Hello from Wilkinson

[Steve@Wilkos]

I've got a few batches of your kits set off and a few to still to set off in the next few days.

I've only been homebrewing for around 5 month now and still mainly doing kits so I may not have the best input but i'll review what i've had and update as they all finish.

golden lager - Only been bottled for around 4 weeks but tastes ok and i'm sure once it has an extra few weeks will be a very nice lager. At the moment it still has that aftertaste of homebrew that has dissapeared with all my other lagers after around 7 weeks.

I've also got two batches of cerveza bottled which I bought after reading good reviews on another website

I've had your deep red merlot in the FV for 7 days now and its started to smell like red wine, i just need to add finings etc tonight. so far so good and has been easy to do, however the red wine had no yeast nutrient in, luckily I had my own I could use.

I also have a shiraz blush and a soave white wine which i will set off soon (I got the wine kits on 3 for 2)

WOW.... not bad for someone only 5 months into home brewing. Please report back when they have finished.

Cheers
Steve

[s1chris]

Hi Steve, I have just started the six bottle Cabernet Sauvignon kit. As a novice to all aspects of home brew I will be interested how the kit turns out and will feedback when complete and enjoyed. Just an idea about space and layout instore. Why don't you use clip strips on the edge of each shelving meter for things like the packets of yeast etc. it should free up another slot on the shelf for an extra line of wine kit fr example.

Cheers Chris

Hi Chris

Clip strips are something that we used to use a lot. A while ago we removed them from all layouts as they were hard to maintain operationally. Having said that, we have seen a few making an appearance on other layouts, so it is an option. We are currently working with our supplier to review the packaging sizes of some of products. Some packaging has wasted space that if removed would mean we could get another shelf of stock on each layout. If we can unlock that space, then the various items that have been mentioned on this thread could fit in.

Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve, yes they can get a bit messy at times and are a pain to replenish but are made easy if the supplier applies the adhesive tabs. I used to work for Makro relaying their stores a few years back and boy did clip strip's come in handy when space is limited.

Cheers Chris

[Wherryman13]

Go Steve -- you know you want to ---old retail saying " Clip it and the customer will strip it" ---sales galore! plus more room for more product ....

[Monkeybrew]

Hi Steve, any tip off's for when you are doing Wherry for £15 again?

MB

If I told you that.... I would have to kill you

Seriously though, I am not aware that we will be doing that price again in the near future. As said above, £18 is a competetive price by the sounds of it. Again, I will pass on your comment to the person who sets the prices

Cheers
Steve

Cheers for the reply Steve.

I have picked one up at £18, which as you say is still a good price.

MB

[fishplate]

Is Wilko's still doing free sugar with their kits.Thanks

[fishplate]

It's ok I've answered my own question.Looked on their website

[Steve@Wilkos]

Happy Christmas everyone.
So has anyone got any feedback on any festive Wilko tipples they made for Christmas?

Cheers
Steve

[sbond10]

Nope but I did get a velvet stout waiting to go in Fv just need to get sum spray malt

[pumblechook]

Hi Steve, thanks for coming on here and looking for feedback, classy thing to do, i'm regularly in wilkinsons to pick up bit and pieces,

just a quick Q any chance you're considering including cheap spray malt in the smaller (2m display) stores at all, I can't find any stores with the 3m display north of the Tyne (newcastle, Gateshead, Byker, shields, Blyth etc) on your list

Cheers

Stu

Just had a quick read down that list and the Killingworth store has a 3m display.

I must go for another look actually, I don't go in that often for home brew stuff as I have all the kit I need (foolish statement ), I try to stick to my LHBS in Whitley Bay and I tend to go for higher-end kits than were available in Wilco's the last time I looked.

[tricky_dicky]

Hi Steve

Recently done the Velvet Stout, with 1KG of Enhancer. This was an excellent beer, never guess it was a £10 kit. 9/10

Had a Pilsner in the bottle for 3 weeks now, done with brewing sugar. this one is ok, not great but drinkable - it's got a bit of a twang to it, and it's obviously done with an ale yeast, so it was never going to be as crisp as a true pilsner. It may well improve over the next couple of weeks however....5/10

For Xmas I got a Sweet Newkie Brown and a Hoppy Copper Bitter, so will report back on these

[johnnyh]

Hi Steve,

Popped into the Trowbridge Wilkinsons today but couldn't find any sort of stock/display bar a 2 foot square 3 tiered plinth which had about 6 beer kits, a few glasses and a couple of wine kits on it.

Out of that is was mainly Coopers brand. I didn't have more than a couple of minutes so could only do a quick once around the floor, but will pop back if there is/should be more??

I guess could be a case of floor displays being moved post the Xmas trading?

Cheers

Johnny

[Cozzyb]

Really confused how the first few pages were full of rage towards this, honestly, you think WIlkos are every going to be worse the tesco?
And even ignoring that face, I've been the my LHBS shop once, mostly because it was expensive and costs me just as much to go to it on the bus, as delivery from online does, but also because the service imo was pretty bad, I got much more help from people like Rob at Malt Miller.

Wilkos however is offering me something even as a all grain/extract brewer, as I can go in and get a packet of quality yeast (as confirmed earlier, they have Nottingham under another name), which is also cheap. Add in the things like camden tablets, stabilisers and finnings, and it becomes my one stop shop for bits and bobs.

Good luck to WIlkinsons, and please try and get more stock out at the Sheffield branch as it seemed to be missing some of the good things last time I went in.

[stoofer74]

Well first of all I was really impressed by my first experiece of dealing with wilkos online.I dont have a local store living near inverness my nearest wilkos is about 120 miles away.anyway I was tipped of by someone on here that wilkos was doing 20% off boxing day that made the woodfordes wherry £14.40 bargain.I got 2 and 2 bags of bke I wish i had ordered more , anyway got my delivery today everthing was packaged really well, really happy.when can I have a wilkos in inverness?

[Steve@Wilkos]

Hi Steve,

Popped into the Trowbridge Wilkinsons today but couldn't find any sort of stock/display bar a 2 foot square 3 tiered plinth which had about 6 beer kits, a few glasses and a couple of wine kits on it.

Out of that is was mainly Coopers brand. I didn't have more than a couple of minutes so could only do a quick once around the floor, but will pop back if there is/should be more??

I guess could be a case of floor displays being moved post the Xmas trading?

Cheers

Johnny

Hi Jonny,
Trowbridge has the full range and it should be on the outerwall of the shopfloor, over by the kitchen products. I think the display you saw is just a selection.

Cheers
Steve

[johnnyh]

ah cool, thanks Steve, I'll head back over when I am close by next week and have more time