Tom Caxton Real Ale kits with hops !!

Discuss making up beer kits - the simplest way to brew.
Post Reply
Thrasher

Tom Caxton Real Ale kits with hops !!

Post by Thrasher » Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:59 pm

:shock:

Well thats a surprise.

My other half came home with some early birthday presents for me....a Tom Caxton real ale kit and a youngs definitive bitter kit ! RESULT.

Now, on Friday I'm going to buy myself another fermentor so I get started on the TC kit.

I haven't used any of the hop additive kits yet, so I've no idea how much I should be adding.

Whats everyones suggestions/preferences !?

thanks.
Top
Stonch

Post by Stonch » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:08 pm

Thrasher, our first brew was a Caxton Real Ale. Turned out ok-ish considering we used a kilo of tate & lyle as fermentables - use spray malt!!
Top
Thrasher

Post by Thrasher » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:14 pm

I've got a muntons beer kit enhancer......although the last one of those I used made a youngs bitter kit taste like sh*te. B*gger.

Will it be ok for this, I think there might be too many variables involved for a beginner.....i.e yeast/hops/enhancer
Top
User avatar
Bugno
Tippler
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 6:50 pm

Post by Bugno » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:37 pm

I brewed that same Tom Claxton on Sunday. Used Muntons beer enhancer and a pack of Safale 04. I put in the full sachet of the hops. It started bubbling straight away. In fact it blew all the water out the airlock, had to refill. The OG was 1.040. I gave it check on Tuesday and the gravity was down to 1.014. It is still bubbling today but only every few minutes now. Im happy enough with the way it's progressing as I have a Werry beside it, brewed two and a half weeks ago and is stuck on 1.016.
Top
Thrasher

Post by Thrasher » Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:42 pm

Let me know how you get on, I was just going to use sugar this time..

Im confused enough with the hops...... :shock:
Top
Thrasher

Post by Thrasher » Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:21 pm

DaaB wrote:What do the instructions say regarding the hop addative?
It pretty much says, add what you like to taste......

Which is hardly helpful if you've no idea what to expect...... :lol: :D
Top
Thrasher

Post by Thrasher » Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:27 pm

DaaB wrote:I think you can add it at anytime so you could add a little to the barrel, stir very gently with a sanitised paddle and taste, add a little more if it's not bitter enough.
Really ?? excellent....you are sir a veritable fountain of knowledge ! :D
Top
User avatar
Bugno
Tippler
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 6:50 pm

Post by Bugno » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:40 pm

Will do. I put all the hops in when I was boiling the beer enhancer. Dont know if this correct but will see
Top
User avatar
Bugno
Tippler
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 6:50 pm

Post by Bugno » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:56 pm

I bottled my claxton last week. Just popped open a bottle tonight for a quick preview after some earlier disastrous results with other kits. I have to say after a week in the bottle its not bad. Its crytal clear. It tastes ok, its seems very light. It is producing a nice head. Finally some success it seems. Trouble now is to leave it alone.
Top
User avatar
Bugno
Tippler
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 6:50 pm

Post by Bugno » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:57 pm

Sorry thrasher how is yours getting on.
Top
Thrasher

Post by Thrasher » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:31 pm

Hahha, about to barrel it...been so busy I haven't had time ! :(

Will do it in the morning, when my 2 year old son and my gf aren't here. :)
Top
User avatar
Bugno
Tippler
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 6:50 pm

Post by Bugno » Sat Jul 07, 2007 8:16 pm

Picture of claxton today

Image
Top
Thrasher

Post by Thrasher » Sun Jul 08, 2007 10:17 am

That looks fantastic.

Mines all barreled now, just waiting for it to clear ! :)
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Kit Brewing”