Any suggestions what to add to my next kit?

[trueheart]

Hi all

My mate and I have just bottled our second kit and like most begginers we tried our first batch within a week or so of bottling. We were a little dissapointed to be honest (kit was an "Art of Brewing" Premium bitter) but it has now been bottled for over 3 weeks and we cracked a couple open to try and the beer has taken on a more rounded finish and a little more taste, Result. The batch we have just bottled (Geordie Scottish bitter) has been boosted with some Goldings hops which we boiled for 15 mins and then added some more and steeped for a further 20 mins. This was added to our kit and hopefully this will produce a more hoppy flavour but my mate is more a fan of the slightly darker and sweeter ales. Can any body help with the following?

1. Can we add flavours to the kits by adding further ingredients like Maple syrup and if so how do we know how much to use in place of sugar?

2. What is the next stage up from standard kits like Geordie kits or Youngs kits etc?

3. What other flavours can be added? Any body added things like cinnamon, toffee or coffee?

Any help or suggestions will be gratefully received.

[WishboneBrewery]

Geordie kits aren't bad to add things to...

* Kit Brew #4 – Geordie Lager + Wheat Spray malt + Saaz Hops + Safbrew WB06 Yeast + Golden Syrup
* Kit Brew #3b – Geordie Yorkshire Bitter + Saaz Hops + Light Spray Malt + Safale 04 Yeast
* Kit Brew #3a – Geordie Yorkshire Bitter + Target Hops + Medium Spray Malt + Brewing Sugar + Demerara Sugar

Both the Yorkshire bitters were pretty good, the Wheaty Lager would have been better with S-04 or Saflager S-23 rather than the wheat yeast, as i made it it is OK but would be more drinkable as a less yeast flavoured.

[trueheart]

Cheers for that, How do I know how much syrup to add and do I deduct the amount of syrup away from the Kilo of Beer enhancer I use for each kit. I also hear that people add demerara sugar to their kits, Will this give a sweeter taste. What would happen if we put the Kilo of beer enhacer in along with some extra syrup or demerara sugar? Would it make for a stronger brew and would it fement longer?

[WishboneBrewery]

Here's what I did:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=20386&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... 15#p241963
http://pdtnc.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/g ... saaz-hops/

[fisherman]

Hello,
I brew with Geordie lager kits. I have a 7 gallon fermenter. My method makes very drinkable beer. My standard beer is.
1 geordie lager kit mixed with 1kg of Muntons medium spraymalt and 500grm of demerera sugar all disolved with water. In a seperate pot 20grm of hops boiled for 20 mins added to the malt solution and topped up to 27 litres add Nottingham yeast and ferment.
I do add water treatment Chris x advised me to buy a salfert alkalinity kit to correct my water (best thing ever) I add half a camden tablet 8 ml CRS and three tsp of DLS to my water prior to mixing the malts and hops.
regards
fisherman

[OldSpeckledBadger]

I do add water treatment Chris x advised me to buy a salfert alkalinity kit to correct my water (best thing ever) I add half a camden tablet 8 ml CRS and three tsp of DLS to my water prior to mixing the malts and hops.
regards
fisherman

Apart from the Campden tablet to kill Chlorine, you don't need any other water treatment for kits.

[6470zzy]

If you are brewing with kits, then a very easy and useful addition would be a nice dose of crystal malt. If you like a darker beer then I suggest steeping some 75-85° dark crystal and adding the runnings to your brew pot. That will give you some nice color as well as extra body and caramel flavor.

Cheers