Returning to homebrew

[kenny850]

You asked for recommendations for a 2-can kit:

Woodeford's Norfolk Wherry is really nice.

Costs about £19 though (50p a pint!!!!).

Cheers

14.99 from wilkinsons

[Chris The Fish]

anything by woodfordes, the great eastern, wherry and headcracker are esp. good. There are lots of good kits out there, and very few are really bad so you cant really go wrong.

one of the things i learn early on is to brew what you like as 40pints of wheat beer is hard to shift if you dont like wheat beer (my missus claimed she'd drink it - then didnt).

[Pav]

Ok 8 weeks on from starting again!

I Brewed the HB as I said. Really enjoyed the Brew. I have paced myself and down to the last few pints now with the Barrel balanced at an angle for the last dregs! Gutted as I went back fro more and it has gone up to £9.99. Maybe it was a promotion from HB. I should have stocked up on a cheap kit from HB.

My 2nd Brew was a Geordie kit from Wilcos. Bit of a disaster but I don't know for sure until I turn that tap!! It fermented very quickly as the only evidence on day 3 were a few bubbles left on the surface. I had unwisely put a heat pad underneath it and it was 28c on teh surface when I checked it . It was made with 1/2 spray malt so hoping it isn't destined for the sink.

Thnkfully with a drinkable brew I was not put off and soon got a Wherry brew on the go. The 1st fermentation was amazing! Biggest head I have seen and fermented for a good 7 days! I invested in some bottling kit so this brew is in bottles now conditioning.

As my 1st barrel is almost empty and that i have a spare barrel from the skip! that I have tested and seems to hold pressure I am starting 2 new brews. A good one and a cheapie for the 2nd barrel as it will be its first time and do not want t o spend a lot incase I find problems and a reason for why it was at the skip !

So for my tried and tested barrel I am starting a Brupaks Colne Valley and for the 2nd hand barrel I'm using a cheapie Youngs Harvest Bitter with 1/2 spray malt that I got at half price as the packaging had a small tear and had been taped.

SO... I'm Back and am starying for a while longer!!
I've even found i have the odd bit of info gained from my novice experiences to help others.

Cheers all. I doubt without this forum I would have rekindled my enthusiasm for brewing. Please do not talk to me about anything other than KIT brewing. i do not want to know... or tempted by stories of hops and mashing and what ever else makes that perfect pint

[Luther]

Good work Pav. I only restarted brewing a few months back but already feel like I've learnt masses from here and from good old trial and error, obviously. My brews have ranged in quality from OK-ish to bloody marvellous, and I definitely think they're improving generally, and I'm getting more confident. The two pints of IPA I had yesterday as I was bottling my latest (I ran out of bottles, so it was drink it or pour it down the sink!) was absolutely wonderful. Can't wait until it's clear and has a bit of fizz.

Of the kits I've done so far, I'd recommend the Milestone IPA, which was lovely. Also hugely impressed with the Coopers kits, which generally seem to ferment beautifully and are decent quality if you use spraymalt, etc. I think they are the best of the 'one-can' kits I've tried so far. Ask Ditch about their stout... no, don't actually, you may be here a while...

[Ditch]

Also hugely impressed with the Coopers kits, Ask Ditch about their stout... no, don't actually, you may be here a while...

I saw that!!! PMSL! Cheeky sod!

It's called " Enthusiasm "!

[Parva]

Funnily enough Pav, my Dad has today done a Geordie beer kit. Now I was supposed to be making 10 gallons of Summer Lightning but a text from my Uncle telling me that his local Wetherspoons were selling off guest beers at £1.19 a pint put paid to my brewing today so it's scheduled for tomorrow now.

Like you he bought it from Wilkinsons for £7.99 and it's in the fermenter in the kitchen. Tomorrow I am brewing up my 10g batch of Summer Lightning from grains and hops and my Dad has bet me £1 that my son will prefer his 'kit' over my brew. I really can't wait for this as my son is a Carling man (son being 22 btw!). Furthermore, my son used to love Summer Lightning when Wetherspoons had it on. Just can't see how I can fail this.

Oh and onto the point I was trying to make, look at going all-grain, 10x better than kits.

[Pav]

Oh and onto the point I was trying to make, look at going all-grain, 10x better than kits

I have not looked at this as an option. I have always assumed a lot of hassle and a lot more expensive items to buy?

[boingy]

It's not difficult but it does take more time and you do need a bit more equipment but the beer tastes much better.