 pressure barrels are better so I can be drinking one load whilst the other one matures?

[Muddy Funker]

Oh I am so tempted to have a go at home brewing!!!

 

Those starter kits are costly though, nearly £70 for the gear!

 

Any reccomendations?

The savings you make after are outrageous though, this doesn't happen often but I got ingredients from a local micro brewery before for a fiver.

 

Grain, hops, yeast to make a 40 pint brew. Added to the cost of water and electricity that's still pretty cheap per pint.

[Zapp]

Thanks Zapp,

I am really really tempted and there is a home brew shop here in COlchester that I may well pop into to enquire on prices and stuff.

 

Would barrel and not bottle I think, less faff and I tent to fluctuate from wanting a swift half to wanting 3 pints sometimes and it's just me here to drink it as the girlfriend won't have it.

 

I read earlier also about off tastes from water, would you advise I buy that cheap value bottled water from the super market? It's a few pence a 2 litre bottle so not too much if the taste is better?

 

So, 2 pressure barrels are better so I can be drinking one load whilst the other one matures?

 

Yes to 2 pressure barrels for that reason.

 

Dont worry about the water for kit brewing, it really isnt that important until you start wanting to brew from the grain. All you need waterwise is some Campden Tablets. Put 1/2 a tablet into your water and let it dissolve and stand for 30 mins before you start making the kit up - this will take care of any chloramine in the water and will minimize the "homebrew twang".

 

Two can kits also help a lot with the quality of the beer, as you are fermenting maltose (the same as beer in the pub) rather than sucrose from added sugar.

[leeds chimp]

Oh I am so tempted to have a go at home brewing!!!

 

Those starter kits are costly though, nearly £70 for the gear!

 

Any reccomendations?

 

 

Thanks Zapp,

I am really really tempted and there is a home brew shop here in COlchester that I may well pop into to enquire on prices and stuff.

 

Would barrel and not bottle I think, less faff and I tent to fluctuate from wanting a swift half to wanting 3 pints sometimes and it's just me here to drink it as the girlfriend won't have it.

 

I read earlier also about off tastes from water, would you advise I buy that cheap value bottled water from the super market? It's a few pence a 2 litre bottle so not too much if the taste is better?

 

So, 2 pressure barrels are better so I can be drinking one load whilst the other one matures?

 

Are you going to the charity shoot??

 

I have quite a few spare bits lying round that will help you get started...all i ask is a donation to the the charity.

 

as to bottling.....i do a 5 gallon kit...do 20 500ml bottles and then the rest in 2L water bottles that you get from a supermarket ...saves having to clean 40+ bottles and as you say if want more than one or two they perfect

[Mentalmac]

Haha why didn't I see this thread until I had whacked out 80 quid of money I don't have on gear! Haha -

Thanks Leeds Chimp, I seem to now own everything I need to get started and have been watching the lid on my bucket bulge for the last few days so am very excited about barreling it all soon :-).

I have to go to Greece Monday to Thursday next week, if its not quite ready to barrel, would it be ok leaving it until Friday to barrel it?

[Whitebridges]

Brupaks : http://www.brupaks.com/beerkits2.html

 

Can recommend their Fixby Gold and Birkby Bitter.

[leeds chimp]

I have left mine in the fermenting barrel (FV(

for two months sometimes till I can be bothered to bottle in.... I do have upto 3 on the go at once plus the demijohn of wine as well

 

Shame you got what you needed really as had loads of spare bits lying around

Have a chat at the do and yet can pick my brains as I love homebrewing

 

On a serious note be careful as nearly turned me into a alcoholic

[Guest cookoff013]

I have left mine in the fermenting barrel (FV(

for two months sometimes till I can be bothered to bottle in.... I do have upto 3 on the go at once plus the demijohn of wine as well

 

Shame you got what you needed really as had loads of spare bits lying around

Have a chat at the do and yet can pick my brains as I love homebrewing

 

On a serious note be careful as nearly turned me into a alcoholic

 

yeah,

brewing should not be taken lightly. its virtually an endless supply now.

[Zapp]

Haha why didn't I see this thread until I had whacked out 80 quid of money I don't have on gear! Haha -

Thanks Leeds Chimp, I seem to now own everything I need to get started and have been watching the lid on my bucket bulge for the last few days so am very excited about barreling it all soon :-).

I have to go to Greece Monday to Thursday next week, if its not quite ready to barrel, would it be ok leaving it until Friday to barrel it?

 

It'll be fine to leave it. I'd crack the lid on that bucket a bit and leave if cracked just so the gas can escape - if it generates enough pressure to blow the lid off you will have a big mess to deal with.

[Darno]

Norfolk nog is nice