Sugar, DME or beer enhancer?

[opentoideas]

hehe,

yes 2 bags

std Geordie bitter was made to 23L with 1Kg cane sugar and S04 yeast

DME one was again Geordie bitter with 1Kg Muntons medium spray malt and S04 yeast made up to 20L

if anything the reduction in fluid on the DME version should have compensated for the difference in fermentables and concentrated the flavor - its a wierd one

dosn't matter I have another one to try next so it may just be this brew

[sparky Paul]

I'm beat.

[drbell]

While everyone is on this subject, what is the difference between Spraymalt and DME please? Both seem to be preferred to sugar, but wasn't clear what the difference was.

[drbell]

Brilliant reply. Thanks once again Daab.

[opentoideas]

well thanks to friends and neighbors I am now onto the second DME brew.

the first cornie didnt even last a week

I guess there was nothing wrong with it as there were no complaints

I am beggining to think that what I am describing as "watery" is actually a taste I am not used to or has previously been overpowered and is getting a chance to come through. but i am struggling to think of a better way to describe it

sort of an iron/minty/airy type flavor - cripes just read that and it sounds disgusting - its not really

it will be interesting to see how the next keg compares as that will be back to a sugar brew

[CyberPaddy66]

Just noticed this thread

Since I got back into brewing beer I've only ever used Geordie kits with Beer Kit Enhancer and I'm not at all un-happy with the results, although I'm thinking of experimenting a bit before I go AG but that's a whole different thread

[opentoideas]

Just noticed this thread

Since I got back into brewing beer I've only ever used Geordie kits with Beer Kit Enhancer and I'm not at all un-happy with the results

i have only ever brewed cheap kits Geordie and Youngs.

they are nothing to shout about but at the same time they are a prerfectly drinkable pint.

i am waiting with interest to get back to a sugar brew as i didnt notice any improvement going to the DME brews (other than a slightwatery flavor) but it will be interesting to see if i notice the change going in the other direction having been drinking the DME brews for a while

I keep looking at AG but have no space and less time so i think i will be stuck with kits for the forseable future

[CyberPaddy66]

So far I've done all the Geordie ale kits (Scottish Export, Bitter, Mild, Yorkshire Bitter) and one Youngs Bitter kit (not counting the EDME Irish Stout that was heaven in a glass!) and I have to say the Youngs was OK but not as nice as the Geordie kits and out of those the Mild is my favourite (also the one I'll be experimenting with) by far.

I used to use sugar when I first started (over 20 years ago) even with the Hambleton Bard Kits but I've only used the Beer Kit Enhancers since getting back into brewing. IMHO it gives the beer a nice bit of body and head without lacking too much in strength (not as important these days as it used to be ).

Let us know your results on the Sugar brews especially if you do a side by side comparison... Hmmm I do have two empty buckets at the moment (curse these plasterers!)

[opentoideas]

the side by side comparison is where all the trouble started

I went from a sugar brew to a DME brew (missed out BKE to give the biggest change)

problem was I prefered the one with sugar

having been drinking the DME brews now I am waiting to see what it is like going back to the sugar brew - will i notice the change and will i still prefer it

I also have a 2 kit brew to follow that just as another comparison (2 Geordie kits are cheaper than 1 + DME) I have a feeling it will be the one I like the most as I do like a "bitter" bitter

now I just need to find some big rubber stoppers as I have 2 5gal glass bottles that I need to press into use as fermenters then maybe I can let some of it condition for more than 2 weeks

[opentoideas]

Latest installment

Well I have now gone back to a Geordie bitter with cane sugar.

Have to say that though I did not notice much going between a sugar brew and a DME brew going back is MUCH more noticeable.

It may be that the latest brew is still a bit (O.K. a LOT) green but it is comparatively lacking in depth. – can’t think of a better way to describe it.

I am interested to get to the twin can kit (that’s next in line) but though I would put in an update.

With the recent hike in kit prices from Wilko’s I guess I may start looking at the more expensive twin can kits although the first and simplest improvement is already in place – 5 of 6 cornies full so the beer may get a chance to mature a bit for once

[CyberPaddy66]

With the recent price increase for Beer Kit Enhancer at Wilko's I'm going back to just granulated sugar

[opentoideas]

I never tried BKE - I went straight for DME to give the most noticable change. looking back it did noticably improve the Geordie kits.

its not much more than BKE but with the price of that and a cheap kit I think once I run out of Geordie kits (got about 10 left ) I will try some of the more expensive 3Kg kits as they are not that much more expensive and I want to experiment.

I do keep looking longingly at AG but I just dont have the time so for the moment its kits

[BlackBag]

Hello There
Just curious as to how your experiments are going. Fascinating thread this, it's something I would have done if I had the time, and the patience!

[opentoideas]

well i dont know if my results really gave any conclusion.

with geordie kits the DME gave it a slightly different taste - not better or worse, just different

i would not use it again with these kits as i feel it was a waste of money - but thats just my opinion - with a better kit the result may vary, and that will be another experiment for the future.

the 2 can kit was nice - though it refused to clearr. it was ,as expected, bitter but i like that

i will buy a couple of proper 2 can kits and give them a go next i think then see where i go from there

[CyberPaddy66]

well I think that classes as a good result, if your pallet says it's not better just different then it looks like a new experiment is in order... one with BKE and one with sugar to see what the difference is between them, shame I've got two empty buckets at the moment