Home brewing kits

[Mac]

I'm thinking about getting one, just for fun and because well, I like beer. Anyone ever fooled around with one?

[Bratty]

Mac my brother does 3 or 4 a year it's not the best tasting beer I've ever had but feck me it's like rocket fuel lol, I'd say go for it mate what you got to lose.

[kiwikrasher]

I've brewed off and on for 20 yrs Mac. Pretty easy once you're all set up. Biggest points to a good beer even from a standard kit is sterilisation, a constant lower temp for fermentation and bottling at the right SG. And the biggest point, don't drink it too early! Some kits say drinkable in 2-3 weeks. I'd say 6 weeks minimum in the bottle. It makes a huge difference.

If you use Dextrose rather than sugar for main mash you'll have less dregs and a better taste too.

Buy a decent hydrometer. The kit ones aren't usually any good IMHO.

[rocket]

My mates dad does it when we were 18 we would drink the cheapest beer we could get asda special brew. It tasted rank but his dads home brew was worse we had to add lime just to drink it .

[beermonster]

My folks used to do home brew and I did too when at university. I'd echo Kiwicrasher's comments especially about sterilisation and length of time in bottle (or barrel). It's absolutely the key to getting a tasty brew.

[Deegee]

Another vote for Kiwikrashers comments, Dad and I started brewing back in the 70's, some of it was bloody awful, but as a schoolboy making and drinking beer with my Dad I thought it was the Mutts nuts, I can't smell malt extract without being straight back in that kitchen on a Wednesday evening with him.

[Mac]

Thanks for the comments mates. I'm leaning toward this kit from Northern Brewer http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/esse ... r-kit.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
But I'm open for suggestions as well...

[Deegee]

Anything with a bit of body will be good, but it depends on what you like to drink most, having done a fair few beer festivals I know I like a dark bitter, halfway between an IPA and a Guiness., but everyone is different, all down to personal taste I think.

[Binno]

This is just my opinion. But every home brew I ever drank was revolting.

A mate of mine does wine kits. He makes gallons of the stuff and likes it so much he won't give me any. Dunno if that's up your street

[Kwacky]

Anything with a bit of body will be good, but it depends on what you like to drink most, having done a fair few beer festivals I know I like a dark bitter, halfway between an IPA and a Guiness., but everyone is different, all down to personal taste I think.

Do you like Porter?

[Deegee]

Porters are a bit sweet for me, my beer of the moment is Dark Munro, easy to get at the local beer festivals but not at any pubs local to me. Old Peculiar, Broadside, Directors or Riggwelter are also very drinkable for my tastes. Actually talking about beer is making me thirsty.....

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/highland-dark-munro/68874/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mac]

I like almost all beers, with the possible exception of IPA's, which come across as a little bitter for my tastes. I was thinking of a brown ale to start, as many reviews stated it was an easy beginners brew.

[kiwikrasher]

I like almost all beers, with the possible exception of IPA's, which come across as a little bitter for my tastes. I was thinking of a brown ale to start, as many reviews stated it was an easy beginners brew.

IPA's are my favorite ....

I can't stand the dark heavy beers myself. I brewed one by accident once. Struggled thru' a bottle and gave the rest to a mate. He was stoked and loved it..

But that's one of the great things about beer, there's one for every taste!

[Godzilla]

I love Theakston's Old Peculiar. One of my favourite beers. That said I like IPAs as well