Brewing Master

Question:

can anyone tell me what type of kit to buy to make a beer that tastes like Hiniken(not sure of spelling}?

Response:

New brewers frequently ask how they can duplicate commercial beers with which they are familiar, not realizing that some of these are among the most difficult beers to brew, especially for a beginner. Heineken is a continental European lager, which demands careful attention to the brewing process, as well as fermentation and lagering at controlled, cold temperatures.  It really can’t be duplicated using malt extracts; it must be brewed using all-grain mashing and sparging. As a beginner, you’d be better off to brew a light-colored, lightly bittered ale using a neutral ale yeast.  It won’t taste quite like Heineken, but it will be much easier to brew and it will open up your taste buds to a world of more flavorful beer.  Should you later want to brew a Heineken clone (there’s nothing wrong with that), wait until you have more experience and are better able to take on that challenge. Many experienced homebrewers learn that it’s somewhat foolish to take on the megabrewers at their own game when you can brew more interesting beers that the big boys are too timid to brew themselves. Meanwhile, go to your local homebrew shop and tell them what beers you like and would like to try to brew.  They should be able to suggest something within your ability that you still find tasty and satisfying. Cheers. — Bill Pierce Cellar Door Homebrewery Des Moines, IA

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Response:

Thanks bill for the info. Its guys like you and others who keep us new to home brew trying .I just made a lager from a kit and although I made mistakes it is still head and shoulders above anything the mega breweries have to offer{at least anything I have tried }.I can"t see me ever buying beer again(I"m hooked} I do plan on making my brew from scratch when time and money will allow. anyway thanks this time and in the future for the help Sincerly  Pat Fleming

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I can"t see me ever buying beer again(I"m hooked}

yes you will. Some beer comes with free bottles

Response:

can anyone tell me what type of kit to buy to make a beer that tastes like Hiniken(not sure of spelling}?

Heineken is a Continental Pilsener, so a kit for that style of beer will at least get you into the ballpark. However, Pilseners are one of the more difficult styles to brew correctly, especially if you are using extract-based kits.  This is due to a number of factors: – They are light colored, and have a clean, crisp taste.  This can be difficult to achieve with extract kits.  Ingredients which are not absolutely fresh, or minor flaws in the brewing process will be quite obvious in the finished product, since there’s nothing to cover them up. – They are lagers.  This means that to get an authentic tasting Pilsener, you need to ferment cold (around 50F), with a yeast that will still work at that temperature. – They have a noticeable "noble hop" aroma and flavor.  It may be difficult to get the hop character right, unless you’re willing to add your own finishing hops to the kit. Now, that’s not to say that you can’t brew a decent beer from one of the commercially available Continental Pilsener kits.  Just be aware that it is likely to come out a little darker than Heineken, and (unless you ferment cold with a lager yeast) will probably have some "ale character" (i.e. fruity flavors). —

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