Young's Definitive Bitter

[trucker5774]

I bought a Young's definitve bitter kit today at Wilkinsons. Seemed like a bargain, as I would probably alter it anyway. I then read the post on here and took it back in a panic!! Not many good words on it. Does anybody have any more thoughts on it? I also got a Woodforde's Wherry. Should I stick to the instructions on the Woodforde's or does anyone have an improvement?

[cwrw gwent]

I was given three of these kits, made them all with spraymalt and I was disappointed. It wasn't so much definitive as definitely a bit hit and miss. In fact, I passed the first attempt off as an easy drinking light mild which fooled a number of people. The second and third kits were made with added hops as I felt these were lacking in the first brew but this was akin to manufacturing a silk purse from a sow's ear. I won't be making Young's Definitive Bitter ever again and I dread to think what the Definitive Lager tastes like - possibly Carling Black Label, if anyone is interested.

[mickhew]

The Wherry kit's are fine on their own, but good idea to bin the kit yeast, and use Safale S04, then prey fermentation doesn't stick. Would also try to leave it for 4 weeks in secondary fermentation (bottle or barrel), as they reach their prime after 4 weeks. May not reach 1014 gravity, I've had 2 only get to 1016, but were fine at that.

[trucker5774]

Ive heard so many good reports about the Wherry kits, other than the dreaded sticking! I intend to use S-04 yeast. Is it then likely to be a temperature problem causing the sticking (too low?) What is the normal O.G. and F.G. Ive been wondering what sort of ABV to expect. From what's been said, I guess there is no point/need to add any DME, sugar or enhancer. Next kit I'm thinking of a Coopers..............Sparkling ale, pale or perhaps a stout. All thoughts appreciated guys. Many thanks so far. Cheers John.

[rollin danny]

The last Wherry I did I used a pack coopers yeast from the stout kit ,a teaspoon of yeast vit from Wilko [it says for wine on the tub but what the hell ] ten two litre bottles of that cheap table water from Asda 13p a bottle.It made it up to 22ltr once the two cans were in. It finished at 1.012 just sat in my back room on a foam mat .Didn't have to stir it or mess with it.Primed with 85 g white table sugar mixed with some boiled water and zapped in the micro allowed to cool and added to the f.v. Been in a king keg for about two weeks now .I had a pint this afternoon and was very impressed,loads of pressure with a huge creamy white head that clings to the glass.Very slight haze on it but it is still young.It reminded me of my local Stockport brew" Robinsons best bitter". Think I'll have a few more latter.Good luck with yours.

[Lillywhite]

The Wherry kit's are fine on their own, but good idea to bin the kit yeast......

Never had a problem with the supplied yeast or a stuck fermentation. Don't know what all the fuss is about.

[rollin danny]

Ive not had a Wherry go wrong on me but the previous one I did finished at 1.018 and I couldn't get it down further.I used saf 04 for that.It was very nice but was nowhere near the 4.5 abv advertised on the box , probably more like 3.5 abv.

[trucker5774]

The general opinion on the Wherry seems to be, bin the kit yeast and use S-04. Add yeast vit and stop worrying! I reckon thats about what i will do. Picked up a recipe for Theakstons Old Peculiar today. It's made up from extract so just a step up from a kit. Thats where my interest is.............alter it or develop from extract. AG is just a bit too much kit for my liking. Love the simple stuff and the experiments such as the turbo cider examples. I have a Cooper's Mexican on the go with strawberries in!........plus some other variants of the same wort.

[batemans fan]

Ive not had a Wherry go wrong on me but the previous one I did finished at 1.018 and I couldn't get it down further.I used saf 04 for that.It was very nice but was nowhere near the 4.5 abv advertised on the box , probably more like 3.5 abv.

So you consider that that one didn't go wrong - would you go so far as to say it went 'right'?

[trucker5774]

My original post about my panic return of the Definitive kit seems to have turned into a Wherry debate!! Thats what I love about this forum. To be fair, the Wherry is of more interest, but there is a side of me which says...........it's like a red rag to a bull, so the challenge is, go and get a Definitive kit and MAKE it work! It makes me wonder if it could be used as a cheap liquid malt to just add fermentables. That being the case, the same could be said of Bargain Brew. I know there would only be a quid or so in the cost difference to any other LME.....just a thought

[Lillywhite]

.go and get a Definitive kit and MAKE it work. It makes me wonder if it could be used as a cheap liquid malt to just add fermentables.

I reckon the only way to get these cheapo kits to taste anything like half decent is to add beer enhancer, spraymalt, more sugar etc. etc. then you might as well brought a 3 kgs beer kit in the first place.

[cwrw gwent]

As mentioned in my previous post, I would not recommend the Definitive Bitter as it was so wishy washy, even with the addition of extra hops. I think it would be unfair though to say all budget kits are low quality. I make a lot of Geordie Bitter and Geordie Yorkshire Bitter, usually with half light hopped spraymalt and half sugar, and I'm very impressed with the flavour, body and general quality. Both kits produce a session strength beer much better than the run of the mill real ale you can buy in the pub such as Courage Bitter, Worthington Bitter, HB or (sadly) Boddingtons which was once a classic but now is a pale shadow. Can anyone else recommend a session type ale? I'm soon to start Burton Bridge summer ale (said to be 3.8%) and I'm looking forward to it.

[rollin danny]

Ive not had a Wherry go wrong on me but the previous one I did finished at 1.018 and I couldn't get it down further.I used saf 04 for that.It was very nice but was nowhere near the 4.5 abv advertised on the box , probably more like 3.5 abv.

So you consider that that one didn't go wrong - would you go so far as to say it went 'right'?

Only consider it wrong if it go's down the drain Not happened so far