Belgian beer kits

[RichardG]

Gentlemen (and Ladies!), for Christmas I'm interested in doing one of the Belgian style beer kits. I've read much about Brewferms Grand Cru which everyone seems to rave about, but wonder if anyone has experience and opinions of this and any of the others they could pass on? I'm also considering bottling in smaller 33cl bottle given that I understand these beers can be pretty strong and have a lot of fizz. Comments please!

[Waffty]

Christmas & Abbey are both good 'Winter' brews, both full bodied and both strong 7 to 8% ABV.

Best get starting soon, as both require around 8 weeks to mature, longer if possible.

[Jaoqua]

Hey, lads...a bit off topic, I know, but my local HBS is in Pershore and it doesn't stock exotica like BrewFerm kits. Where do you get your kits from? Is there a good HBS in the Dudley/Halesowen area? Or do you Internet order?

[kenny850]

i can recommend Hamstead Homebrew on the Newton road in Great Barr about 7mls? from Dudley,good choice of kits plus friendly advice

[RichardG]

May I second Kenny850's post. Excellent establishment! Straight up the M5 to the M6, take the south bound carriageway to the next junction (junc 8 I believe), come off there and take the A34 towards Birmingham. Travel a 1/4 mile or so south bound till you come to the major traffic lights. At these turn right (there's a filter lane). You're now on a dual carriageway with a central reservation. The shop is on the opposite side so you'll need to turn round at the first gap and come back on youself. Park up, and enjoy!

[vinceg]

Or you can get it by mail order from here, which is what I will resort to I reckon, as my LHBS only seems to be only open when there's a full moon the Monday after ITFC win away from home.

Content deleted in accordance with forum rules.

Only trouble with mail order is they kill you on postage, but it's the same price for 2 kits bizarrely, £4.75. My next nearest HBS is 35 miles away, so might as well get it delivered than waste 2gal of petrol

[Waffty]

I use Harris's (of Harries filter frame i.e they make Beerbrite finnings) in lower Gornal, Dudley. They hold an excellent selection of beer kits, everything from their own brand extract kits, upt o full grain brewing & have bery friendly knowledgeable staff.

http://www.homebeermaking.co.uk/

Can't remember seeing any Brewferm kits, so got mine mail order.

They stock all the usual stuff, camden tables, steraliser, brushes etc etc, the majority of which are cheaper than the on line stores i.e Woodfords Wharry is around £15 & £18 + postage everywhere else.

Give then a try but phone first, as I'm not sure of their hours.

Darren.

[RichardG]

Just to drag the thread some what back to the original message I'd like to just clarify a few points regarding Brewferms kits. From reading other posts it seems that whereas in most kits we'd replace the sugar with spray malt and/or brewing sugar, with Brewferm kits this is not recommended (though candi sugar could be used instead). Similarly it would appear that most (if not all) of their kits do not require priming sugar on bottling. Can anyone confirm or correct this impression?

[PeteH]

I think that's right about the additional fermentables, but as far as I know its only the Christmas Ale that doesn't require priming. The instructions are all the same, but with a chart that tells you the additional sugar and water for each different kit.

[Marts]

Yep. The instructions clearly show the amount of sugar to be added for priming. IIRC its listed as sugar 2 on the table

[RichardG]

Ahh I see! I was thinking at this stage of the Abbey, and I recall now having seen a link to the chart you mention. Must see if I can find it again. Cheers!

[Waffty]

I'd like to just clarify a few points regarding Brewferms kits. From reading other posts it seems that whereas in most kits we'd replace the sugar with spray malt and/or brewing sugar, with Brewferm kits this is not recommended (though candi sugar could be used instead). Similarly it would appear that most (if not all) of their kits do not require priming sugar on bottling. Can anyone confirm or correct this impression?

I guess there's nothing stopping you using spray malt, as your fermentable sugar but since the kits already give you a decent body, with sugar, then there's no real need to use it. This is in contrast with some of the cheaper kits, that benefit from DME, to give them body. At this point, it's worth noting that the majority of the Brewferm (standard) kits come in a standard can size, yet they all make different amounts i.e everything from 7l for Christmas up to 20l for their Pils (or be it, the Pils requires 1Kg of sugar).

It's also worth noting that they use different amount of priming sugars, depending on their brew length e.g Chrismas brew nothing, all the way up to 165g for 20l of Pils.

Unlike some kit makers, Brewferm tailor their standard can kits to reflect the requirements of the brew & if that means dropping down the brew length, then that's what they do i.e Christmas brew is quite heavy, so has a brew length of 7l without sugar, yet Pils is light (almost watery) so it made to a brew length of 20l with 1Kg of ordinary sugar.

So in answer to your question, standard brewing sugar or candi sugar is what they recommend, as it balances nicely with the strength flavour, they're trying to achieve & likewise, priming is specific to the brew your doing.

I have a PDf of the above, that I'll see if I can host somewhere, as it gives a break down of all their kits and who they made up, specific to the brew you're making i.e the instructions are generic and simply make reference to Sugar1 (fermenting), Water1 (to top up the can contents), FG & Sugar2 (priming).

Then all you do is cross reference with the table at the back & the jobs a good un.

I'd recommend the Brewferm kits to anyone, as they are a little different to the 1.8Kg of extract, meets 1Kg of sugar & his best friend 18+ litres of water.

I've got an Abbey to make, which is a dark 8% ABV but since it only makes 9l, I've bought two kits & will make each up to the instructions but plonk them both into the same fermenter. Each kit calls for 500g of sugar, so I've opted for 500g light candi & 500g dark candi + I may throw in 50g of brewers sugar, as using candi sugar requires 5% more sugar (but bags only come in 500g )

Darren.

[Dill]

According to the Brewferm kit instructions, the Christmas ale is the only one that doesn't require any sugar at all. All of the other kits require priming sugar . Heres the chart your looking for Richard.

Click Here

Have a look at this earlier post by boisum Click Here

I agree with what boisum wrote, and I will be making my Grand Crue kit with just normal white table sugar.

As this kit is only 9litres i'm sure it will be no real hardship to drink, no matter how it turns out.

[RichardG]

That's great guys, thanks a bunch to all of you for helping. Having thought and read further, I've decided to go for the Abbey as Darrens description sounds like just the thing I was after. So, Saturday will see me up to the Hamstead Homebrew shop for supplies!

[Waffty]

I've decided to go for the Abbey

Abbey - Dark brown, full-bodied with a malty flavour. A divine beer requiring long maturation.

For 9 litres
Original gravity:1.070
ABV: 8,0%

A wise choice ...........

http://www.brewferm.be/en/index.htm

Darren.