About to embark on my second extract brew. The first was not great, but maybe because it did it in the heat of last summer and it got too hot? It tasted no better than an ale kit brew (hard to describe, but a sort of odd "twang").
I've got to the point where I can make a decent lager (Coopers Pilsner kit was great, European lager currently conditioning and another pilsner in the FV) and really good kit wine (just by following the instructions, very suprised know good that turned out) but a decent ale is my next goal.
I put all the ales into a pressure barrel as I didn't have the bottling kit at the time, whereas I bottled the lagers (could that have made a difference?)
Anyway, I have this Landlord extract kit here ready to brew, and would really appreciate any tips to help it work out. In particular, how much of a difference does it make boiling the whole lot in a great big pan vs. boiling in a smaller pan then topping up in the FV?
Any advice much appreciated. Not going to give up until I get one bang on!
Second extract brew
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sbond10
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Re: Second extract brew
Add a Camden tab to your water that's one tip. And small boil vs big it all depends really on what you have really. If your boiling on a house ring then short is probs the way to go. Or if your after a quick brew day or want to pitch yeast ASAP.
When I do extract I do the 8 litre method which worked for me as I got a good boil going kn next to no time. Basically I steeped with 6 topped to 8. Added the first kilo or so of dme at start then the rest within last 15 minutes. Added 8 litres of fresh water to your fv then seived your boiled wort onto this then tipped up desired level.
It worked for me and I've had good results
When I do extract I do the 8 litre method which worked for me as I got a good boil going kn next to no time. Basically I steeped with 6 topped to 8. Added the first kilo or so of dme at start then the rest within last 15 minutes. Added 8 litres of fresh water to your fv then seived your boiled wort onto this then tipped up desired level.
It worked for me and I've had good results
Re: Second extract brew
I did the TTL kit last year and it was great. I'm on my 4th extract beer (Hopback Summer Lightening boiling away as I type). Used the small boil method, boiling 1kg of DME in 6L of water, adding the rest with 15 mins to go and then topping up to 21 or 23 L in the FV and have been very pleased with the results. I started with the Way to Amarillo as the Brew UK instructions were easy and have then moved up to more complicated ones one I got the hang of it. Which was your first kit?
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rmp
Re: Second extract brew
Sando - it was the Brewuk landlord kit. I think part of the problem was doing it in summer without a brew fridge and it got too hot, and also I put it in a barrel rather than bottling. Don't know if it just me but I have found that bottling makes a much better product (easier to chill in fridge too!)
Did two extract brews today with the intent on bottling, hopefully will turn out well.
Did two extract brews today with the intent on bottling, hopefully will turn out well.
Re: Second extract brew
Hope they work out ok. Just boiling up a Flowers IPA at the moment using the same method. Smells fantastic so looks promising. Bought myself a bigger 19l pan earlier this week though and planning to move to maxi-biab for my next brews.
I've always bottled mine mainly so, as you say, I can put them in the fridge in summer. Also means you can have lots of different beers stored and ready to drink rather than having to wait until you've finished a barrel.
I've always bottled mine mainly so, as you say, I can put them in the fridge in summer. Also means you can have lots of different beers stored and ready to drink rather than having to wait until you've finished a barrel.