Brew UK Forum | Beer Kits
Stout Kits - can they be jazzed up?
Hi - I have a single can stout kit which I have made before. It turned out ok but having now dabbled with Extract brewing I realise the stout was a bit, erm, boring...
Can I do anything to jazz it up as I have another two cans (special offer sucker) - previously I followed the instructions and added 1kg of white sugar.
What if I added syrup instead? Or DME (worried that might be overkill on the malt taste)? And are there any hops that would be worth putting in? Quite happy to make it more a winter warmer kind of brew - could I mix a bitter kit with it?
So up for any suggestions that you guys have for additions to make the stout more interesting.
Thank you
Jules
Drinking: Un-named 2 Can bitter, Doodlebug, Thunderbolt
Conditioning: LP Extract
Fermenting : Old Speckled Hen Extract
Planning: Thunderbolt again, Rocker APA and a wheat extract c/o Hamish!
Conditioning: LP Extract
Fermenting : Old Speckled Hen Extract
Planning: Thunderbolt again, Rocker APA and a wheat extract c/o Hamish!
Responses
Posted 11 months ago by Member
It depends what taste you are after? I am fairly new to this brewing lark, but wanted to make an 'imperial Russian stout, taste. I added 2kg of extra dark brown malt. My fella and his mates love it and call it JGS = Jo's Good stuff! I definitely recommend giving that a go.
Posted 11 months ago by Moderator
You could make a brew with 2 cans, no need to add any DME or
sugar. Then jazz it up with a hop tea, fill the can 3 parts full with boiled water, steep 20g of Fuggles or Goldings for 20 minutes and strain into the fermenter.If you swap the yeast for Danstar Windsor it'll really change the brew.
Fermenting: Summer pale ale
Maturing/Conditioning: Marynka pseudo-lager
Drinking: Wheat beer, ESB, Vienna lager & shop bought stuff
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Hamish - why no sugar if using two cans? sorry if stupid question - would it be that there will be enough malt in two cans to be the yeasts food? would that work if I use 1 stout 1 bitter?
thank you
Conditioning: LP Extract
Fermenting : Old Speckled Hen Extract
Planning: Thunderbolt again, Rocker APA and a wheat extract c/o Hamish!
Posted 11 months ago by Moderator
I read that at first as 'why no sugar' because it makes 'orrible thin beer thats why.
But yes, there is enough malt to provide the yeasties with all their fermentables. You're turning it into a premium kit really.
Yep, would work for 1 stout 1 bitter kit which would make an interesting brew, a Porter maybe?.
Do the hop tea, that will really improve it.
Fermenting: Summer pale ale
Maturing/Conditioning: Marynka pseudo-lager
Drinking: Wheat beer, ESB, Vienna lager & shop bought stuff
Posted 11 months ago by Member
I'm drinking a stout now which i made up with 500g Dark DME,300g black treacle,200g muscavado sugar and 200g of wheat DME which I had knocking around (just to help with the head of the beer).then primed with a 50/50 mix of black treacle and brown sugar to bottle, and it tastes, well, treacly
and very smooth.
Cheers
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Hi Hamish
I am aiming for a porter type and will definately try the hop tea - I will be bottling this to mature for Christmas so do I prime the bottles still and what would you recommend I use - DME?
I am also thinking of using yeast Safbrew T-58 as its supposed to be a bit spicy/peppery which I think will suit - anyone think this is a bad idea?
Thank you for your help on this.
Jules
Conditioning: LP Extract
Fermenting : Old Speckled Hen Extract
Planning: Thunderbolt again, Rocker APA and a wheat extract c/o Hamish!
Posted 11 months ago by Moderator
Sugar is fine for priming, its just tipping 1kg of the stuff in the brew that makes me wince but each to their own.
I think changing the yeast is a great idea.
Fermenting: Summer pale ale
Maturing/Conditioning: Marynka pseudo-lager
Drinking: Wheat beer, ESB, Vienna lager & shop bought stuff
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Thanks again - now have the confidence to go for it, so will add to the list!
Jules
Conditioning: LP Extract
Fermenting : Old Speckled Hen Extract
Planning: Thunderbolt again, Rocker APA and a wheat extract c/o Hamish!
Posted 11 months ago by Member
I have Dry Hopped with 60g of Aurora hops to 15L of stout, turned out very nice & my fav so far.
I also split another 10L from the original 25L batch and added a vanilla pod along with half a cup full of quality coffee beans & 2 Tblsp of Black Treacle. Turned out nice but deffo not a session beer.
If your a bit weary like me, split your batch after adding your yeast & experiment with items you like the taste of.
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