I just thought I'd let you all know about my experience with 'The Brewzer' otherwise known as 'The Miracle Beer Kit'.
Before I start I will state that I did not buy my 'Brewzer', rather, I was given it by a local Freecycle http://uk.freecycle.org/ group member. This is important as I would have been mightily brassed off if I'd shelled out cash on this thing. That should set the tone
In essence 'The Brewzer' is an all in one fermentation vessel and pressure barrel all in one. All parts are supplied sterile so there is no need to get the VWP out. If you're used to brewing your own beer then this is rather strange to start with if not a little disconcerting. The excited brewer simply opens up the various packets (one at a time of course) and firstly places a polythene bag into the squat, round vessel. Think of one of those souvenir shop Buddhas and you're nearly there
Next you open the plastic 1 litre 'milk' bottle. This contains malt flour, yeast and I suspect yeast nutrient together with sugar in some form or another (powdered I think). The contents are poured into the plastic bag - now safely secured with a couple of locking rings in the fermentation Buddha, no disrespect to any Buddhists by the way. The same 'milk' bottle (it is actually a milk bottle) is then filled with cold water a number of times and this is dispensed into the Buddha; I can't stop thinking of it as one A plastic top together with corrugated tube is then put on and tightened and the whole lot shaken or swirled to mix up the contents. That's it. You now have 10 pints of beer (lager, bitter, stout or I think IPA is available) brewing.
Leave this lot for about 21 days and then place a glass under the red corrugated syphon tube, twist the rudimentary tap/valve and fresh beer should spurt into said glass. No secondary fermentation this way, though there are simple instructions for actually bottling and adding a spoonful of sugar for that secondary ferment on the Brewzer websitehttp://www.miracle-beer.com/
So, how did mine go? Well I was given a lager kit..I would have preferred bitter to be honest but hey, it was given to me so I can't complain on that score. I'm currently awaiting the second batch from mine. In both cases I went down the bottling option as mentioned previously. The first batch tasted very nice. It was very disappointing in that it was practically flat. I should mention that I'm not a new home brewer as I used to make my own beer over 25 years ago. I only stopped because I didn't have space or time - hmm, I sound like Doctor Who... Anyway, I know about cleanliness and secondary fermentation etc. This product just doesn't seem to like a secondary ferment to gas it up. I should add that I put one teaspoon of sugar into each 2 litre bottle. Now, this may not have been enough but, I was going on past experience and that single spoonful always used to suffice. I always use carbonated drinks bottles, always have and had fantastic results in the past using the old Geordie liquid malt and malt flour 40 pint kits.
So, I'm now awaiting the results of the second batch from this BrewZer (I've just realised they use a capital Z in there). This time around I've used two spoonfuls of sugar per 2 litre bottle. If this doesn't work then I am not really sure if I will even bother with the final bottle of powder for the last 10 pint brew.
My conclusion. Well, honestly, I am so glad I didn't buy this kit because I would have been very disappointed and a touch miffed. The fermenting Buddha is pricey at £32.99 from the company. Ok, this does include whole kit and caboodle of fermenting vessel and starter 10 pint kit. But £32 for just 10 pints of beer? No chance, I'd rather go and buy a load of Banks' from my local Asda. If I go to Wilkinsons I can pick up a Geordie lager or bitter kit to make 40 pints, together with a 5 gallon bucket, tubing and steriliser for under a tenner. As good as the BrewZer beer tastes I actually rate the Geordie ones as being far better. I feel that this sort of kit is more likely to put off a newcomer to home brewing than introduce him or her into what we all know is a fantastic hobby or even obsession
My advice. If you want to brew beer do it from a traditional kit to start with. You will be more likely to enjoy the experience and possibly go on to brewing from scratch (that's my next step by the way).
I only hope that this experience of mine proves useful for others. The BrewZer does work but it's way overpriced and ultimately rather disappointing.
If anybody does want to ask any questions about my experience in using the BrewZer I'll be happy to answer them.
Kevan[/code]
