Kits cover the standard range of beers, but if you want to imitate a particular beer for which there is no kit, how do you find out what process to follow?
Specifically at the moment I am wondering how to brew Leffe Bruin. It does seem to have quite a specific taste to it. But generally it'd be nice to be able to find out hops and processes for other beers.
How do they do it?
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maxashton
There's only so much you can do with kits to change them up. Most people who want to achieve a specific beer without doing all grain end up doing extract brews.
You still have the convenience of cans, but can steep grains and boil up whatever hops tickle your fancy.
As to kits... you can adjust final alcohol and body with extra malt extracts like spraymalt etc, and you can increase hoppiness by using hopped malt extract, isomerised hop extract, or hop teabags i guess.
Better off with extract brewing or AG tho. More fun, too.
You still have the convenience of cans, but can steep grains and boil up whatever hops tickle your fancy.
As to kits... you can adjust final alcohol and body with extra malt extracts like spraymalt etc, and you can increase hoppiness by using hopped malt extract, isomerised hop extract, or hop teabags i guess.
Better off with extract brewing or AG tho. More fun, too.
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delboy
As well as the things maxashton mentions i would add that you can take big steps in the right direction by using the correct yeast, this is particulary true for belgian ales where the a lot of the flavour profile comes from the yeast. The small sachet of yeast that comes with most kits just won't be able to create it those special flavours.
For beers like this liquid yeasts from whitelabs or wyeast or often the way to go, either that or you can try and ranch some yeast from a good bottle conditioned belgian ale with similar characteristics (like chimay).
For beers like this liquid yeasts from whitelabs or wyeast or often the way to go, either that or you can try and ranch some yeast from a good bottle conditioned belgian ale with similar characteristics (like chimay).
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stevezx7r
One of the best ways to find out what's involved in making the beer you like is to contact the brewers themselves. I realise this could be a problem given that they're in Belgium but that would be the start for me if I were to make something which hadn't already been made (cloned).
Of course, the back of the bottle, website etc may point you in the right directon regarding hops used etc but for the specifics of a recipe you may need to email them if possible.
Of course, the back of the bottle, website etc may point you in the right directon regarding hops used etc but for the specifics of a recipe you may need to email them if possible.