Having brewed up quite a few 1 and 2 can kits, I was keen to try to move onto the next stage and ordered one of the Extract kits from BrewUK, Way To Amarillo (http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/beerkits/brewextract/amarillo-recipe-pack.html), based soley on the number of favourable reviews. :pray: The kit comprised of dried malt extract, Amarillo hops and yeast. Have seen comments that these kits are expensive, but they're about the same as a decent 2-can kit, and you get exactly what you need to make the specific brew....plus home brew shops need to make a profit, or else they wouln't be in business and we'd had far less choice.
Anyway, had to get a bigger stock pot off eBay: 15L, you could get away with smaller, as the boil volume is only 6L or so, to which you add cold water. I did the boil then cooled the pan down in a few sinkfuls of cold water, strained it into the FV, and by the time I'd made up the volume with cold water it was a perfect 24C, so ready to pitch the yeast. OG came out around 1052 :shock: Here's some pics:
Re-hydrated and pitched the yeast, it was off within 7 hours, and 14 days later it was down to 1010, so half bottled and half kegged it. Had a sneakly sample and it's gorgeous, a really hoppy light-coloured ale, right up my street. They refer to it an American Pale Ale. Now the long wait begins for it to clear and mature a bit.
Although I've been very happy with most of the 2-can kits, IMHO they tend to be malty rather than hoppy, moving to extract gives you the opportunity to make a really hoppy brew. Very happy with this kit already and planning to do others, especially as they do clones of some of the popular pub beers: Theakston Old Peculiar and Exmoor Gold next.
Would encourage kits brewers to give Extract brewing a go, didn't take that much longer than a normal kit brew and the results really do seem to be a step up. Forum sponsor also does Extract kits (http://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/ext ... c-164.html), with these you have to buy the malt extract separately.
Will report back when I have the first proper sample.
Anyway, had to get a bigger stock pot off eBay: 15L, you could get away with smaller, as the boil volume is only 6L or so, to which you add cold water. I did the boil then cooled the pan down in a few sinkfuls of cold water, strained it into the FV, and by the time I'd made up the volume with cold water it was a perfect 24C, so ready to pitch the yeast. OG came out around 1052 :shock: Here's some pics:
Re-hydrated and pitched the yeast, it was off within 7 hours, and 14 days later it was down to 1010, so half bottled and half kegged it. Had a sneakly sample and it's gorgeous, a really hoppy light-coloured ale, right up my street. They refer to it an American Pale Ale. Now the long wait begins for it to clear and mature a bit.
Although I've been very happy with most of the 2-can kits, IMHO they tend to be malty rather than hoppy, moving to extract gives you the opportunity to make a really hoppy brew. Very happy with this kit already and planning to do others, especially as they do clones of some of the popular pub beers: Theakston Old Peculiar and Exmoor Gold next.
Would encourage kits brewers to give Extract brewing a go, didn't take that much longer than a normal kit brew and the results really do seem to be a step up. Forum sponsor also does Extract kits (http://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/ext ... c-164.html), with these you have to buy the malt extract separately.
Will report back when I have the first proper sample.