Well, my kit has arrived!

[eddnix]

Hello people,
My brand spanking new beer gear has arrived, three KK top taps, two tapped fv's and five, count them...five decent kits which I sourced from trawling these forums (thanks people for the top tips btw) .
OK, here we go with the first of many questions I expect. Which kit should I do tonight (rubs hands with anticipation). We have:

1. Brupaks - Black Moor Stout.
2. Brupaks - Fixby Gold.
3. Brewers Choice - Traditional IPA with 1.5kg can malt extract.
4. Coopers IPA with pale DME.
5. Woodforde's Wherry using safale s-04 (after reading about the stuck fermentations, will hopefully minimise the risk).

So, which do I go with?
Thanks in advance for any replies, I feel like it's Christmas all over again, except this time I don't have the flu!

Eddnix

[BrewStew]

that's a good selection you've got there

as you have two FV's and three KK's, why not set two on the go?

although i rate the Wherry highly, good plan on the safale04 and might be a good idea to leave that one for when you know what to look for in a fermentation.

i notice you don't have a hydrometer on that list. if you haven't got one by now, it's worth getting a couple, otherwise you won't know for sure if any of those kits have stuck.

as for the choice, well, go with your gut

[eddnix]

thanks for the reply!
I also got a hydrometer and thermometer, cambden tablet for the chlorides and most other accessories I need.
I haven't brewed since my student days, and loaned all my old kit which I inherited from my old man to a friend who threw them in a skip after brewing some fine Sarsons (needless to say, we aren't too friendly anymore!).
These types of kits are all new to me, back in my day I used to brew yer' general budget kits, only difference was that I used to use glucose instead of sugar which everyone I knew back then used. I don't think I ever made a brew which didn't have HBT but I'm hoping after all the tips I've collated from here I have a better chance this time around...

eddnix

[Buzz]

Welcome aboard. My personal favourite would be the Brewers Choice IPA but, I agree that you should go with whatever your gut says and enjoy!

[MightyMouth]

BrewStews advise to hold off on the wherry until you are more familiar with what to expect from the other kits is good. I'd do the one of the IPA's first but only because I have recently become an IPA fan.

[booldawg]

I'd be tempted to make up the Fixby Gold; doesnt require any extra sugars so is simpler to make up and its a good reliable kit that yields excellent results. The added bonus is you can stand in the kitchen sniffing the little hop bag whilst you heat the tins up in the saucepan

[eddnix]

Thanks for the input! I think I'll go with the brewers choice IPA and the fixby gold.

Deciding to do two brews has raised another question, I plan to use one tapped fv to treat the liquor, then use that to brew in another fv. If I'm only using it for liquor should I re-sanitise after the first brew to treat the next batch of liquor?

Eddnix - gonna' have to get my signature sorted out if I end up posting on here as much as I expect I will.

[MickyD]

5 kits to start
Woohoo dive right into brewing, lol.

All good advice above, definitely leave the Wherry until your a little more experienced.

Good luck, and these guys will try to help every step of the way.

I would have thought if you have sanitised it for treating the liquor then pop the lid on the FV and it should be good for your next brew (if your doing it straight away).

[booldawg]

Deciding to do two brews has raised another question, I plan to use one tapped fv to treat the liquor, then use that to brew in another fv. If I'm only using it for liquor should I re-sanitise after the first brew to treat the next batch of liquor?

If you're going to re-fill the FV straight away with the liquor for the next brew then it'll be OK. The rule seems to be dont have kit sitting around un-used for more than an hour after sterilising. I've been lucky and sterlisied bottles long before needing them, 3 days in some cases. Not recommended behaviour as I'll get caught out one day. I've adopted a new policy of sanitising, sterilising and bottling the same day.

[discodave]

Go for NUMBER 4. Coopers APA with Spraymalt.

It is the best beer I've ever made. It walks all over commercial Pale Ales.

Keep the temp at 18-20 though, to keep the esters down in the flavour of yeast, or maybe use Nottingham yeast instead (clean taste).

It would shock a lager drinker! Light ale with real flavour!!

Good luck,

Dave..

[popric]

I agree with disco Dave, I've just started drinking Coopers IPA and it's the best home brew I've made in many a long year. If I bought it in a Pub I'd be more than chuffed. - nice selection though!

[mikewest]

Black Moor Stout or maybe .. Black Moor Stout !!

Easy to make and very nice to drink.

[mysterio]

I'm a fan of the Coopers IPA, too. Easy drinking but full of flavour.

[J_P]

I'm a fan of the Coopers IPA, too. Easy drinking but full of flavour.

Seconded, but then again I'm a big fan of the Fixby Gold too

[eddnix]

Well, just downed sticks and I have fixby and Coopers IPA fermenting.
All went as planned (used Daab's instructions for the fixby). I even managed to amputate a thumb with a shard of DME stuck to the paddle when cleaning after doing the coopers.
Anyway, thanks for all the input people, and here's hoping!