Jim's Beer Kit

thanks for the feedback chaps, particularly MB - that's a great post. Think i'll go with 25gms dry hopping, and 25 gms either boil or steep when i'm making up the kit. Anyone got any comments on which would be best? I've also read somewhere about boiling hops with some of the malt to help extract th...

All sounds good.
And you've got to have drink when you're brewing, 2 if you're bottling!
And in case the wife questions it, it DOES affect the taste. It's a vital part of the process, honestly!
paul

well I was driving near the LHBS yesterday so I nipped in and got 100 gms Saaz, a packet of youngs lager yeast and 1 kilo brewing sugar. Anyone got any suggestions on quantities etc for the hops? I was thinking maybe steeping some to go in with the kit and then dry hopping after a week or so in the ...

thanks Oli. I was thinking of maybe using some lager style hops, but i'm not sure what the basic kit is like. Mind you, as it's called light continental lager, that might be a clue! I'm just wanting a light lager for summer so it could fit the bill, but I still want it to be tasty.(if I didn't want ...

Hi all, got a wilkos light continental lager which I'm planning on doing next, and looking for a bit of advice. I'm guessing the kit yeast isn't a lager yeast. Am I best off buying a specific lager yeast instead? I'll ferment this in my beer box in the garage, which is basically a chipboard box with...

Yes, I know it's an imperial stout and meant to be left for ages, but when you're desperate to see how it's turned out, a couple of months IS ages! (Hands up anyone who's just nodded agreement at that point) So I've had 3 bottles now including one of the ones with rum added and I have to say it's tu...

Yep. Used all 300 or 330ml bottles. Obviously 500 ml seemed a bit much, although if I do a comparison taste test, I'll have to open 4 bottles at once, so that's 1.3 litres! Best get a couple of mates to help with the testing.
cheers
Paul

well i'm planning on bottling this tomorrow. Got the bottles soaking in a thin bleach solution, and 150gm coffee steeping in a pint of boiled and cooled water in the fridge. (House blend from Tamper at Sellers Wheel - best coffee house in Sheffield!, plus they have a bar and put decent beers on cour...

Hi all,

Just done a few taste tests using Sam Smiths imperial stout and a bottle of dark rum.
Arrived at a ratio of 1:30 rum to beer. I'm going to bottle in 330ml bottles, so works out at 11ml of rum per bottle.
Anyone think this sounds right/wrong?
Cheers
Paul

Cheers woblylegs. Sounds very similar I'm guessing the OG difference is due to you brewing short.
Have you tried any of it yet? I know it's best with several months conditioning, but we all like a sneaky taster to see how it's going.
Paul

Started this today as follows - put the 3 yeast packets in 1/4 pint cooled boiled water with a spoon of sugar in it. Forthing nicely after 30 or 40 mins. Put three kits in the FV with water and 1kg dextrose. Only topped it up to 15 litres and put a blow-off tube on the FV as everyone says this will ...

6 bottles!!! after 6 bottles of imperial stout i doubt if i'll remember my own name, never mind why i'm messing about adding rum to it! think it'll have to be one bottle split into 6 glasses. thanks for the suggestion cellone, (though i've now made a mental note never to go out boozing with you) che...

thanks cellone. i'll probably have to do a few tests with the amount, assuming no one has any suggestions. I'll get a bottle of RIS and then keep adding small amounts of rum till it seems right. i'm not after anything really strong, just the hint of it, like the Innis & Gunn rum finish. I like to pa...

Hi all, going to start an imperial stout tomorrow using three kits i got cheap at wilkos. Coopers stout, sweet newkie brown and a lager. I'm just going to add 1 kg dextrose, the 3 packets of yeast, and stand back. However, at bottling i fancy trying a couple of additions. Once i've bottled most of i...

Hi Fil, Thanks for that. I wasn't sure how the amber malt affected things as that's the first time I've used it. The syphon looks around 8mm diameter and the beer was all swirling round in the keg as I siphoned it, so I think it was mixed in ok. I'll just put it down to me being unfamiliar with the ...