Tom Caxton Best Bitter

Discuss making up beer kits - the simplest way to brew.
SilasWegg
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Re: Tom Caxton Best Bitter

Post by SilasWegg » Mon Oct 08, 2018 11:11 am

BarnsleyBrewer wrote:
Mon Oct 08, 2018 9:59 am
Tom Caxton........... That brings back memories...
Good memories I hope. Though I think the manufacture of beer kits these days is superior to my memory of it back in the 1970s when the tin contained a large proportion of barley syrup in with the malt extract and the quality of the yeast was questionable, probably something Hovis were using 😂

BarnsleyBrewer
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Re: Tom Caxton Best Bitter

Post by BarnsleyBrewer » Mon Oct 08, 2018 11:59 am

SilasWegg wrote:
Mon Oct 08, 2018 11:11 am
BarnsleyBrewer wrote:
Mon Oct 08, 2018 9:59 am
Tom Caxton........... That brings back memories...
Good memories I hope. Though I think the manufacture of beer kits these days is superior to my memory of it back in the 1970s when the tin contained a large proportion of barley syrup in with the malt extract and the quality of the yeast was questionable, probably something Hovis were using 😂
Being honest kits in the 80's always had that homebrew twang in the taste but before I did AG i didn't know any different and it was acceptable.
But I'll also say say doing AG in the 90's wasn't as good as it is now with the abundance of fresh malts & hops available from sellers like Maltmiller and others, also there's some great yeasts out there available to us nowadays.

I also read that cans can now be sexed up with brewing sugars and hop extract to make them better.

BB
"Brewing Fine Ales in Barnsley Since 1984"
- - - - - - - 30 years (1984 - 2014)- - - - - - -
Pints Brewed in 2021......... 104
Pints brewed in 2018.. 416
Pints brewed in 2017.. 416 - Pints brewed in 2016.. 208
Pints brewed in 2015.. 624 - Pints brewed in 2014.. 832

WalesAles
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Re: Tom Caxton Best Bitter

Post by WalesAles » Tue Oct 09, 2018 9:51 pm

BarnsleyBrewer wrote:
Mon Oct 08, 2018 11:59 am
SilasWegg wrote:
Mon Oct 08, 2018 11:11 am
BarnsleyBrewer wrote:
Mon Oct 08, 2018 9:59 am
Tom Caxton........... That brings back memories...
I also read that cans can now be sexed up with brewing sugars and hop extract to make them better.

BB
BARNSLEYBREWER! [-X
Sexed up with Brewing Sugar? Hop Extract? You are having a Laugh at us Kit Brewers! [-X
Dried Malt Extract, Steeped Grains, Real Hops, Leaf or Pellets at start of Brew, Dry Hop Leaf or Pellets day 8,
FG1010, Way to go! Bottle day 14. Flippin` `eck Mun, got to go now before I punch my Laptop.

WA

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BarnsleyBrewer
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Re: Tom Caxton Best Bitter

Post by BarnsleyBrewer » Wed Oct 10, 2018 7:52 am

Hi Wales..
I know you do a cracking stout from kits, and probably other types too! 8) 8)
I've got fond memories of brewing from kits but was never over excited by them 30+ years ago, glad to hear they're better nowadays!

BB
"Brewing Fine Ales in Barnsley Since 1984"
- - - - - - - 30 years (1984 - 2014)- - - - - - -
Pints Brewed in 2021......... 104
Pints brewed in 2018.. 416
Pints brewed in 2017.. 416 - Pints brewed in 2016.. 208
Pints brewed in 2015.. 624 - Pints brewed in 2014.. 832

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orlando
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Re: Tom Caxton Best Bitter

Post by orlando » Wed Oct 10, 2018 9:10 am

BarnsleyBrewer wrote:
Mon Oct 08, 2018 9:59 am
Tom Caxton........... That brings back memories...

None of them good. #-o
I am "The Little Red Brooster"

Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,

Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer

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Horden Hillbilly
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Re: Tom Caxton Best Bitter

Post by Horden Hillbilly » Sat Oct 13, 2018 10:55 am

n my early days of brewing I brewed a Tom Caxton lager kit, Mrs H and I were in our courting days then and I decided to try out my new brewing skills to impress her. I did everything you should not do in those days regarding brewing, ie how much sugar does this kit need, 2lb on the instructions, I think I will use 3lb, fermenting temperature, the hotter the better, in the airing cupboard with it, doors closed, fermented in 3 days!

I presented her with a orangy coloured, flat, example of how not to make a brew type of lager. It must have had some taste though, but by the way she screwed her face almost inside out it was obviously not a pleasant one!

She resisted the temptation to pour it over my head, to this day when she asks me to make her a lager and I ask her if she would like a Tom Caxton kit I still get a sharp "No Thanks!" response, she has still not forgot about it!

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Re: Tom Caxton Best Bitter

Post by BarnsleyBrewer » Sat Oct 13, 2018 4:20 pm

Sounds a bit like my early experiences Dave...
Extra sugar, hot airing cupboard powered by a fierce coal fire downstairs fermenting something vile that got you pissed and a cracking hangover the next day.. lol

BB


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"Brewing Fine Ales in Barnsley Since 1984"
- - - - - - - 30 years (1984 - 2014)- - - - - - -
Pints Brewed in 2021......... 104
Pints brewed in 2018.. 416
Pints brewed in 2017.. 416 - Pints brewed in 2016.. 208
Pints brewed in 2015.. 624 - Pints brewed in 2014.. 832

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Horden Hillbilly
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Re: Tom Caxton Best Bitter

Post by Horden Hillbilly » Sun Oct 14, 2018 7:20 pm

I learned the hard way with the hangovers from hell BB, me being a typical Hillbilly, I decided to ignore the instructions as "I knew best".

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FUBAR
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Re: Tom Caxton Best Bitter

Post by FUBAR » Sun Oct 14, 2018 7:57 pm

I recall them all tasting the same weird taste regardless of it being a Lager or Bitter kit :-& .
I buy my grain & hops from here http://www.homebrewkent.co.uk/


I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me - Winston Churchill

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