Muntons Smugglers Special

[MickyD]

Have done 2 Woodfordes beers so thought I would try something different....or at least with a different name on the box

Smugglers Special sounds pretty good from the right ups, so I thought I would give it a go. If this is good, then Old Conkerwood might be next for a darker style beer, but I think I will try a Weiss bier next time.

Any tips on how to handle this Smugglers?

I have made this one with bottled water this time (tap water is lousy, I used campden on the Admirals and its fine).

It recommends in a separate leaflet in the box to transfer to a secondary after 3 days, anyone else done this?

[Garth]

I know it says to transfer it but personally I wouldn't,

I used to do this as it supposedly gives a cleaner tasting brew as you are racking away from the dead yeast at the bottom, but you will also lose some live yeast cells also and may end up with a stuck fermentation as there aren't enough left in the brew to finish the job

I couldn't understand why my kit brews weren't getting down to the stated FG, and I've come to the conclusion that it was doing this that made it happen.

[Wez]

I made quite a few Smugglers kits up, IMO the best of the 'Muntons' range, never racked to secondary and always got a good brew

[MickyD]

Cheers guys, that has made my mind up for me then. I wont.

[Orkney_Rob]

Got a Munton's IPA sitting in the keg maturing at the moment. Early signs aren't too promising (this is the one that stuck and remained so for an age! I think it was in primary for a good bit over 2 weeks!) Hopefully it is simply a case of it needing a good length of maturing time though (it's only been in the keg 6 days-ish I think)!

I haven't put anything into any form of secondary as yet - just pop em into a keg - usually after 7 days or so - and it does okay.