Brew UK Forum | Beer Kits
Improving a kit
Hi all
Is it feasible to take a kit (bog standard) and add grain. I'd like to improve the head on what I make - it's served from a barrel - by adding something like torrified wheat.
If it is a possibility, when is the time to add it to the kit, and what's the best way? I've seen suggestions such as boil the grain in water for 20-30 mins then add the resulting liquid to the malt extract that has already had the hot water added and then brew as per the usual instruction.
It sounds simple but will it work? Has anybody tried it? How successful was it?
I'd like to try but don't want to make 5 gallons of drain cleaner trying trial and error.(most likely error)
Cheers y'all
Clongo
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Steep some grains in a few litres of water at 70C for half an hour then carry on with the kit as normal. You can only steep crystal malts, caramel malts and roasted grains. To improve the kit further add some hops at the end of the boil, leave them to steep for half an hour before straining into the fermenter.
Though frankly if you're going to that much trouble you may as well do an extract brew.
Fermenting: Summer pale ale
Maturing/Conditioning: Marynka pseudo-lager
Drinking: Wheat beer, ESB, Vienna lager & shop bought stuff
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Carapils is a specialty malt that doesn't need to be mashed. It's supposed to help with head retention. You could steep around 150-200g of Carapils in a grain bag in 6 litres of water at between 65c-70c for 30 minutes. Take out the grain bag and bring that water to a boil. Pour in the softened beer kit and boil for no more that 10 minutes. Then dilute with water to the desired volume.
This might improve the head.
However, I find that wheat is a very good head retention ingredient. You could use wheat extract in an extract recipe.
Move into extract brewing. It almost as easy as a brew kit!
Fermenting:
Condtioning:
Drinking: Twibute Clone, PJ Clone
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hi Hamish
So torrified wheat can not be used in the way you described - I'm not sure how it is made and whether it counts as a roasted grain.
cheers
clongo
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I believe Torrified Wheat needs to be mashed with a base grain such as Maris Otter. So not suitable for kit enhancing or extract brewing.
Fermenting:
Condtioning:
Drinking: Twibute Clone, PJ Clone
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
You can't steep torrified wheat but Crystal Malt, Carapils, Carahell, Roasted Barley, Chocolate Malt, Black Malt, Crystal Wheat, Crystal Rye, Roasted Rye, Chocolate Wheat can all be steeped.
Fermenting: Summer pale ale
Maturing/Conditioning: Marynka pseudo-lager
Drinking: Wheat beer, ESB, Vienna lager & shop bought stuff
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Cheers Simon
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I was going to get some carapils, but they were a bit steep.
I'll get me coat.
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I have only tried adding DME to a kit that seems to help with head retention. Or I may just be lucky
5 gal St Peters Golden Ale as per tin
Youngs Harvest Mild
all a bit moded
Posted 1 year ago by Member
DME would add to the fermentable sugar and the Carapils wouldn't. If you don't mind upping the abv a little then DME would be good. Even better would be a little dried malted wheat extract. That would definitely increase the chances of good head retention.
Fermenting:
Condtioning:
Drinking: Twibute Clone, PJ Clone
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Oh someone local who brews a lot told me that too simon, about using dried malted wheat extract. Got one in the FV now but I only started it on the 29th
5 gal St Peters Golden Ale as per tin
Youngs Harvest Mild
all a bit moded
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