Kit brewing advice

[Shaddapo]

Hi guys
I'm returning to homebrewing after an 8 year gap. I've only ever brewed beer kits in the past and have always followed the manufacturers instructions enclosed. I've got 5 brew buckets so after a bit of researching beer kits I've ordered 5 beer kits which are on the way in the post. They are:
Festival Razorback, Woodfordes Wherry, Youngs American IPA, Coopers Sparkling Ale and Muntons Premium Gold Midas Touch Golden Ale.
What are your views on the kits and any recommendations on alterations to the manufacturers instructions?
Thanks guys
Kind regards
Don
Tipperary
Ireland

 

[RichardM]

The first alteration is to leave it two weeks before bottling, once bottled keep in a warm place for two weeks and then in a cool place for two weeks before trying the first bottle. It will be much better than if you follow the timings in the instructions.

 

[Drunkula]

Rules of beer kits:

1. Don't buy a lager kit.
2. That lager kit you bought will be really disappointing.
3. Ignore the instructions - brew for 2 weeks.
4. Get a bloody hydrometer now so you can start to ignore rule #3.
5. If it's a one can kit then you can add extra malt instead of sugar.
6. Don't add all extra malt to IPA kits - leave 200 to 500g of it sugar.
7. Control your temperatures.

 

[kelper]

Don't try and 'pimp' these kits until you try them 'as is'. If you add stuff and don't like the end result will it be the kit or the additions you don't like? You won't know!

 

[terrym]

Try this as a refresher
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/...de-to-brewing-your-own-beer-from-a-kit.57526/If its a premium kit there's no need to change it, do it as it comes its all in the box, thats why they are expensive.
If you have a one can don't dump in all sugar . Use at least 50% malt extract.
And don't bother changing the kit yeasts, they are fine.
If you want to improve a one-can a dry hop or hop tea followed by a grain steep are usually the best options or if you want to get adventurous try this
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/simple-kit-plus-mini-mash-method-to-improve-a-kit.52938/

 

[Slid]

As Terry says, this is the simple way forward.

 

[Galena]

Rules of beer kits:

1. Don't buy a lager kit.
2. That lager kit you bought will be really disappointing.
3. Ignore the instructions - brew for 2 weeks.
4. Get a bloody hydrometer now so you can start to ignore rule #3.
5. If it's a one can kit then you can add extra malt instead of sugar.
6. Don't add all extra malt to IPA kits - leave 200 to 500g of it sugar.
7. Control your temperatures.

Regarding rule 4, how do you avoid wasting loads of beer by checking gravity everyday

 

[RichardM]

Regarding rule 4, how do you avoid wasting loads of beer by checking gravity everyday

Don't check it every day. Check it once at the beginning, then again after two weeks. After taking a sample to check the gravity taste some of it and then put the rest back on the fermenter, none wasted.

 

[Galena]

Don't check it every day. Check it once at the beginning, then again after two weeks. After taking a sample to check the gravity taste some of it and then put the rest back on the fermenter, none wasted.

I thought the point of the post I quoted though was to avoid having to wait the 2 weeks by checking gravity until you know it has stopped which would imply every day for three days or whatever. I was going to get a refractometer until i realised it wouldn't work for that.
I do check as you suggested though, apart from pouring back in as not wanted to risk contamination but I guess if everything is sanitised it should be okay

 

[RichardM]

I thought the point of the post I quoted though was to avoid having to wait the 2 weeks by checking gravity until you know it has stopped which would imply every day for three days or whatever. I was going to get a refractometer until i realised it wouldn't work for that.
I do check as you suggested though, apart from pouring back in as not wanted to risk contamination but I guess if everything is sanitised it should be okay

You wait two weeks for fermentation to complete and for the yeast to clean up. You then measure the f.g so that you can calculate the ABV. There is really no need to check the gravity frequently. If you really want to you can leave it for two weeks then check the gravity two days in a row to make sure it remains the same.
The two week wait is about making better beer, not about waiting for fermentation to complete. If you are going to bottle it as soon as fermentation is complete then you can check the gravity every day and bottle after 5 to 7 days but the beer wont be as good as it would be if you left it for two weeks.

 

[soupdragon]

Regarding rule 4, how do you avoid wasting loads of beer by checking gravity everyday

What's wrong with just dunking the hydrometer into the fermenter? No waste at all. It's all I ever do.

Cheers. Tom

 

[Galena]

What's wrong with just dunking the hydrometer into the fermenter? No waste at all. It's all I ever do.

Cheers. Tom

Good point, but if there is a thick krausen or the FV has a narrow neck?

 

[soupdragon]

Good point.
Only ever used buckets and only check near the end of fermentation so never had a problem with floaty stuff

Cheers. Tom

 

[RichardM]

Good point, but if there is a thick krausen or the FV has a narrow neck?

There won't be a thick krausen by the time you need to check the gravity to see if it is done.
Not sure what you do about the narrow neck though.

 

[Sinktipper]

If you brew a Wherry and stick some bottles where you forget about them for a year, when you try them you'll be absolutely astounded by how good a kit beer can be after a proper maturation period.

 

[terrym]

What's wrong with just dunking the hydrometer into the fermenter? No waste at all. It's all I ever do.

Cheers. Tom

Me too

 

[Galena]

There won't be a thick krausen by the time you need to check the gravity to see if it is done.
Not sure what you do about the narrow neck though.

Its a Speidel so not too narrow, I will give it a try, cheers

 

[RichardM]

Its a Speidel so not too narrow, I will give it a try, cheers

Dropping the hydrometer in to the fv may do away with any worries about wasting beer, bit it wont be easy to get an accurate reading.

 

[Bobtheblob]

Rule no. 8 - Don't do all those kits at once unless you've got 200 spare bottles and a hell of a lot of patience on bottling day.

 

[Drunkula]

Regarding rule 4, how do you avoid wasting loads of beer by checking gravity everyday

By not checking the gravity until there's no airlock activity - and of course not checking until 2 weeks have passed.