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

[Mitchamitri]

ITS FINALLY HAPPENED TO ME!


I have made several Woodfordes kits with no problem but the wherry I started before christmas has gone nowhere near zero. I've emailed "ask Linda" on their website -will let you know what response I get.

In the meantime I think I shall chuck some yeast nutrient and fresh yeast in - what do you think?

[Mitchamitri]

oih, you know what I mean!!!

[burgo]

I am really disappointed after reading this thread.

I was planning to pick up a couple of these kits, Revenge and Reserve as I rate Woodfordes highly in the comercial beer market. I visit the brewery tap at least 4 times a year, i am a member of the Woodfordes club, regularly buy bottles from the brewery shop and drink it every time I am in East Anglia, so it's no suprise that I would like to brew some of my own. I am surprised that Woodfordes would allow their reputation (as to many home brewers this kit appears to be made by them and not Muntons) to be dragged down by what appears to be Munton's unwillingness to accept that there is a problem and sort it out. Munton's appear to make a large percentage of kits on the market in the UK, however they take their sales figures for granted especially where treatment of their customers are concerned, whatsmore, if they are fudging the instructions as some people are suggesting then this does question the integrity of their products. Just as an aside I also sent a "Quiz Linda' to them from their website but it still remains unanswered after several weeks, not that this has bothered me too much as I have learned a hell of a lot more in the interim from this site.

So enough of my rant, I think I will now look at other kits until some headway is made on this and drink commercial Woodfordes out of the bottle instead, after all they do make some cracking beers.

[Lillywhite]

I am really disappointed after reading this thread.

All I will say is that my last four Woodforde's kits have been fermenting out to at least 1.014 although I have used yeast nutrient in the last three.

[BlackBag]

Just to say Burgo, as you're probably aware, Muntons have the UK market sewn up.
Good job there's Coopers.

[b.all]

can't say i've had a problem with the two muntons kits i've done. both the docklands porter and imperial stout dropped perfectly without sticking.

[DSB]

Just doing a Woodrore's Great Eastern. Started well but has stuck as 1020. I have added some Tronozymol and Safale S-04 to see if I can get it down further.

[Mitchamitri]

Havent had a response from ask linda yet.
Reading the other stuff on this forum I think I shall pre-empt short fermentation and add yeast nutrient at the beginning. As I have had previously successful woodfordes kits I dont want it to become a "slap muntons" excercise so I'll give it time before I add any further comments.

[PMH0810]

Just posted a "Yes" but must add the disclaimer that the Nelson's Revenge I brewed had documentation stipulating the FG was 1.014, not the 1.012 I would have expected.

Was thoroughly drinkable and is now all gone....

[brysie]

heres a thought after reading some of the coopers info.

when calculating the abv of a brew, with regards to manufacturers claims on the packaging,.....
do we include any added sugar used for priming?

the coopers blurb says to add half a percent to your final calculated abv to allow for this.

[harvs]

I've done a Wherry and a Great Eastern. Both got down to 1.14 with the yeast supplied in the kit. I kept a fishtank heater in the fermenter to keep the temperature constant though - not sure if this might have helped?....

[batemans fan]

I've had another Woodfordes stick - this time a Great Eastern Ale - I bunged some yeast nutrient in at the beginning, used an immersion heater (tested with a thermometer to give 21ºC in the FV). Started at 1046 (including a little Geordie Beer Enhancer). Stuck after 4 days at 1018 - roused to no effect. Added DBE and it finished at 1002.

Off the top of my head, I would say that one in every three or four of my Woodforde kits have stuck.

I have only ever used the Woodforde kits and have had some very pleasing results, but the odds against good results are too high for me. Today I started my first Brewer's Choice

[KevP]

I have only ever used the Woodforde kits and have had some very pleasing results, but the odds against good results are too high for me. Today I started my first Brewer's Choice

Also made by Muntons

[KevP]

Brupaks Brewers Choice kits use spray malt. (possibly Muntons spray malt).

Indeed Muntons;

------------
Hello Kev,

Our Microbrewery kits are indeed produced and canned for us by Muntons, who are now the only producers of brewing grade malt extract in the UK. The spray-dried extract used in Brewers Choice is also produced by Muntons. Please don't let that put you off trying them!

Best regards

Clive Donald

[blankfrank]

I've never got a Munton's Preium Gold kit below 1018 (usually 1020 ish) although recent Milestone kits get to 1014 without effort. Both brands produce excellent tasting beers though and the Conkerwood has left me with a couple of headaches in the morning!

Is it worth using Safeale S04 do you think? Although none of may kits have had any problem in getting off to a good start!