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Fresh Wort Kits. Are They Any Good?

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Shark,

Recently cracked the first bottles of the Hefeweizen, and they are tops.

Don't need any more hopping, in fact they tasted hoppier than commercial Hefe's I have had.

Beautiful drop, and when time is short I may looking at doing the FWK's again (this is the only one I have done)

Marlow

On an OT note - I am going to use the FWK's as an easy way for people to get into brewing. They have a much better chance of getting it right with a FWK the first time around, and IMO get a much better beer than trying the K+K or K+bits approach.
I reckon it will hook a few extra people into the hobby.
 
Thanks guys. Will pick one up next week. Guess I better just work my through the whole ND brewing range :) :) :)
 
Were can i buy these? They sound belter. Would be goop for when i can't make my own. Do you just add suger and water and firment? I would be well chuffed if i can get a nice pub mild
 
Ragmans Coat -> Where abouts do you live? Local HBS normally stock them.

Just add 5 litres of water. Makes 20 litres of wort.

The Brewers Selection is fresh from the kettles of St. Peters Brewery in Sydney, to your fermenter. Made from only the freshest Australian and imported malted barley, hops, and water. Full mash quality without the hard work. All you have to do is add the yeast.

Our range includes:

Aussie Pale Ale A classic, easy drinking, session beer. A great thirst quencher on a hot summers day! Try it with either the DCL SO-4 dried yeast or the White Labs WLP005.

Comparable Commercial Beer - Coopers Pale Ale

Czech Pilsner The brilliant Golden colour results from the combination of locally grown Pilsner & Munich malts. Generous additions of Saaz hops create a pronounced floral spicy finish and wonderful herbaceous aroma. Goes great with the DCL W34/70 Lager yeast, or any of the White Labs lager yeasts.

Comparable Commercial Beer - Matilda Bay Bohemian Pilsner.

Lager A traditional German style Lager. Bright straw colour with a balance of malt & hop flavours. Goes great with the DCL W34/70 Lager yeast, or any of the White Labs lager yeasts.

Comparable Commercial Beer - Becks, Heineken

Chocolate Porter Roast barley & wheat help create the rich dark chocolate flavours that separate this Porter from other dark ales. Generous additions of East Kent Goldings hops create a delicately complex beer

Comparable Commercial Beer James Squire Porter.

Norwest Pale Ale (American Pale) - This Pale Ale is all about big Cascade hopped flavour, well-balanced with a big zesty citrus hop aroma, full malt character with a big bitter finish. Try it with the DCL US-56 Dried yeast or White Labs WLP001.

Comparable Commercial Beer Little Creatures Pale Ale

India Pale Ale - The use of locally grown Pale & Munich malts, create a rich, golden colour, with a robust, malt character. Generous additions of kettle hops early in the boil, help build a characteristic highly hopped bitterness with a crisp finish on the palate. The earthy, floral aromas of UK grown Fuggles hops are the signature of this hand crafted traditional India Pale Ale. Try it with either the DCL SO-4 dried yeast or the White Labs WLP023.

Comparable Commercial Beer James Squire IPA, Gage Roads IPA

Amarillo Ale - I have to admit that it isn't the most imaginative name, but the two late additions of Amarillo hops will really stand out in this refreshingly crisp "Golden" style ale. Try it with the DCL US-56 Dried yeast or White Labs WLP001.

Comparable Commercial Beer James Squire Golden Ale.

Hefeweizen - A traditional German Hefeweizen. Low on hop flavours with a large percentage of locally grown wheat in the grain bill. The use of a low flocculating wheat style yeast it will create a cloudy finish, true to style.

Celtic Red Ale - A malt driven full bodied beer, moderately hopped, with a brilliant rust red colour. Along the lines of a Kilkenny style Red Ale, this is certain to be a popular drop. Try it with the White Labs Liquid yeast, WLP004 Irish Ale yeast, or the safale SO4 dried yeast.
 
Ragmans Coat -> Where abouts do you live? Local HBS normally stock them.

Just add 5 litres of water. Makes 20 litres of wort.

The Brewers Selection is fresh from the kettles of St. Peters Brewery in Sydney, to your fermenter. Made from only the freshest Australian and imported malted barley, hops, and water. Full mash quality without the hard work. All you have to do is add the yeast.

Our range includes:

Aussie Pale Ale – A classic, easy drinking, session beer. A great thirst quencher on a hot summer's day! Try it with either the DCL SO-4 dried yeast or the White Labs WLP005.

Comparable Commercial Beer - Coopers Pale Ale

Czech Pilsner – The brilliant Golden colour results from the combination of locally grown Pilsner & Munich malts. Generous additions of Saaz hops create a pronounced floral spicy finish and wonderful herbaceous aroma. Goes great with the DCL W34/70 Lager yeast, or any of the White Labs lager yeasts.

Comparable Commercial Beer - Matilda Bay Bohemian Pilsner.

Lager – A traditional German style Lager. Bright straw colour with a balance of malt & hop flavours. Goes great with the DCL W34/70 Lager yeast, or any of the White Labs lager yeasts.

Comparable Commercial Beer - Becks, Heineken

Chocolate Porter – Roast barley & wheat help create the rich dark chocolate flavours that separate this Porter from other dark ales. Generous additions of East Kent Goldings hops create a delicately complex beer

Comparable Commercial Beer James Squire Porter.

Norwest Pale Ale (American Pale) - This Pale Ale is all about big Cascade hopped flavour, well-balanced with a big zesty citrus hop aroma, full malt character with a big bitter finish. Try it with the DCL US-56 Dried yeast or White Labs WLP001.

Comparable Commercial Beer Little Creatures Pale Ale

India Pale Ale - The use of locally grown Pale & Munich malts, create a rich, golden colour, with a robust, malt character. Generous additions of kettle hops early in the boil, help build a characteristic highly hopped bitterness with a crisp finish on the palate. The earthy, floral aromas of UK grown Fuggles hops are the signature of this hand crafted traditional India Pale Ale. Try it with either the DCL SO-4 dried yeast or the White Labs WLP023.

Comparable Commercial Beer James Squire IPA, Gage Roads IPA

Amarillo Ale - I have to admit that it isn't the most imaginative name, but the two late additions of Amarillo hops will really stand out in this refreshingly crisp "Golden" style ale. Try it with the DCL US-56 Dried yeast or White Labs WLP001.

Comparable Commercial Beer James Squire Golden Ale.

Hefeweizen - A traditional German Hefeweizen. Low on hop flavours with a large percentage of locally grown wheat in the grain bill. The use of a low flocculating wheat style yeast it will create a cloudy finish, true to style.

Celtic Red Ale - A malt driven full bodied beer, moderately hopped, with a brilliant rust red colour. Along the lines of a Kilkenny style Red Ale, this is certain to be a popular drop. Try it with the White Labs Liquid yeast, WLP004 Irish Ale yeast, or the safale SO4 dried yeast.


Thanks shark i am located near cairns currently. Which retailer would be nearest?
 
I think the ND kits are awesome, I've done most of them and with a little extra hops added taste great. Favourites are the Norwest, Hef and Amarillo. Even the bare bones bitter tastes great. B) B) B)
 
I've brewed a few of the FWK's and have been impressed so far. They aren't as involved, but you get a good quality product at the end.

The Cerny Pivo was a wonderful drop, only made it up to 18l. I find most of the FWK's do better when less than the 5l water is added.

Norwest Pale Ale i went for something extra hoppy, so boiled 25g of Cascade hops and then left the bag in the fermenter, and made it up to 19l.

I've just put down a Heffe at Easter that was with 25g Saaz and 500g Dry wheat spray malt, to give it some extra body again to 19l. Will have to see how it comes out.

But what do people do with the used containers?.. i've got 3 now sitting in the cellar, but surely they are re-suable for something ;)
 
But what do people do with the used containers?.. i've got 3 now sitting in the cellar, but surely they are re-suable for something ;)
Where are you BlueDoors? I can take them off your hands if you're close to me, or in Sydney?
cheers, mckenry
 
I'm up to my 5th FWK from ND now. Best beer I've ever brewed from a kit. The Summer Ale has been my favourite. The Porter has been very similar to a Toohey's Old. And the Aussie Pale Ale is very similar to a Cooper's Red.

I just add 5 liters and thenput them in my brewing fridge where I'm fortunate to be able to maintain a constant 18-20 degrees. My next try will be one of the lagers which I should manage to brew at 12 degrees with the supplied Saflager yeast.

For anyone wanting to try them I can't recommend them highly enough. Easiest way to get a quality beer at a reasonable price.

Cheers.

Bluedoors, I buy mine from Peakhurst HBS so I just take the containers back for a $3 refund.
 
I seen these today at BrewCraft, and this thread has got me really intrested in them! Think ill grab one next weekend! Maybe the pale ale or the Pils!
 
There's a thread around somewhere started by Chappo. I think the title is exactly the same and the basic response was yes. Worth hunting up though because there was a lot more detailed info in there.
 
And Manticle is the one who accuses moi of having senior moments :p

Whenever I'm in Sydney I always head for Newtown / Camperdown / Nags head territory and get stuck into the St Peters' Brewery ales and lagers and I believe the ND FWKs come from the same place. I've only made one, as we are right at the end of the suppy chain here, but it turned out under hoppy as it's basically just a no chill cube of wort... Easily fixed with 30g of the appropriate hop made into a hop tea and added on pitching.
 
Lol@manticle!
Is that not this very thread!?? :icon_drunk:


Um...................




Um........................


BribiG have you seen my um.............. my....um

Hello,

I'm new here. My name is manticle and I've been brewing um........for..........um...........

Woops

Has anyone seen my trousers?
 
Sorry to bring this thread back again!
About 8 days ago i put down an Amarillo FWK 15lts I toped it up with 5 more liters of water and chucked in the US05! I was a naughty boy and did not take an OG reading! I will be taking a reading later today but would just like to know what kinda FG i will be looking at for this beer?, Just so i know if my reading is in the zone or not!
of course ill make sure i have 2 steady reading over two days!
Thanks for ya help! :)
 
"...But what do people do with the used containers?.. i've got 3 now sitting in the cellar, but surely they are re-suable for something ;)..."

My four FWK containers are now fermenters. ie. taps installed and experimental stove-top "mini-biab" recipes trialled. http://www.biabrewer.info/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=153
 
Im also gonna use mine as a fermenter some day! There a very handy size!
 
Sorry to bring this thread back again!
About 8 days ago i put down an Amarillo FWK 15lts I toped it up with 5 more liters of water and chucked in the US05! I was a naughty boy and did not take an OG reading! I will be taking a reading later today but would just like to know what kinda FG i will be looking at for this beer?, Just so i know if my reading is in the zone or not!
of course ill make sure i have 2 steady reading over two days!
Thanks for ya help! :)

Did this one a while back

beauty...

My notes say finished at 1011 with US 05 after 15 days

Leave the US05 (it can be a bit "dusty" and takes a while to clear)

As far as the original question - Any good ?

Never ad a bad one although a bit expensive for everyday brewing (and I actually like the process I have) If I just need to put something down quickly... They are my go to range - plus you get a quality yeast and a "cube" to play with as a "no chiller" or a small fermenter

Happy Brewing

:chug:
 
that's what mine finish at as well, I do get annoyed with these (doesn't stop me buying em) as the OG with the 5 ltrs water is around 1.040, so I generally put same LME in.

Mine have all finished @ about 1012-14.

Shawn
 
So OG of 1040, FG of say 1012, gives ABV of (very roughly) about .28*.13 +0.3% = 3.9%.

Q1. Isn't that pretty weak ??? Even my K&K's come out at around 4.5%.
Q2. I tried a FWK Grape and Grain #2 with US-05 but added some hops that started with T as per a recipe on their website. Didn't really like it - but I have a feeling it was the strong hoppy taste I didn't like, not the FWK itself. Has anyone done a similar FWK but not added anything other than 5 litres water + yeast ??? If so, does it taste like an AG brew ?

thanks
Digger
 
Trying an undercarbed bottle (2 days old, felt carbed but clearly not) of my Grain and Grape hefe. Really quite good. A hefe suffers without suffish carbonation but its got the banana notes that i wanted and sufficient tartness and a touch of clove to balance it.

Not as cheap as AG, but for 54 dollars including wyeast 3068, it's not too bad. Especially considering I can literally pour it in to the fermenter, aerate it for 2 minutes and pitch the smack pack. For those who just want to make some quick and easy quaffing ale, it's pretty f***ing ideal.
 
Good Morning gentlemen,

Does anyone know where in Adelaide you can get these from?

JD
 
Good Morning gentlemen,

Does anyone know where in Adelaide you can get these from?

JD

I believe Brewcraft stock them, at least it mentions them on the website.
I've been tempted to try on myself.

Cheers,
Creedy
 
The cubes are handy for storing fresh homemade wort in. Not sure about use as a fermenter as I think they would be a bastard to clean out!! Although I agree with shape being a handy size but you would only be able to ferment around 10 lt at a time!! And that would totally blow!! Lol.
 
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