Boiling The Extract

[whitty]

I've only started brewing again a week or so ago and finding this forum has kept me busy, and taught me a lot (thanks).

I've read a bit about boiling the extract prior to adding to the fermenter but I was wondering if this is ok with the K&K extracts or will it change the characteristics of the hops used in them?

At least now that I've done some reading I can add to what dad taught me and have some fun. I found a corona wannabe that I brewed last July (a 6 pack in the cellar) but it still tastes as ordinary as it did then. I promise not to use the heat belt ever again unless really necessary.

Cheers.

 

[buttersd70]

short answer is
kits no
liquid in tins no
dry yes
link to more detail

 

[Brewtus]

Some here are working on the idea that you boil a cheap/low flavour kit to get rid of the hop flavour, leaving just the bitterness, and the add your own hops to flavour and more liquid malt to add malt flavour.

 

[buttersd70]

Well, yes, this is true. I didn't mention it because I interpereted the inital question as not wanting to change the characteristics. But as Brewtus has said, you can boil the kit to deliberately drive out the flavour, so you can rehop it to whatever you want. I've used that method, it works a treat. And it will most likely give you a better beer, as well.

 

[Cube]

My last two brews have been a stove top job. I boil the malt and dex with hops for 15 mins and then more hops steeped off the stove for 10 mins. Then throw in the kit goo and mix and immediately into the fermenter with 10L of water already in it.

I am yet to taste any of these yet as they are not ready, but the samples have been great.

Reasons for this were I was sick to death of shaking/stirring/cursing at the clumps of malt and wanted to add hops.

I have one that was unstrained into the fermenter and one strained. Will be interersting to see the differance.

I never thought of getting a 'homebrand' kit and boiling the crap out of it and adding my own hops. This is my next brew!!

BTW: Get better yeast like US05 for ales. Keep the kit yeast for the odd cheap as chips brew