Well I decided that I can't wait to get all the bits for my new AG system, so I have bought a Colne Valley Bitter Kit on the reccomendation of my local HBS. It's been at least 4 years since I've brewed AG and more than three times that since I've brewed from a kit. I'm now very exited and feel like a kid at christmas! I plan to brew as per instructions as my boiler isn't ready yet and I have just enough kit to do it by the book, as it were.
If anyone has any advice then feel free to give me the benefit of it, please. I started brewing AG over twenty years ago but feel like I need to learn the art all over again; which is fine by me as it feels like a new hobby again!
I'll shall update on my progress; I intend to start on Saturday.
First go at a kit for many years!
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Horatio
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First go at a kit for many years!
If I had all the money I'd spent on brewing... I'd spend it on brewing!
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Swiller
Re: First go at a kit for many years!
I am sure as an old AG brewer you will be just fine with a kit! Welcome back to the brewing fraternity, advice? Do what it says on the tin my friend.
Jules
Jules
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EoinMag
Re: First go at a kit for many years!
I'd disagree and say completely ignore the instructions on the tin, only add spraymalt to make up the full volume, no white sugars and then leave the beer fermenting for at least 3 weeks before bottling or kegging and another 3-4 weeks before drinking. Take readings if you must but don't try to keep to the timetable on the tin, it'll have you trying to drink beer too green and too early.
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Swiller
Re: First go at a kit for many years!
I thought as he is a old AG brewer he would have known I humbly appologise, I was refering to the procedure rather than ingredience.
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Ditch
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Re: First go at a kit for many years!
Horatio; If ye don't intend to do anything till Saturday, then ye have all the time in the world to slide around in here and refresh ye head and view what various people have to say about how they prefer to handle their kits.
One thing I suspect ye will find ~ in the death ~ is how much better the results we expect are these days. In large part due to the use of dried malt, as opposed to the dreaded Tate and Lyle, granted. But much of it's come a long way from pre history.
I'd imagine ye noticed there's a lot more kits to even choose from these days too, eh? So many it can make it a bit of a bugger to choose! Great, isn't it?
One thing I suspect ye will find ~ in the death ~ is how much better the results we expect are these days. In large part due to the use of dried malt, as opposed to the dreaded Tate and Lyle, granted. But much of it's come a long way from pre history.
I'd imagine ye noticed there's a lot more kits to even choose from these days too, eh? So many it can make it a bit of a bugger to choose! Great, isn't it?
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Horatio
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- Location: Stanford le Hope, Essex. UK
Re: First go at a kit for many years!
Thanks for the replies!
It is a two can kit and needs no extra sugars (good advice on the white sugar, ghastly stuff!). Normally I would boil as close to final brew length as possible but my boiler is still under construction, so no boil for this one. It comes with a teabag of hop pellets, variety unknown. I have never used these, only fresh hops, and am a little confused as to the alternative methods of using them. The instructions say:
1, Boil them with a few litres of the wort for 40 minutes and add to the FV before pitching the yeast (checking wort temp first).
2, As above but boil for only 10 minutes to only impart flavour and not bitterness.
3, Place in a jug and pour over 250ml boiling water, step for 5 minutes then add to secondary FV for aroma.
Now I understand all these instructions and the resasons behind them, what I don't know is what the beer will taste like following any of them! This due to not having made/drunk any beer made from these kits. It is a Brupaks, Yorkshire Pride, Colne Valley Bitter.
I asked my local home brew supplier (who knows me from old) and he just said what has been said here, 'do what it says on the tin'. In an ideal world I would do all three, flavour, bitterness and aroma!
Has any one hear brewed this particular kit?
It is a two can kit and needs no extra sugars (good advice on the white sugar, ghastly stuff!). Normally I would boil as close to final brew length as possible but my boiler is still under construction, so no boil for this one. It comes with a teabag of hop pellets, variety unknown. I have never used these, only fresh hops, and am a little confused as to the alternative methods of using them. The instructions say:
1, Boil them with a few litres of the wort for 40 minutes and add to the FV before pitching the yeast (checking wort temp first).
2, As above but boil for only 10 minutes to only impart flavour and not bitterness.
3, Place in a jug and pour over 250ml boiling water, step for 5 minutes then add to secondary FV for aroma.
Now I understand all these instructions and the resasons behind them, what I don't know is what the beer will taste like following any of them! This due to not having made/drunk any beer made from these kits. It is a Brupaks, Yorkshire Pride, Colne Valley Bitter.
I asked my local home brew supplier (who knows me from old) and he just said what has been said here, 'do what it says on the tin'. In an ideal world I would do all three, flavour, bitterness and aroma!
Has any one hear brewed this particular kit?
If I had all the money I'd spent on brewing... I'd spend it on brewing!