newish kits from hambleton bard

[timbo41]

Hello all thought i would share my thoughts on the new Better Brew polybag kits from Hambleton Bard. Have just made up the czech pilsner( cheers to andy and sam at colchester homebrew for advice ). Bit different to tins obviously. Firstly the yeasy is stuck to bottom of bag with some sort of glue so obviously when warming bag prob not a good idea to use that water as liquor unless Ham Bard comment on what glue is made from. Secondly this kit had a sticker advising of a typo error in brew timing, worth noting although they dont say what final FG likely to be would expect about 1006ish but no expert. ( better brains please help out here). I made upto 20lts with 800g BS as these kits have more malt than most great idea.Would also suggest wrapping bag around brewing spoon when most into FV as you can then roll it down to extract malt, then put bag into 2 litre measuring jug before filling with hot water I found this made it much easier to get maximum malt out . The wort is a surprisingly light colour, although HB do say no added colours so perhaps as should be. Nice fragrance, and two days in got some foamy froth ( hesitate to say krausen). OVERALL good price for kit, fairly clear instruction expected OG and FG would be nice also can anyone tell me whether this should be served icy chilled? will report back on this thread when brewed out

[cellone]

Hi. Always eager for reports on new lager kits, look forward to your reports on this kit. Did it come with ale or lager yeast?

[reburner]

I've just bottled my one of these. My bag deffo said the pilsner should hit 1008 after 10 days and it was spot on.

Re the yeast the kit didn't specify what yeast was used but part of the blurb for these kits is that each comes with its own yeast tailored to the brew.

[timbo41]

as reburner says the yeast type wasnt specified but was 10 g i think . I was going to go with a proper lager yeast but decided against. still doing its own thing not great frothy spew but probably because it is a bottom fermenter got a week to go then will check sg will look to finish about 1008 if thats what reburner says.. i do tend to rush into making and not reading blurb Looking forward to this brew fairly impressed so far

[cellone]

Think I read somewhere that lager yeast is a bottom feeder and ale likes the top.

[Fish'n'Chips]

I bought the Better Brew Stout and Export Lager....hopefully get the stout rocking this week.Maybe go with BE rather than all sugar......would have went 1kg of DME with the stout but there's 2.3kg in the bag so guessing BE would be a better bet.

[timbo41]

keep us posted on that export please fish. That looked a nice kit nearly did instead of pils. Anyhow folks SG down to 1008 for two days prob due to use of tank heater so bottled today . Quite bright, crafty swig says definitely lager not as hoppy as i thought it might be but may come through when conditioned. Straight to shed as not used glass before( koparberg 500ml x 36) and recent events making me a bit nervy. Hope it wont affect secondary too much any thoughts?? Recent event? Used old boots PB for first time with Coopers dark ale.. thought it needed repriming after beer mate big al had a go.. 2 days later interesting hiss and spray from tap seal..new one fitted should have done it first.. no carpet in hallway now beyond the power of wet and dry vax to solve!!

[cellone]

I know it's early days, but has anyone tried it yet? Just put one on at the same time as a coopers pilsner, will be interesting to see the difference other than 1% abv.

[Fish'n'Chips]

Got the stout started last night.OG was 1047.Just have to wait now.

[Simon Williams]

I've got the Czech Pilsner in the FV right now. Started at 1040, down to 1016 right now, with 3 days to go, or 5 if I leave it for a fortnight. Still not sure whether to go barrel or bottle yet though.

[Fish'n'Chips]

The stout has bubbled up to the top of the FV after 1 day....just like the Coopers one when I done that.Maybe the same yeast???

[johno53]

Hi all
have one of these new brew kits in conditioning stage, "Yorkshire bitter", made kit with 1kg of brew enhancer and 500 grams of brewing sugar and made up to 24 ltrs with water, O/G = 1046 and F/G = 1010 which should come out at 5% ABV when finished, had a quick sample when in secondary fermentation just to check co2 pressure and this beer tasted good already had a head and pale yellow like a boddingtons beer and tasted bitter, i expect this to mellow on conditioning and have good expectations of this brew, i will give it six weeks in conditioning before drinking.
the foil wrap container for this kit is a little more difficult to use than the can kits as its a little more difficult to get all the malt out pf the pack, i did it as i would a can kit ie empty pack after pre warming for 10/15 mins and then swilled the foil pack out with boiling water. next time i will let the boiling water cool before swilling out the foil pack as it was to hot to handle, i folded the top of the foil pack over to make a seal and shook the foil pack before pouring out, the result was a clean interior to the foil pack, fingers were a little sticky but i think once one or two of these kits have been tackled i think i will have it beat, yes i know Famous last words and all that but you have to beleive don`t you lol. I have kegged this bitter using brewing sugar 85/90 grams as usual.
i like the idea that these kits use malt and yeast as appropiate from all over the world in order to offer the home brewer the best kit available.
so heres hoping
cheers
johno

[cellone]

I've got the Czech Pilsner in the FV right now. Started at 1040, down to 1016 right now, with 3 days to go, or 5 if I leave it for a fortnight. Still not sure whether to go barrel or bottle yet though.

Doing the same kit. You gotta bottle.

[Fish'n'Chips]

I've got the Czech Pilsner in the FV right now. Started at 1040, down to 1016 right now, with 3 days to go, or 5 if I leave it for a fortnight. Still not sure whether to go barrel or bottle yet though.

Doing the same kit. You gotta bottle.

I see you're brewing,conditioning and drinking Coopers Pilsner....going by that I'm guessing it's good?

Thinking on doing that next....any tips?

[cellone]

I like it, not that strong but tasty! I sometimes add a little sugar and a bit of saaz, more often than not I stick to the kit recipe. I prefer this to ale based lagers aswell as cooper's europian. I'd do two or three to the reg's then have a fiddle.