Pimping up Wlko kits advice please

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Stephenj

Stephenj

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So, inspired by @BeerCat thread of wheat beer in a week, and the impending 40th BBQ bash I'm having in 3 weeks, I thought I'd give a quick fermentation brew or 2 a go. I have Voss yeast and temp control so this should assist. However, called the local HBS to order some grain to pick up on way home from work and he's not doing grain anymore, and concentrating on kits. NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Anyway, this weekend is the only time to get brews on and can't get grain in time. So some advice on the following please:

Wilko kits. If I get the Wheat kit and whack in a hop tea and a dry hop would this pimp it up sufficiently? I have 100g of Mittlefruh (???) and Mandarina. Also, I have read that it takes off a bit in FV, would Voss be suitable to use and get it fermented in a week? I imagine I'll be doing 19 or 20 litres.

Similarly, if I get the IPA kit, I have Chinook, Amarillo, and Azacca hops. What might be a nice way of tarting this up? Also, would Voss be OK for this also - just thinking time more than flavour.

Ta in advance.
 
I did something similar a while ago and short answer was no it didn't, I will have changed the flavour a little but it was still poor tasting beer, cheap mind you just poor, was glad to see the last of it drunk
 
It normally requires up to 10 days in the FV to ferment out, clean up and for the majority of the yeast to settle, and a week to carb up if you keep it in a warm place. But I'm sure you know that. Anyway, thats 3 days short of your 3 weeks. Do you really think that's long enough to condition into a drinkable beer to serve to your guests? I don't.
However if you have the basics you may as well get going. You have nothing to lose. If it's not ready the day before your BBQ that gives you a chance to get some beer in and then let the homebrew take its proper course so you can drink it later.
 
To pimp kits I have used the following methods:
  • Using Golden Syrup or Honey instead of ordinary sugar.
  • Using Cherry, Blackcurrant or Raspberry Syrup instead of sugar.
  • Adding chillies during fermentation or adding chilli vodka before bottling.
  • Adding a Hop Tea before bottling/kegging.
  • Adding caramel flavouring.
Finally, on a Lager/Cerveza Kit I have used the Kit Yeast for the first week of fermentation at 20*C and then a genuine Lager Yeast at 10*C for up to 12 weeks of lagering before bottling. This has produced an exceptional lager!

Enjoy!
 
As terrym says, it usually takes up to 10 days to ferment and for the yeast to clear up after itself. However, as you are going to be using Kveik yeast, it may well be done faster than this. If it takes a week to ferment out, then it will be ready just before your 3 week deadline (if everything else follows terrym's timetable). I would give it a go as you have nothing to lose.

I usually go for the wilko's Golden ale to pimp rather than the IPA. I find it a much more neutral beer and lets you taste the dry hop better. An all Amarillo dry hop would be good as would a combo of all three hops that you mention. It's all a matter of personal preference but I would go for between 50g and 75g in 20 litres.
 

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