Brew UK Forum | Beer Kits
Tinkering with Kits
As my mate is an avid lager drinker & rubbishing home brew contstantly, I was wondering if I could add a few things to a Lager kit like some hops when I add the boiling water.
Secondly are the Larger kits any good?
Has anyone tried this or even adding any other ingredients to make it more exciting.
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
You could grab a standard lager kit, use light spraymalt, make a sazz hop tea and ferment with some s23 yeast at a lower temp I reckon that would definatly up any standard lager kit.
Wicked! friday! Beer!
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Definitely use light spraymalt instead of sugar as Nath suggests, replace gram for gram.
In the Wheeler book I have he suggests adding 15 grams of hops (in a Muslin bag) & simmering with the kit for a few minutes then letting the infusion stand for 15 minutes to half an hour. You could use Hallertau, Tettnang, Spalt or Saaz.
If using a basic kit you could steep some grains (again in a Muslin bag) in water at 65C to 70C for half an hour then add the kit to this. I would suggest Carapils malt maybe 100 to 200 grams. This will increase the gravity a touch, will impart a little flavour but will have the most effect on head retention, its what I used to do with my extract brews which is essentially the same process as kits but with a little more control over the flavours.
If you add grains you will need to boil for sterilisation purposes.
Also try changing the yeast, Greg has a good selection. The liquid yeasts offer the most possibilities though you may not want to spend that much, otherwise dried yeast is just as good & could be better than the yeast that comes with the kit. Lager yeasts like to be fermented cool, around 10C to 14C.
Keep us posted.
Fermenting: Summer pale ale
Maturing/Conditioning: Marynka pseudo-lager
Drinking: Wheat beer, ESB, Vienna lager & shop bought stuff
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thanks Guys
Im sure I have some Hallertau left over. I was planning on doing it this weekend so didnt really have time to order off Greg, I know Wilko's have a basic selection going on.
Im guessing I could use torrefied wheat instead of carapils??
Also could S04 be used at cooler temps??
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Didn't notice it was you Gazz, saw kits & thought it was someone new.
Most of the stuff I've just written you already know, I could have saved myself some typing. 
As far as I am aware only Crystal Malt, Carapils, Carahell, Roasted Barley, Chocolate Malt, Black Malt, Crystal Wheat, Crystal Rye, Roasted Rye & Chocolate Wheat can 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 Moderator
You can use any yeast at its lowest range (around 18c for most ale yeasts) but thats where the problem is. You wnat to use a lager yeast, totally different kettle of fish to ale yeast. Lager yeast is a bottom fermenting yeast while ale is a top fermenting yeast (usually). Lager yeast can smell like rotten eggs as it gives off a sulpher smell, trust me I found out the hard way when I first christened my brewfridge! It will totally change the characteristics of a beer.
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Gazz
Why not do an extract brew and then you can make the way you want to?
Fermenting:
Condtioning:
Drinking: Twibute Clone, PJ Clone
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I just like the idea of an easy brew that wouldnt take too long. This Lager stuff seems a lot of hassle...an I dont really like the stuff!!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Let your mate stew in his own lager!
We know better. Homebrew rocks!
Fermenting:
Condtioning:
Drinking: Twibute Clone, PJ Clone
Posted 1 year ago by Member
http://oz.craftbrewer.org/Library/Methods/Scott/KitImprove.shtml
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Varnish your link is mostly about tvs and cable
Fermenting-Nowt
Conditioning-Proper Job Comp Beer,Kenridge White Merlot
Drinking-Raspberry/Lime cider,Grenache Blush Rose,Coopers modified lager
SG Chardonnay Wine
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Hi mark
Try this recipe to make 4 gallons of san miguel-5.5% vol.
ingredients:
1/2oz-Hallertau hops
1-Edme lager kit
2lb-Golden syrup
1/2oz-Lager yeast
This recipe is from DAVE LINE'S BOOK-Brewing Beers Like Those you Buy.
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