Sticking Munton's (Woodfordes) Kits - Information and offer

[DEV]

June 07
Wherry, OG 1040, FG 1010, alc% vol = 4.02. kit states 4.5
kit yeast.
Feb 08
Muntons Traditional Bitter 1.8kg, OG 1040, FG 1010, alc% vol = 4.02
+ 2 x 500g Muntons spray malt
+ 250g sugar
+ Muntons yeast
June 08
Admirals reserve, OG 1040, FG 1010, alc% vol = 4.02. kit states 4.5
Safale 04
Aug 08
NOG, OG 1040, FG 1010, alc% vol = 4.02. kit states 4.5
Safale o4
Aug 08
Nelsons Revenge 36 pints, OG 1042, FG 1010, alc% vol = 4.29. kit states 5.0
Safale 04
Nov 08
Wherry, OG 1040, FG 1010, alc% vol = 4.02. kit states 4.5
Safale 04
Sorry this info is a bit long winded, but as you can see apart from one kit they all came
out the same, but I would suspect that would be the same if made up to 40 pints.
I hope this will help trading standards with the issue of alc% stated on the Packaging
Surely this is a false claim to what they are actually selling
These are just my results, so the kits that have been sticking or finishing at muntons stated 1014 are way off the mark

[jubby]

That's not long winded at all. Excellent records and I have to say that I would have been more than happy with those results. 1.010 is a good FG from a muntons kit, even if the ABV is not as advertised.

Edit, a fine selection of ales there Dev.

[Lillywhite]

So in essence Munton's are very foolish to state %ABV on their packaging for the Woodforde's range of beer kits!!

I wonder, now their sales manager, has registered on this forum and contributed to this thread this will be deleted from their packaging in future?

[RichardG]

If I may had my results to this debate;

Munton's Midas Touch Golden Ale; brewed in Ocotber, OG 1046, FG 1014, ABV 4.128%, claimed 5% - Woodfordes Norfolk Nog (described as Strong dark Norfolk ale!), brewed in November, OG 1041, FG 1014, ABV 3.483%, claimed 4.5%. In neither case did the brew get to the claimed ABV. The Norfolk Nog was particularly poor.

[Lillywhite]

I wonder if Munton's will be brave enough to publish their own tests results for these kits?

[Andy]

It's interesting that the Muntons post in this thread made by Linda has the same timestamp as the last time her account visited this forum (Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:52 pm). So unless Muntons representatives are lurking and reading this anonymously then the information flow would seem to be one-way

[sparky Paul]

A drop of 30 deg would indicate around 4% which I believe is what they claim for their Wherry and similar beers. If it were to stop at the 1014 suggested on the box that would be around 3.5%

I wouldn't be overly concerned about this as at 1014 their beers taste fine which in my opinion should be the most important consideration.

They actually quote 4.5% ABV on the Wherry box, in fact on all of the 3Kg 40 pint kits from what I can see.

The commercial Wherry is 3.8% - which I suppose isn't far away from the actual kit results if you take into account alcohol from priming sugars, but that doesn't excuse them from making a misleading claim on the carton. The beer tastes good at 1014, but as you say Chris, it's never going to be 4.5% ABV as claimed.

[RichardG]

I'd second sparky Paul's comments. Regardless of whether a brew tastes good, and to be fair my Midas Touch and Norfolk Nog are fine, Muntons are making claims on the packaging which can't be honoured. And that's the point.

[softlad]

How does this stack up with the Sale of Goods Act ?

Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 traders must sell goods that are as described and of satisfactory quality.

You only know that the product isnt as described when you the beer has finished fermenting and the stated ABV isnt reached. As was said earlier in the post, probably easier all round to remove the claims to ABVs

[Lillywhite]

As was said earlier in the post, probably easier all round to remove the claims to ABVs

I agree, in fact none of the Woodforde's kits match up with the %ABV on their commercially brewed draught beers of the same name.

[Mitchamitri]

Woodfordes kits have tended to be a little short on abv but not THAT short. Although i agree they could put a different number on the levels of varainces (no doubt caused by my own processes) have been such that I don't think it matters that much. Personally, on top of which, % abv doesnt dictate the beer kit I buy but I consider the risk of UNDER calling the abv on the pack more serious than over calling it (although as I said, it should be right). Regardless, for whatever reason, for kit beers I have always found the Woodfordes kits to make a "superior" pint (no I dont work for them).

[delboy]

Woodfordes kits have tended to be a little short on abv but not THAT short. Although i agree they could put a different number on the levels of varainces (no doubt caused by my own processes) have been such that I don't think it matters that much. Personally, on top of which, % abv doesnt dictate the beer kit I buy but I consider the risk of UNDER calling the abv on the pack more serious than over calling it (although as I said, it should be right). Regardless, for whatever reason, for kit beers I have always found the Woodfordes kits to make a "superior" pint (no I dont work for them).

I've nearly always found them to produce an 'inferior' overly sweet pint, since they nearly always end up muntoning.

Muntoning: definition, 1) for a fermentation to stop early despite following best principles leaving an unfermented virtually undrinkable sweet beer. 2) To express a foul mouthed tirade at yet another stalled fermentation usually accompanied by much exsparation and waving of fists at fermenting vessel.

idioms : your muntoning your neck out on this one.
: we are really muntoning it to the man this time.
: you can munton that up your ar*e

[Mitchamitri]

Might be just our local water suits the kit style.

[a wookie ate my baby]

Keeping the thread going.

Another Muntons kit muntoned for me at 1022 - Santas Winter Warmer.

Anyone else find it interesting that despite the vast majority of people on this thread writing about the foybles of Munton Kits sticking around 1018-1022+ FG, 41% (at the time of writing) have still voted that their Muntons Kit DID drop below the advertised FG?

So I munton my neck out when I say "Hello all users who work for Muntons"

Another interesting fact for you - At the time of writing the Yes vote was 58%. So 41% + 58% = 99%. Jim, sort your maths out dude...



idiom
: This is a muntony situation. Muntoner than the time muntony the munton insect got munton on a munton bun.

[chopperswookie]

BTW not guilty! ("a wookie ate my baby")