Jim's Beer Kit

I have to use food grade malt extract as nothing else is available in the middle east. I have tried three varities: Meriden, Potters and another organic brand labelled as 'malt syrup'. The result is a drinkable brew, although it does have a particular taste, meanting that all brews will have an unde...

Thanks for the advice. We put this down last Monday. We used 3.5kg apples through a a juicer. I didn't leave the pulp in the brew - too complicated for a first time effort. I added the concerntrate, 24L apple juice and 454gms of Golden Syrup in hot water. Added the pectolase, tannin, a tsp of citric...

This is my first time attempt at making cider. I have the following ingredients: 3 - 5kg mixed apples 25l apple juice 360ml Apple juice concerntrate Sugar / Golden syrup Lemons Citric Acid Honey Tannin Pectolase Youngs Cider yeast 5l Spring water. Saccharin tablets Campden tablets I would ideally li...

As a general rule I am only able to source Barley Malt Extract from local health food shops and the products are not specific to brewing (the cost of these products is relatively high compared to the UK). Do I need to make any adjustments to recipes? I am also using hop pellets and am working on the...

It appears that I have been over priming as most of my previous brews have been extremely lively. Generally I use malt extract, sugar or burton brew body and have used the measures specified in Graham Wheeler's Home Brewing book. However, I note that priming is not always necessary, particularly if ...

Using Saf-Ale 04 yeast (first time) which was bit improvised as my reliable wide necked old style Ruddles bottle decided to give up. Landed up using another bottle without the benefit of airlock, simply covering with a sterilised piece of aluminum foil. Prepared the yeast culture the night before an...

In the absence of any other better or more informed response contact Bushy's via their website and see if they would be willing assist. I've never seen Castletown Bitter in the UK and think it is only sold in the South of the IOM. The Castletown Brewery was bought by Okells and subsequently closed. ...

Have just checked OG at 25oC, which came in at 1055+. Then added more water to 5 gallons and took another reading - 1048. Accoding to the hydrometer correction tool that works out at 1050 (hope the hydrometer correction tool is accurate)! Buzz - thanks the OG of the original Oakham beer was 1050. I ...

Thanks for the responses. I thought it would be low efficiency as I was not altogether sure that the mash was fully successful. That said the temp was maintained adequately. I took a reading direct from the boiler 15 mins following boil completion and having added some half a gallon of cool-ish wate...

Have just mashed and boiled Ruddles County per Dave Line. The wort is now cooling, however to produce a specific gravity of 1050 I have only collected 4 gallons. Mash seemed fine (used wheelers widget), temp between 63 and 67. Needed to add more liquor mid mash to raise temp. Boil fine. I will try a...

Thanks for the advice. Will definitely try out the yeast. With regard to the Brewpacks are you refering to the 3kg kits? All previous brews have been the 3kg or more woodfordes or Muntons kits. I have the Muntons Imperial Stout to make up, which was planned for this weekend, but will hold off until ...

The aroma is hard to describe. I always thought it seemed yeasty, but this does not occur with other types of brew (only kits) - I generally always use a yeast starter anyway.

The most recent kits have all been muntons.

I casked a Muntons Premium Gold kit in October (Smugglers Gold), and followed up a week later with a malt extract recipe for Ruddles County from the Graham Wheeler 'Brew Your Own British Real Ale at home'. Both are now conditioned and improving with age. I have noticed that whatever kit I use, the f...