Brewferm kits

[nicktherockstar]

Anyone used one of these before? being a fan of Belgium beers I couldn't help but have a crack at one.

I thought I would go for the "gold" which is a really really nice strong pilsner to begin with

Being imported from Belgium itself the measurements are a little off, two tins will make 24L or 5.3 gallons (if my maths are correct), so there was a little guesswork involved, but I think I have got it close enough! a kilo of muntons beer kit enhancer and I was away!

its only been going about 12 hours but after 2 hours when I checked it had a stonking head head formed on it (is this what you call that krausian is it?.. spelt something like that!) and its been pumping out co2 like there is no tomorrow ever since!

I am intending to keep it in there for at least 14 days then bottle it up in PETs and hide them away until mid October to give it time to develop!

I am thinking of maybe doing a secondary for the first time, for a further week after primary, any advise welcome!!

Nick


ps hello first post!

[Vossy1]

Hi NTRS, do a search on the forum using Brewferm.

They are a very good kit, I've done a few. Slightly on the dearer side for a kit but well worth it IMO

I did the x-mas ale which was very good, but I'm sure it would have gained from being matured longer than 4 months

I think I did the Diabolo and Dubble as well, but can't remember

EDIT Triple not dubbel

[nicktherockstar]

cheers, will do!

yea they are of the more pricey kind. £7 for 21-22 pints, however in life, you get what you pay for. it is still cheaper than say the legendary werry, ill let you know how it comes on!!

[steve_flack]

You do get twice as much beer out of a wherry kit though so it evens out in the end.

[nicktherockstar]

yea thats what i meant, half the beer for just under half the price.

I am no master brewer however just from my experience of kits, i always generally pay 14-20 for a 40 pint kit. the cost is not so much an issue, its more about making the best possible beer for me:)

[mikeyt]

Trust me, these kits are fantastic! And even though the average is about £7 per can, for 12 litres or so, they are really worth it!

Just do yourself a favour, and wait as long as humanly possible before drinking them - you will be rewarded! I've done quite a few of these kits one after the other, so that I've got a nice range come October time.

I had my last bottle of Diabolo last night - just turned 6 months old, and was well worth it. I suppose I'll be doing that one again real soon!

[nicktherockstar]

yea i was hoping to have it nice for mid/late oct, but thats only 3 months or so, I might be very very good and leave it until xmas, which is the absolute maximum that baby is going to be left for!

as with all these things its just forward planning though, I try and start a brew every month or so then just have a break for 4-5 months so catch up when i have 2-3 brews made.

[Burner]

I can thoroughly recommend the triple it's great.

[Chris The Fish]

im also a fan of the brewferm kits..

Ambiorix - mine is about 6.5% and its all i can muster not to drink it, i have 4 bottles left and its been going about 2 months its a cracking strong flavoured red beer.

Tarwerbier (twice) first time it lasted about 1 month, the second is still very young and I also added orange blossom (steeped then added to the fermenter) which i have to admit, im drinking it now its soo nice and its only 3 weeks since bottling.

ive got my eye on a grand cru which is supposed to be very nice (do a search and you'll find a few refrences) and the xmas beer.

The only one that seems to be a bit 'weird' is the kreik, but i may be mistaken.

Have fun and let us know how you get on.

[ade1865]

Looking at the Brewferm website, they recommend quite a high amount of priming sugar. will these kits be alright in normal beer bottles? Or should I get some more 1L PETS. 2L PETS would be a waste for me, as I wouldn't want to drink the whole lot in one go and would undoubtedly have to share

[bitter_dave]

Looking at the Brewferm website, they recommend quite a high amount of priming sugar. will these kits be alright in normal beer bottles? Or should I get some more 1L PETS. 2L PETS would be a waste for me, as I wouldn't want to drink the whole lot in one go and would undoubtedly have to share

With the gravity of Brewferm kits you definately don't want to be bottling them in 2L bottles . As long as the bottles are reasonably solid ale bottles you'll be fine (I bottled a brewferm kit I made in bitter and twisted bottles, and that was fine)

[StrangeBrew]

Would there be much difference in the end product when using dme or candi sugar and is candi sugar more fermentable than dme?

[DRB]

The abbey is a tasty one.

[nicktherockstar]

I tried a hoegarden grand cru yesterday for the first time, so ill be very tempted to give that kit a go. its a good job it only makes 9 litres mind

[nicktherockstar]

well, I am sorry to say, 14 days in and the brewferm looks to be dead!

I have done everything to get it going but its been stuck on 1020 for a week now and smells on the sweet side, repitched some new yeast last night but not a spout of activity yet, i know its a little early but not looking good. I will give it another few days if it has not budged in the scrapper it goes!

quite gutted as this is my first fermentation to not breeze through!