Clone recipes when brewing with a Kit?

[happyboy]

Hi Everyone,
Have just kegged my first brew (Young's Harevest Pilsner + Muntons Beer Enhancer + Sugar) today and am not entirely sure if it's going to turn out ok, as I did mess it up a bit (stopped fermenting after day 3 and felt a bit sweet to taste out of the FV) somewhere. Took it from the FV to the pressure barrel after 4 days in the FV.

For what it's worth - I did try a bit of Orange peel and clove in the pilsner / my first brew attempt - it smelt great on day 2 - but don't know what it will taste like after about 10 days when I taste it cold

Anyways - my fav beers are Hoegaarden, blue moon, Sierra Nevada, Leffe, Guiness, Murphy's, Peroni, Urquell.
I am wondering if there are recipes for Kit brewers that can clone / come close to any of the above beers?

Cheers!

[dave-o]

Hi Everyone,
am not entirely sure if it's going to turn out ok, as I did mess it up a bit (stopped fermenting after day 3 and felt a bit sweet to taste out of the FV) somewhere. Took it from the FV to the pressure barrel after 4 days in the FV.

Be careful with this. Fermentation is not always obvious, and should be measured with a hydrometer rather than by eye.

Bottling/kegging when not fully fermented can be dangerous. It might be a good idea to release pressure in the barrel daily for a few more days

Of the beers you mention, i can help you with guinness or hoegaarden clones if interested.

[happyboy]

Hi Dave-o,

Will keep an eye out on the pressure barrel and do as you suggest. My 1st timer excitement / nerves I guess ...although the Hydrometer did stay at 1012 for about 2 days.
Is it ok to draw out some beer from the tap or should I loosen the vent to release pressure?

Also, I did pour just one bottle....and let is settle and chilled it today...and interestingly enough even the wife was excited about seeing how the beer turned out....so we did open the bottle ....it had a fair bit of CO2 in it, the swing top literally flew back...and contrary to what I thought would happen...very nice head of foam....I did not pour the complete bottle as there was a fair bit of sediment (my fault when moving from FV to barrel, I ended up jolting the FV).
The taste was interesting as well....in my excitement of brewing my own beer...i had added some cloves and a bit of orange peel to a pilsner (Tesco's dont have any Wheat kits and I could not wait).....tasted a bit like a pilsner but not as bitter as I would have liked / expected...but I am guessing and hoping the taste is going to change a bit in the next 2 weeks in the barrel.

And yes please...would love to have the Hoegaarden and Guniness clone recipes....Hoegaarden is probably my favourite beer at the moment.
Thanks!!

[dave-o]

Ah, it seems you are looking for kit recipes, which i have no knowledge of.

My AG Hoegaarden recipe though, is:

(23l brew length)

2200g Pilsener malt
2000g Flaked wheat
30g Saaz - full boil
25g crushed coriander seeds - 15 mins
30g curacao orange peel - 15 mins

If you cannot get the peel, or do not want to go to the expense of it, you can add 3 tangerines to the last 10 minutes of the boil. Fish these out and add them to the FV for the primary ferment. Fish them out again after 3 days (they will float so it's easy enough).

If not going for a traditional hoegaarden clone, you can add about 20g of bobek or liberty for 5 minutes too, this gives it more of a crisp citrus taste.

[happyboy]

Thanks!