For my next brew?

[RichardG]

Okay, I've done a few brews now, which I've been pleased with. Woodfordes Wherry (vg!), Muntons Traditional Bitter (Okay, but getting better), John Bull London Porter (surprisingly nice), Brewferms Grand Cru to be bottled tonight, and a Muntons Gold IPA to go on next. So, I need to start thinking about what to do after the IPA. My thoughts are currently; Brewers Choice 80/-, Muntons Gold Highland Heavy, Muntons Gold Old English Bitter, or Brupaks Almondbury Old. I'm interested to hear if anyone has any experience of these and how they turned out. Not necessarily asking your opinion of the 'style' of beer, as that's down to personal preference, but I would like your experience of these (or, indeed, any alternative!). Many thanks in advance!

[Waffty]

For my 2p worth, you're posting in the wrong section i.e after all those kit brews, why don't you look at extract brewing

As for kit recomendations, why not try the Brupaks Pride of Yorkshire, Bitters/Ale selection, they come with a 'tea bag' which you can use to alter the flavour/profile of beer? If you've done a few bitters/ales, how about a Stout/Porter which are idea winter brews or even a Lager (made with puka bottom fermenting yeast)?

Then there's the next alternative i.e 1.5/1.8Kg kits with a selection of steeped hops/specalist grains? Brupaks & morgan sell flavour 'tea bags'. The Brupaks Lager flavour kit is made up of three bags, hops & grain selection, which are excellent.

Darren.

[RichardG]

Cheers Waffty. My medium term ambition is to move into extract/AG; but not right now. I don't have and can't afford the additional kit, don't have the room, and with kids and SWMBO running around, it wouldn't be practical right now. Having said that, I want to see if I can move into this next year. I've seen plenty of sites (including this one!) with recipes, so I'm keen to give it a try in due course. Once I do I reckon I won't turn back. I'll look into Brupaks, might well be interesting. As for Porter, I've done one of those, but will certainly be doing another (though probably a different kit if I haven't moved to AG by then. My experience suggests that, generally, the 3kg kits are better than the smaller version)!

[Waffty]

My experience suggests that, generally, the 3kg kits are better than the smaller version)!

True, having said that, a 1.8Kg extract kit, with 1Kg of spray dried malt (or liquide extract), pretty much results in the same thing. Yet you can buy different types of extract, some light, some dark, most un-hopped and some hopped. Couple this with 30g of hops, (1/3rd boiled & 2/3rds steeped), will give you a radically different brew, to the out of the box 3Kg kits & deffo different/better than 1.8Kg malt & 1Kg sugar.

It's a 'given' that kit extract looses some of the aroma when it's processed into the tin, so adding additonal flavour to the 'reconsituted' extract will deffo improve the flavour (hence why Brupaks POY supply you with said tea bag).

I use Harris homebrew in Gornal, where I bought their bog standard lager kit (made by muntons) but instead of using 1Kg of sugar, I used 500g of light spray dried malt, 500g of sugar (didn't want it to be too heavy), a puka lager yeast (SafeLager) & Brupaks Lager flavour kit i.e 3 steeped tea bags. The result it a half decent brew, with even my lager drinking mates rated highly. Personally, I think it would have benefited with slightly spray malt (750g) vs the sugar option (250g) + I'd also throw in a few additional 'bittering' hops Saaz, just to give it a little more bite, the aroma was spot on.

In short, a 'blank' canvas, gives you more possibilities i.e 3Kg of hopped malt, gives you all the fermentables you need, so you can't change much there, other than bitterness (increased bitterness, as it will already have some) and aroma. Yeast does play a part but I'm guessing you're already a Safe04 fan ?

Darren.

[RichardG]

Thanks Darren; correct on the S04. Wish I'd spotted the 'Dudley' part earlier. I see that Harris Homebrew have a website so I'll have to pay them a visit. Have you been to Hamstead Homebrew in Great Barr? If so, how do you rate the two shops? Other than that, you're comments have me intrigued. I'm gonna have to look into this further as, it would seem, this needn't involve much more gear than kit brewing. Would I be right?

[Waffty]

I've only ever popped into Hamstead Homebrew a long time ago, so can't really make a comparison. Harris homebrew is only a small shop, on a hill in lower Gornal. It is however deceptive i.e when you first walk in, you get the impression it's a 'Wine' oriented brew shop, with a small selection on Beer kits but if you look past this & start browsing the array of ground level storage bins, you'll find everything from the usual offering of beer kits (including their own brand), hops, grain, spray malt, malt extract, cleaning supplies, citric acid, yeast vit, yeast selections + the various equipment (most of which isn't on show, so ask).

If you get served by the old lady & buy a kit off them, then she'll usually throws in a packet of BeerBrite (which they actually make), in fact, the majority of the staff are helpful, apart from the you lad, who is a bit of win snob i.e doesn't like to chit chat with us 'beer' drinking types.

When I was last there, I picked up Harris's own lager kit (1.8Kg extract) for £7.90, 500g of Muntons spray malt for £2.80 & a 1Kg bag of brewers sugar for £1.40'ish. They also sell a 'dry' kit, made up of spray malt, hops & grains, which can be 'boiled' in a 7l stock pot for that extract brewing experiance(kit makes a standard 40 pint kit).

Parking isn't too bad, as it you time it right, you can park free outside. In addition, over the road from them, is the Bull's head, with has it's own Mirco Brewery, kicking out, 3 or 4 brews, which could tempt you, if you're safe to do so.

Darren

[RichardG]

Cheers for that Darren, I'll have to go and have a look, but it sounds like a most interesting place to visit. I'll get there as soon as I can.