Festival Beer Kits - New

[WestyTwaalf]

1) the hops should I bag um or stick the bag over the back of the tap? Or just toss um in and hope it don't clog the bottling stick
2) the priming sugar am I dissolved that in water first and then adding it ?

When I did mine there was not much that got caught in the little bag so I would forget about it.
Just toss em in and before you bottle perhaps a few days somewhere cool to settle as much crap as possible.
If it does block your bottling stick you can pull off the valve and clean it easily.

I would prime the bottles separately, just in case you stir up the crud when you mix in the sugar/water solution.

[sbond10]

I've managed to order a length of pipe and a sypthon trap so i was considering dissolving the sugar in 200ml of water then chucking it in the bottling bucket before the beer then as the beer goes in it should mix in nicely I hope ....

[WestyTwaalf]

Sorry, didn't realise you had a bottling bucket. I put the bag over the end of the hose in the bottling bucket just in case it blocked, which it didn't.
As it was a dear kit I thought I may as well use it, but if you can't be arsed I don't think it will matter much IMO.

"dissolving the sugar in 200ml of water then chucking it in the bottling bucket" that worked good for me.
Good luck with your brew and keep us posted as I was thinking of this one next.

Cheers.

[sbond10]

Well so far I'm liking 25 quid for soo much stuff and the smell its like unwatered down malt extract first time I've gone to 23 litres in a long time but this smells great even without the hops there to come in 5 days time and honestly can't wait another first hops for me...
I'm wondering if the sachets are just pure extract as in no insomerised hops added hence why it smell so strong of malt.

Also kit makers take note surly foil lined bags are cheaper to make and produce than cans, you have a separate tear off section for the yeast so you don't get home and find some buggers robbed your yeast

[suitsyousir]

I got the Suffolk Strong Ale kit from my dad for xmas. Been looking at this thread today, and cant wait. I was very impressed that it came with sugar and priming sugar. Ill go for bottling I think. Just one question, where it mentions a sediment trap, is that what the small white round gadget on the end of the syphon tube is? I normally use a bottling stick and cant see the muslin bag going over the end of it as per the instructions, and surely I wouldnt put the muslin bag over the sediment trap? I thought getting a little of the sediment in the bottles was good to aid secondary fermentation?

[sbond10]

Just thrown the hops in today never having smelt hops before hmmm interesting experiance

[Barloch]

I've made both Suffolk and Pilgrim so far, Suffolk has been bottle 7 weeks and it tastes amazing, really hoppy with a fruit flavour, the Pilgrim 4 weeks needs more time, very bitter, so needs a few more weeks

[Monkeybrew]

I've made both Suffolk and Pilgrim so far, Suffolk has been bottle 7 weeks and it tastes amazing, really hoppy with a fruit flavour, the Pilgrim 4 weeks needs more time, very bitter, so needs a few more weeks

My Pilgrims will be starting it's 9th week in the keg/bottles tomorrow, and the half that I drew from my keg on Monday was finally showing signs of that bitterness mellowing.

The good news, is that the lovely hop flavour is still there

[Barloch]

I've made both Suffolk and Pilgrim so far, Suffolk has been bottle 7 weeks and it tastes amazing, really hoppy with a fruit flavour, the Pilgrim 4 weeks needs more time, very bitter, so needs a few more weeks

My Pilgrims will be starting it's 9th week in the keg/bottles tomorrow, and the half that I drew from my keg on Monday was finally showing signs of that bitterness mellowing.

The good news, is that the lovely hop flavour is still there

I took a good while to drink the pint i had, it was overpowering, but still has great potential, got the Porter ready to bottle tomorrow too, so hopefully that will be the same as the other 2, really liking these kits!!

[Monkeybrew]

I've made both Suffolk and Pilgrim so far, Suffolk has been bottle 7 weeks and it tastes amazing, really hoppy with a fruit flavour, the Pilgrim 4 weeks needs more time, very bitter, so needs a few more weeks

My Pilgrims will be starting it's 9th week in the keg/bottles tomorrow, and the half that I drew from my keg on Monday was finally showing signs of that bitterness mellowing.

The good news, is that the lovely hop flavour is still there

I took a good while to drink the pint i had, it was overpowering, but still has great potential, got the Porter ready to bottle tomorrow too, so hopefully that will be the same as the other 2, really liking these kits!!

My PH is now in it's 11th week and I can assure you that it goes down a treat now

On the downside my keg is nearly empty, but on the upside I've got 14 bottles in the garage

MB

[Underscore]

Mine has been in the keg about 9 or 10 weeks now and there is still some of that bitterness there but it is balancing out quite well. I took a litre to a friend place the other day and he was impressed by it. Unfortunately I'm coming to the end of the barrel now - if I do it again I'll make sure that I have enough stock so that it can condition for a couple of months before I start drinking it.

_

[Barloch]

Quick update

My pilgrims after 6 weeks is very drinkable, same as the suffolk after 8 weeks

Both matured really quickly and i am really tempted to try the porter with only 2 weeks in the bottle

But after i get rid of the stock i have, i think i have found a winner!!

[NorthEastBrewer]

I've got the Golden stag currently aging / all in bottles / as I didn't have the corny at the time. It smelled so good coming out of the primary FV that I could have drank it there and then. Can't wait to pop a bottle open and see how it tastes. I've also got my eye on the porter as one to make. I think that they're great value for what you get in the box.

[bobby5762]

I have just bought a Suffolk Ale kit.
Recently I have been brewing mostly Belgian ales and bottling them. I have got some Old Conkerwood in the barrel and have enjoyed making muntons beers for a number of years. I walked in to my local Homebrew shop in Whitley Bay to buy some brewferm Abidj and Grand Cru with my Xmas tokens. After I had paid I was having a little mooch around and came across the Festival Ales section. It looked intriguing! I had to give it a go. Upshot was I purchased the Suffolk kit and now have he task of drinking the barrel of Conkerwood as quickly as possible so I can get the Suffolk on and in!
Can anyone provided some tasting notes for the Suffolk?

[WestyTwaalf]

>Can anyone provided some tasting notes for the Suffolk?

I am on my last few bottles at 14 weeks old, it is best described as a liquidized bag of dried mixed fruit. The best kit I have made so far. You can drink it young if need be so a winner all round.