So A Mate Of Mine Does Kits...

[Effect]

One of my mates does kits, and is quite happy with them as well, which is very good.

I was just wondering, if there was anything I could give him from my AG supplies that would help him brew better beers. He basically does double batches of the coopers 'canadian blonde' with a packet of lager yeast bought from his LHBS. Now, I have got about 4 kilos of medium crystal malt and was wondering if giving him any of that would help with his type of beers? Basically wanted to give him some more head retention. I also have about a kilo of carahell that I haven't touched ever since I bought it like 9 months ago.

I would prefer to give him some medium crystal as I have lots of it and wouldn't miss 500 grams...but maybe that would not be so desirable in his blonde beer...so maybe the carahell?

Cheers
Phil

 

[chappo1970]

Phil,
To be honest muchness muchness medium crystal/Carahell. Give him 100-200gr of the med crystal and if you have any noble hops like saaz, tett etc say 20gr to dry hop or steep, would go a fair way to improve his results.

Cheers

Chappo

 

[Spartan 117]

Why not get him a tin of coopers SA or PA or something along those lines with some of the medium crystal. Make a nice goldeny type ale, even through in some goldings or amarillo hops. Might work out to be a nice beer.

Aaron

 

[Effect]

Why not get him a tin of coopers SA or PA or something along those lines with some of the medium crystal. Make a nice goldeny type ale, even through in some goldings or amarillo hops. Might work out to be a nice beer.

Aaron

yeah but the thing is he basically likes his canadian blonde...I don't want to try and show him better beers, but rather emphasise the bits that he likes about the one he is already making...

Cheers
Phil

 

[chappo1970]

yeah but the thing is he basically likes his canadian blonde...I don't want to try and show him better beers, but rather emphasise the bits that he likes about the one he is already making...

Cheers
Phil

Phil get him on to some carapils then?

 

[Effect]

Phil get him on to some carapils then?

yeah I reckon...

How much should I crush up for him if he is doing a double batch of canadian blonde? 200 grams?

Cheers
Phil

 

[chappo1970]

:icon_cheers:

And some fresh hops!

 

[Spartan 117]

yeah but the thing is he basically likes his canadian blonde...I don't want to try and show him better beers, but rather emphasise the bits that he likes about the one he is already making...

Cheers
Phil

Any hops about the place mate ? With the crystal you could soak a couple of hundred grams in hot water add it to the blonde, wont change the flavour much, will improve head retention and a bit more body to it.

Why not get him to split up a 20L batch it 2 or 4 lots (if the capacity is there) and to each one add something different but leave one untouched, so maybe to one add some saaz or hallertau tea, to another add the steeped grain wort and to another use a different yeast, then have him compare these variations to the one that was left unchanged. Not only will it emphasise the charactaristics of each ingridient but will show him how easy it is to taylor a kit beer to another suit different pallets.

Aaron

 

[avaneyk]

yeah I reckon...

How much should I crush up for him if he is doing a double batch of canadian blonde? 200 grams?

Cheers
Phil

In a double batch you could go with up to 500 grams. 200-250 grams of crystal was pretty normal in my k&b brews. Some finishing hops will help too.

 

[bum]

200-250 grams of crystal was pretty normal in my k&b brews. Some finishing hops will help too.

For my personal preference, 250g of crystal is a bit too much in a plain-ish kit. Comes out a little sweet without a bit of extra bitternes. I imagine this would be even more so with the Candian Blonde tin. A hop boil or less spec grain might be advisable?

It has been pointed out recently that I'm not entitled to an opinion so feel free to ignore, OP.

 

[marksfish]

+1 on the carapils maybe 250 grams for a double kit batch, and for head 100-150 grams dried wheat extract.

 

[avaneyk]

For my personal preference, 250g of crystal is a bit too much in a plain-ish kit. Comes out a little sweet without a bit of extra bitternes. I imagine this would be even more so with the Candian Blonde tin. A hop boil or less spec grain might be advisable?

Good point - my K&B's usually included a boil of ldme with some bittering hops...

 

[thylacine]

http://www.hbkitreviews.com/view-id-18-coo...ian-blonde.html

 

[chappo1970]

It has been pointed out recently that I'm not entitled to an opinion so feel free to ignore, OP.

ROFL! Do I need to tell you again? <_<

 

[bum]

Hey! You believe in kit twang too so you can't brew a beer either, you know!