First Brew.... But Which Beer?

[appius]

Muntons are top rate, morgans are good too. Coopers are everywhere, but they are actually pretty good. Their premium rages are better than the standard ones but either way you'll have a decent brew on. If you're after some more insight into kits check this link out. Basic site with kit ratings and recipes, I used it a bit early in the game to check what went well with what, and which kits were rubbish. A dead-easy kit to do is an ESB or Xtract 3kg kit, they look like a paint tin. Pour the goop into the fermenter and top with water. Add whatever hops (if any) you may want and pitch the yeast in. Done.

Also, I'd recommend the Cluster hops for you if you like the aroma of XXXX - thats what they use. I don't mind them at all.

Cheers - boingk

Thanks heaps for that site it looks interesting! My wife worries about my waist line if i intend to try brewing all these new beers!

 

[Fourstar]

Thanks heaps for that site it looks interesting! My wife worries about my waist line if i intend to try brewing all these new beers!

Tell her every time you pick up your pint you are doing 12oz curls so atleast your arms will be buff! :icon_cheers:

Go the Pale Kit, you could also get a blonde kit other than coopers if you want and add some cluster hops to a small 1L boil for 5 mins and pitch with a sachet of US05 yeast.

Simple and effective!

 

[cdbrown]

You'll burn calories lifting and moving the fermenter

 

[MVZOOM]

I'd piss off all the coopers kits etc. Grab a 3kg ESB American Ale and a 100g of Amarillo hops. Wack the 3kg into the fermentor, use some hot water to clean out the can into a small pot on the stove. Bring to boil, add 1/4 handful of hops. Wait 15mins, add 1/4 handful of hops.

Stir through, dump into fermentor, mix hard and make sure it's all dissolved. Add yeast, wack in fridge at 18deg and in 8 days, bottle.

Cheers - Mike

 

[Interloper]

The cascade kit blows. I did this last year and whilst the colour is nice the flavour is bland and boring.

As others have said they spent more on the tin design and marketing than what is in the tin.

 

[Bribie G]

As far as kits go, Morgans would be the go and buy one from a high-turnover LHBS so it's fresh. It's made at Beenleigh. I reckon the yeast is a bit superior to Coopers.

I would not recommend Muntons for a first brew. I recently brewed an old English Bitter and it turned out as black as treacle and harsh tasting. Muntons is a UK brand and by the time it gets here, and sits for months in the LHBS, the malt extract in the kit can become very dark (which is what happens to Malt extract as it ages) so you are taking pot luck with a Muntons.

A very nice kit for the poms where they get them fresh over there, but I won't be spending forty bucks for another one here.

 

[appius]

OK so ive gone and got my stuff which includes:

1 Thomas Coopers Brewmaster Selection India Pale Ale
1kg of LDM
15g Cascade hops

Am now going about cleaning and sanitising. I have a few questions... Should i just put all the malt in? The can says 500g dry malt + 300g dex. Also the lid of my fermenter does not have a rubber seal underneath so but its not like standard screw top lids will this be a problem? Should i sanitize the hydrometer? So far im sanitizing the fermenter, spoon, tap, airlock anything else? Im using spring water.

Cheers

 

[Bribie G]

OK so ive gone and got my stuff which includes:

1 Thomas Coopers Brewmaster Selection India Pale Ale
1kg of LDM
15g Cascade hops

Am now going about cleaning and sanitising. I have a few questions... Should i just put all the malt in? The can says 500g dry malt + 300g dex.

Yes, put it all in. Some people recommend boiling in hot water for a couple of minutes in case it needs sanitizing then pour into fermenter.

Also the lid of my fermenter does not have a rubber seal underneath so but its not like standard screw top lids will this be a problem? Should i sanitize the hydrometer? So far im sanitizing the fermenter, spoon, tap, airlock anything else? Im using spring water.

Cheers

If it's a bucket type fermenter with the 'snap' lid that's ok, heaps of guys use them.

Sanitize hydrometer only if you are going to float it in the fermenter itself. Not necessary if you are going to draw samples from taps into a 'cylinder' to use the hydro.

All spring water? Sounds expensive. I've never had any problems at all from good ol town water.

Happy brewing :icon_cheers:

 

[appius]

Yes, put it all in. Some people recommend boiling in hot water for a couple of minutes in case it needs sanitizing then pour into fermenter.


If it's a bucket type fermenter with the 'snap' lid that's ok, heaps of guys use them.

Sanitize hydrometer only if you are going to float it in the fermenter itself. Not necessary if you are going to draw samples from taps into a 'cylinder' to use the hydro.

All spring water? Sounds expensive. I've never had any problems at all from good ol town water.

Happy brewing :icon_cheers:

it does not have a snap lid. turns out the guy who gave it to me forgot that it came with the rubber and doesnt know where it is. Can u get these at woolies?

Also is the side of the fermenter thermometer good enough to indicate when to pitch yeast?

 

[mckenry]

Tomorrow morning im rigging up my Fridgemate which i got from craft brewer, and i have scored

Also is the side of the fermenter thermometer good enough to indicate when to pitch yeast?

Use your new fridgemate. What better way to use it?

 

[appius]

Use your new fridgemate. What better way to use it?

The thing is i dont have the stainless steel probe which would allow me to put it in the wort.

 

[bradsbrew]

The thing is i dont have the stainless steel probe which would allow me to put it in the wort.

Strap the probe it comes with to the side of the fermenter covered with a bit of styrofoam. And with the lid if you dont find yourself a rubber seal its good just to put a sheet of glad wrap on top and held down with a rubber band or 2 works fine and the c02 escapes fine.

Cheers Brad

 

[appius]

Ok so its done. I brewed it all up inc hops and Safale S-04. Had an original gravity of 1041. I cant wait for it to start bubbling up now!