Using two kits instead of sugar

[demail]

Hi,
I am just wondering if it is a good idea to use 2 1.5kg cans of a kit beer insteed of adding sugar i.e use an extra tin of kit in place of sugar Would this improve the beer.
Im thinking of using two of Youngs 1.5kg pilsner kits to make 23l of brew. Does this make sence? And should I still add some sugar?

[OldSpeckledBadger]

If you double a kit up you'll also effectively double the bitterness too. Assuming you don't want to radically alter the flavour, you could use the kit + either a can of normal liquid malt extract or 1KG Spaymalt. Either will produce a better brew. For a 100% malt brew I'd be inclined to use something other than the kit yeast as well.

[demail]

Im not sure if doubling the bitterness would bother me all that much. Has anyone tasted the youngs pilsner and if so is it that bitter to begin with. If anyone has tried the youngs pils could you tell me what you think if it was twice as bitter?

[OldSpeckledBadger]

It's entirely your choice of course but if I were trying a kit for the 1st time I'd brew it with 50/50 Spraymalt and brewing sugar to see if I liked the result and then consider doing a modified brew after that. How much brewing experience do you have BTW?

[demail]

Don't have the option with using spray malt just plain old table sugar. But it's just that I happen to have 2 tins of youngs. Ive brewed one batch before with one tin but its still conditioning. I have tasted it and to be honest theres not much of a taste yet. So i was thinking by using the two cans I could get a bit more flavour. Do you think it would be so bitter as to be undrinkable?

[OldSpeckledBadger]

Do you think it would be so bitter as to be undrinkable?

I've never tasted it I can only guess. I doubt it would get into the genuinely undrinkable zone but that's going to be highly dependent on your own taste buds.

[brysie]

demail, im a man after your own heart and the desire to experiment is strong in me also.
however the thing you have to keep in mind is that cheap kits produce ok beer but within limits.
cheap kits are probably best made to manufacturers instructions and left as long as possible for any flavour to develop.
maybe adding some steeped/boiled hops would help you find the bitterness youre looking for, but you are never going to make
a world beating pilsener from a kit. using 2 kits is probably a waste of one of them.