Hey guys,
As a uni student, buying a homebrew kit was always going to be a little bit of a risk. I have heard some good stories out of it (a former teacher of mine put me up to it) and he told me that you can make great tasting beer (as good as commercial) for a slice of the price.
Of course, the initial investment of the set-up and gear was needed, and after the first brew (Coopers DIY kit lager) I was a bit skeptical... although I haven't tried one for a week and a bit (it's now three weeks old, will it taste better with age?).
For my second brew I decided to go to the local brewcraft store in Heidelberg, VIC. The bloke there was really helpful, and set me up with:
A Black Rock pilsener can
a pale ale kit converter (dry malt extract and shiz)
12gms cascade hops (that were in the kit converter)
He gave me the simple instructions that were already on the label of the kit converter, so I followed those, and let it sit for 2 weeks in the fermenter. I was a bit worried at one stage, but let it go and waiting til FG was stable and then some.
Bottled it last week, nervously, and found a slice of the kit can's label in the wort after bottling! A few close calls, but after a week I couldn't hold on any longer, so I cracked one open tonight, and wow.
Score for the home brew. Tastes magnificent- your classic pale ale taste, not dissimilar to Fat Yak. But not even close to retail price of Fat Yak. It's a little under-carbonated and still a llittle cloudy, by my god...
Easily knocked over the first longneck, and contemplating a second but I have assignments to do...
For something that easy (simmer hops for 2 minutes and sit for 15 in the kit converter mix, then add to the can in the FV), I highly recommend this recipe. Let is sit for two weeks, don't stress about colour shades difference in the fermenting wort, and savour.
Wowee...
As a uni student, buying a homebrew kit was always going to be a little bit of a risk. I have heard some good stories out of it (a former teacher of mine put me up to it) and he told me that you can make great tasting beer (as good as commercial) for a slice of the price.
Of course, the initial investment of the set-up and gear was needed, and after the first brew (Coopers DIY kit lager) I was a bit skeptical... although I haven't tried one for a week and a bit (it's now three weeks old, will it taste better with age?).
For my second brew I decided to go to the local brewcraft store in Heidelberg, VIC. The bloke there was really helpful, and set me up with:
A Black Rock pilsener can
a pale ale kit converter (dry malt extract and shiz)
12gms cascade hops (that were in the kit converter)
He gave me the simple instructions that were already on the label of the kit converter, so I followed those, and let it sit for 2 weeks in the fermenter. I was a bit worried at one stage, but let it go and waiting til FG was stable and then some.
Bottled it last week, nervously, and found a slice of the kit can's label in the wort after bottling! A few close calls, but after a week I couldn't hold on any longer, so I cracked one open tonight, and wow.
Score for the home brew. Tastes magnificent- your classic pale ale taste, not dissimilar to Fat Yak. But not even close to retail price of Fat Yak. It's a little under-carbonated and still a llittle cloudy, by my god...
Easily knocked over the first longneck, and contemplating a second but I have assignments to do...
For something that easy (simmer hops for 2 minutes and sit for 15 in the kit converter mix, then add to the can in the FV), I highly recommend this recipe. Let is sit for two weeks, don't stress about colour shades difference in the fermenting wort, and savour.
Wowee...
