Just started out with kits, pleased with the results!

[frutbunn]

Hi Frutbunn, good to see everything is going well. I've just got into homebrewing, currently on my first brew, and i've started with the very same Wilkinsons kit, although i got mine reduced from 25 to 20 quid

Hi Beer Monster, I missed out on the reduced price, but I'm making it up with the Geordie kits!

[frutbunn]

One thing I would say, having experienced brewing in the 80's, is that there seems to be much more knowledge about the subject, and many more high quality kits available - many gave kit brewing up as the results were often mediocre at best.

My dad gave beer kit brewing a go in the early 80's. But fairly quickly gave it up for wine, of which he stuck at for a number of years.

I never sampled any of the beer though, was too young. Sneakily had some of the wine a few years later though (when I was about 11 or 12 and we were camping with friends). Was the first time I got (a little) drunk!

[frutbunn]

Beware though..the beer fairies, I have two that visit who make my beer disappear very quickly.

[Beer Monster]

My wifes parents used to homerew years ago apparently but from what i gather the results were not too good. My wife was complaining when i got this bitter kit beacause she doesn't drink bitter so i said the next one i'll do a lager for you, to which her response was "don't bother cos it's crap anyway" A statement based on their brews. I hope mine turns out better than her parents used to.

I have to say though the Youngs kit i got is a bit misleading with the box saying EVERYTHING YOU NEED, not quite. I have spent a fair amount more on a thermometer, trial jug, barrel, mixing spoon, brewing sugar and a couple of other things, bringing my initial investment from the EVERYTHING YOU NEED £20 , to, now got everything £60

Paul

[sparky Paul]

My wife was complaining when i got this bitter kit beacause she doesn't drink bitter so i said the next one i'll do a lager for you, to which her response was "don't bother cos it's crap anyway" A statement based on their brews.

I can concur - I tried several times in the past to make a drinkable lager, but the results were always rubbish.

However, far better kits and malt extracts are available now, and it is possible to make a perfectly good lager. If you are on a budget, I really don't think there's any alternative to bottling to get the necessary level of carbonation for a lager, and the addition of fresh hops (e.g. Saaz, Hallertau) to a kit also add that lager bite which is missing from most kits. I find that they also need a good long time in storage (cooler the better) to reach their best.