John Bull IPA Review

[terrym]

Folks
About six weeks ago I put about half of my JB IPA into a barrel, and the rest was bottled (2 litre PET bottles - that's what I do). The initial brew was made up with 1 kg Youngs BE and dry hopped for 4 days with 25g Goldings.
After an initial problem with a leaking barrel tap at two weeks in, which involved replacing the tap and repriming, I have been drawing off the odd half glass from the barrel to see how things were going and have noticed a steady improvement, but nothing remarkable.
Tonight I opened the first bottle and am 'well impressed'. It's much much better than the barrel version. I also think it's better than the Coopers IPA and Brewmaker IPA kits I have done, and will definitely be doing it again.
So here's to the next Tesco sale! :

 

[LarryF]

Folks

So here's to the next Tesco sale! :

Talking of which, it can't be that long until the next one rolls around again.

 

[Tay80]

.amazing pint with added brew sugar and light malt extract I'm starting another and using medium malt

 

[jamesw]

I made this as my very first homebrew beer and loved it.
im tempted to try the traditional english ale, but this was so nice i dont want to risk it not being as nice, anyone have any preference?

 

[terrym]

im tempted to try the traditional english ale, but this was so nice i dont want to risk it not being as nice

I think you should go for it. Until you try it you will never know.
I was impressed by the IPA but will still have a go at the English Ale to see what it's like and which, in fact, is next in line. In the end they all get drunk :drink:!!

 

[xdaver]

I'm seriously considering making a toucan with the kits I got in the tesco closing sale.I know it'll be bitter but with conditioning may well be a winner :-)

 

[MyQul]

I'm seriously considering making a toucan with the kits I got in the tesco closing sale.I know it'll be bitter but with conditioning may well be a winner :-)

Interesting experiment. I never read about anyone doing a toucan with anything other than stout/dark ale. Might come out like some sort of imperial IPA/Double IPA? I agree, will need a hell of a lot of conditioning

 

[xdaver]

I've put two youngs Scottish heavy kits together before and that turned out a great beer. I understand that there low hopped kits because of the style and this would be alot different but, I've got the idea now and as stocks are high I can afford to do a long conditioning plus it'l be fun finding out.

 

[sausagefingers]

Picked up one of these kits in the Tesco sale and was going to make it today but not sure if I'm on the right track. I have 1kg of Youngs beer enhancer and 700g of brewing sugar, should I just throw the lot in? Instructions say 1kg of sugar, so do I need more or will the beer enhancer make up the shortfall? Will it just end up a very weak brew?
Cheers

 

[terrym]

Picked up one of these kits in the Tesco sale and was going to make it today but not sure if I'm on the right track. I have 1kg of Youngs beer enhancer and 700g of brewing sugar, should I just throw the lot in? Instructions say 1kg of sugar, so do I need more or will the beer enhancer make up the shortfall? Will it just end up a very weak brew?
Cheers

I did this one recently with 1 kg Youngs BE only and brewed slightly short to 22litres. It started at 1045, ended at 1012 and dry hopped with 25g Goldings pellets, turned out to be a good pint.

 

[Covrich]

Picked up one of these kits in the Tesco sale and was going to make it today but not sure if I'm on the right track. I have 1kg of Youngs beer enhancer and 700g of brewing sugar, should I just throw the lot in? Instructions say 1kg of sugar, so do I need more or will the beer enhancer make up the shortfall? Will it just end up a very weak brew?
Cheers

Beer ENhancer is 50% Dextrose and 50% Spraymalt.. if you have that AND 700 grams of sugar you will have a very strong brew you will esswentially be adding 1.2kg of sugar PLUS another 500 granms of malt extract.. I would just stick the Enhancer in but if you want to bump it up a bit just chuck in 200 sugar.. I would put as little sugar in as possible personally.

 

[sausagefingers]

Great stuff,thanks for the swift replies - I'll crack on with it now just wanted to check first. I have some hops I can throw in so with the sale price it's going to work out a cheap brew :thumb:

 

[sausagefingers]

Brewed it this morning and ended up with an OG of 1045 so fingers crossed should turn out + 5%. Thanks again.much appreciated
Also it looks very dark, a lot darker than I was expecting

 

[LarryF]

Morning All, I'll be bottling a John Bull IPA today:
23L - 11/10/15 - 31/10/15
Re-pitched Gervin Yeast (Wilko) + 1tsp YN
1kg Youngs BE + 120g honey
25g Perle Hops + 5g Aurora - 20m boil, tea and bag added to FV
OG:1061 - FG:1009 - 7%

Very nice tasting in the trial jar, I've really enjoyed everything I've done with the Perle Hops.

 

[clibit]

I've never used Perle hops.

 

[Covrich]

My dad made this kit and I had a bottle of it tonight... tbf he used a kit and kilo of sugar not far from the best method , his other home brews are okay (drinkable at least) but this I thought wasn't that good, I nearly tipped it away.

I have tried a few different peoples John Bull kits (never made one myself) and to me they seem either flavourless or twangy and very thin. I think they def need a bit of love in the additions.

 

[Frogbrew]

My dad made this kit and I had a bottle of it tonight... tbf he used a kit and kilo of sugar not far from the best method , his other home brews are okay (drinkable at least) but this I thought wasn't that good, I nearly tipped it away.

I have tried a few different peoples John Bull kits (never made one myself) and to me they seem either flavourless or twangy and very thin. I think they def need a bit of love in the additions.

I add just 1kg BKE to my JB IPA and it comes out superb IMO. My favourite 1 can kit..

 

[LarryF]

I've done the JB IPA and the JB Best Bitter and liked them both but I did significantly tweak them. I take it for granted that any kit is a starting point and will need tweaking with both added hops and extra fermentables.

 

[Covrich]

POssibly just his kit, kit quality can vary from storage and such.. it didn't seem like off flavours just not very good, and I have to say every other John Bull Kit I have tried I thought the same.. (never made one myself).. That said it was made with sugar and I think we can all agree that's never going to give you the best results..

Thats not to say you coulnd't make a good drink out of it, if it was me I would partial mash the fermentables it instead of sugar and use some fresh hops and probably swap the yeast

 

[HisDudeness]

POssibly just his kit, kit quality can vary from storage and such.. it didn't seem like off flavours just not very good, and I have to say every other John Bull Kit I have tried I thought the same.. (never made one myself).. That said it was made with sugar and I think we can all agree that's never going to give you the best results..

Thats not to say you coulnd't make a good drink out of it, if it was me I would partial mash the fermentables it instead of sugar and use some fresh hops and probably swap the yeast

What covrich said! Something a bit like this maybe:
http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=56028
It's still needing a bit of conditioning but it's definitely a good result from a 1 can kit