Brupaks Brewers Choice

MickyD · Post by **MickyD** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:18 pm

Have any of you tried the Brewers Choice range from Brupaks?

The kits where you buy the bags of hops etc, then buy either brewers sugar, DME or 1.5kg cans of LME.

How do they turn out? Looks the closest I am going to get to AG for a while.

I thought I had seen mention of them somewhere on here, but cannot get the search facility to narrow it down, so apologies if this is duplicating a thread already here.

sparky Paul · Post by **sparky Paul** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:28 pm

They have a very good reputation on here, I have just done my first Brewer's Choice kits, an 'Irish Stout' and the 'Extra Special Bitter' which is still in the fermenter. Haven't tasted yet, but both smelled very good...

I also have a BC Old Ale kit in the cupboard which seems to be very highly regarded - reported to be similar to Old Peculier.

CrownCap · Post by **CrownCap** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:33 pm

Micky, they are top notch kits IMO, probably the best kits in the world (ah, some else has coined that phase

)

Seriously, the Old Ale (I've got it on tap at the moment) is fantastic. A really good Old Peculiar 'clone' and every bit as good as Theakstons brew (some suggest even better!).

Also got the Best Bitter bottled up at the moment. Its not quite ready yet, but I have supped a couple of bottles. Its a fine pint of bitter, maybe a bit light in colour for my liking, but with a good bitternes and flavour coming from the Challenger hops. I dry hopped this with a few Goldings as well and that has given a great aroma to it. Gonna enjoy this one in a week or two.

I made both up with 1kg of DME (Choice 2, and Clive {Mr Brupaks} top choice, despite the instructions). I think both used the supplied yeast (although I doubled up on the Best with an unused sachet from a Pride of Yorkshire range beer).

If I do any more kits, these will definitely be on my list of candidates.

MickyD · Post by **MickyD** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:48 pm

I think I will try the Old Ale to be kegged. If this turns out ok, then I will have a go at the Weissbier.

I am trying to find a kit that works well before I try a Weissbier, as I like this style of beer too much to cock it up.

Old Ale with DME it is then. I would try the LME but I want a beer to glug and wake up the next day without feeling like my head has split open.

How long have they lasted in the keg? Roughly I mean.

ade1865 · Post by **ade1865** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:35 pm

I've done the Best Bitter. very very good. No homebrew twang, very easy to make. bit light in colour and takes a while for the flavour to mature, but going down a treat. In fact I'm gonna play with it for my next kit and add some crystal malt and some flavour and aroma hops.

StrangeBrew · Post by **StrangeBrew** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:38 pm

How long have they lasted in the keg?

Depends how quick you drink it!

CrownCap · Post by **CrownCap** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:14 am

MickyD wrote:How long have they lasted in the keg? Roughly I mean.

Well, my Old Ale has been in the keg (KK top tap) since the end of July and has been on tap for about 3 weeks. Still got a about 1/3 left and still tasting just fine.

steve_flack · Post by **steve_flack** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:24 am

MickyD wrote: I am trying to find a kit that works well before I try a Weissbier, as I like this style of beer too much to cock it up.

I don't know what yeast Clive packages with the Weissbier but if it it's not a wheat strain you might get more authentic results with the dry Safale WB-06 yeast. IMO the yeast really is the critical thing in German Weissbiers.

CrownCap · Post by **CrownCap** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:46 am

steve_flack wrote:I don't know what yeast Clive packages with the Weissbier but if it it's not a wheat strain you might get more authentic results with the dry Safale WB-06 yeast. IMO the yeast really is the critical thing in German Weissbiers.

From my experience they use Muntons Gold yeast in their ale kits and Brewferm lager yeast in the lagers and pilsners. The say they use a genuine wheat yeast in the weissbier so I'd guess that its probably Brewferm's wheat yeast.

MickyD · Post by **MickyD** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 2:23 pm

I was considering that Steve, as I remember having a post conversation with you before about the WB-06, and had considered using that over what they supply. The Safale yeasts I have used do seem to have been more active than the ones supplied with the kits.

So when I come to do the Weissbier I will also order a packet of WB-06.

steve_flack · Post by **steve_flack** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 2:45 pm

If the yeast in the kits is the Brewferm yeast then that's a pretty active yeast. In my experience it's a little clean on the aroma side but it will get you in the ballpark.

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Brupaks Brewers Choice

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