3kg kits versus 1can kit with can of malt extract?

[RatboyOllie]

Evening chaps,

Im sure someone will know instantly but what is the difference between me buying a good 3kg kit and me buying, for example, a can of Coopers dark Ale and a can of Coopers Dark Malt Extract. Is putting a 1 can kit with a can of extract the exact same thing as a 2 can 3kg kit? Price wise there isnt much difference in it really?

Any advice very gratefully received as I am still only "playing" at this really but im bloody enjoyin it !

Cheers !

[shandypants5]

Evening chaps,

Im sure someone will know instantly but what is the difference between me buying a good 3kg kit and me buying, for example, a can of Coopers dark Ale and a can of Coopers Dark Malt Extract. Is putting a 1 can kit with a can of extract the exact same thing as a 2 can 3kg kit?

About 20 min stirring to get rid of all the clumped spraymalt.


Good question though, I have just put a coopers mexican and hopped spraymalt on, and allso a muntons smugglers 3kg kit.

[arturobandini]

Coopers kits made up with spraymalt are the equal of any 3kg kit as far as my tasting is concerned.

There is a lot of guff spoken about 3kg kits but if I was making up a kit i'd prefer spray dried malt extract instead of tinned malt extract for taste reasons. 3kg kits are just hops and liquid malt for 23 litres whereas a 1 can kit is hopped for 23 litres but only liquid malt for half that. Adding a further 1kg of spray dried malt and you're on a level playing field with the two can kits except with a more reliable form of extract taste wise.

I also personally think Coopers kits are of a better (and more reliable) standard to the Muntons kits. Brupaks on the other hand make exceptional 3kg kits but they can be made with spray malt instead of a second can of malt extract depending on the kit you buy.

[mickhew]

Agree with the above. In my experience there isn't a lot of difference. Either do a 3kg kit, or a 1.8kg kit and add malt extract, prices and preparation are similar, Coopers more reliable in my opinion, Wherry tastes better to me, but it's all about tastebuds ! Some homebrew shops/sites call the 3kg kits "premium" or "quality" and the Coopers ones "standard" kits, not right, Coopers ARE quality kits !

[crafty john]

Just tasted my coopers dark ale that was done with medium DME it tastes as good if not better than a 3 kilo kit.

[floydmeddler]

Always stuck to 2 cans myself when I extract brewed. Made some cracking brews that way!

[OldSpeckledBadger]

I suppose one advantage of the one-can kits is that you can vary the extra fermentables to suit you own tastes.

[rollin danny]

Just tasted my coopers dark ale that was done with medium DME it tastes as good if not better than a 3 kilo kit.

Hello crafty john Im drinking my Coopers dark ale and its come out excellent ! I did it with 50/50 extra dark dme and demerara ,500 g of each.Im doing a coopers brewmaster Irish stout later think Ill do it the same.Started at 1042 finished 1006 giving approx 4.7 abv.

[KevP]

I also personally think Coopers kits are of a better (and more reliable) standard to the Muntons kits. Brupaks on the other hand make exceptional 3kg kits but they can be made with spray malt instead of a second can of malt extract depending on the kit you buy.

Agree with your thoughts on Coopers kits, but be aware Brupaks kits are made by Muntons too

[arturobandini]

but be aware Brupaks kits are made by Muntons too

Yikes! Has that always been the case?

Coops it is then...and Brewferm if you're feeling all continental like. Personally never saw the great attraction of Wherry and Coopers have a wide range for you to try. The Dark Ale is an exceptional sup and some mad irishman on here seems to rave about the Coopers Stout!

[KevP]

but be aware Brupaks kits are made by Muntons too

Yikes! Has that always been the case?

Coops it is then...and Brewferm if you're feeling all continental like. Personally never saw the great attraction of Wherry and Coopers have a wide range for you to try. The Dark Ale is an exceptional sup and some mad irishman on here seems to rave about the Coopers Stout!

This is an email I received from them;
----------
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, Brupaks

[lollypopp]

Reading all the above, and being a complete newbie to this, I got the 3kg kit, Norfolk nog, wondered what you chaps thought of it, and any suggestions? as I've not yet started it, I've been told it can be cloudy,does this matter?

[arturobandini]

Woodfordes are also made from the mighty Muntons Machine.

Cloudy beer may be a result of drinking too early , naughty, and not letting the yeast settle and the beer to clear. Or as a result of chill haze...do a search for chill haze and you'll find some results.

I'm just too sceptical of Muntons now after a few bad experiences from fellow brewers. I'll be advising Coopers and Spray Malt to anyone that asks me as I think they've got a great range, use good yeast and produce a quality product.

[crafty john]

Just tasted my coopers dark ale that was done with medium DME it tastes as good if not better than a 3 kilo kit.

Hello crafty john Im drinking my Coopers dark ale and its come out excellent ! I did it with 50/50 extra dark dme and demerara ,500 g of each.Im doing a coopers brewmaster Irish stout later think Ill do it the same.Started at 1042 finished 1006 giving approx 4.7 abv.

Hi Danny
Sounds good I will give it a go next time i do a dark ale kit.

[blankfrank]

I have just bottled a TC Real Ale kit made with 500g light and 500g medium DSM + 125g BruBody at the same time as bottling a Milestone Olde Home Wrecker (my fav kit to date). The TC did seem to have more character than the Milestone but the proof will be in the next 6 weeks or so!