Brewing Master

Question:

I’ll have to pitch in from a different point of view. I use beer kits for my "house" ale. Now, let me say that I don’t do it the way the kit says. I use a 4lb can of hopped malt extract, and add to it a 3.3lb can of unhopped extract, and a few ounces of hops during the boil and dry. I know better, for a variety of reasons, than to follow the directions or to add sugar in that volume. Why do I do this? I really like this beer. This is Black Rock’s New Zealand Company Export Bitter, to which I add a can of Black Rock’s amber extract, and a total of three ounces of Pride of Ringwood hops (1×60, 1×7, 1xdry). Because I got a REALLY good deal on the kits and cans, my "house" beer comes in at about $11US per 5gal batch. It’s precisely the fact that my "house" beer is ridiculously INexpensive that I use kits and cans. This is my New Zealand Discount Bitter II (NZ Bitter I used two cans of the hopped extract kit, and was a little heavy and bitter for my tastes.) When it’s gone, I’ll change over to a different "house" beer, probably my pale ale, which uses canned extract and costs almost triple. I’ll damn the manufacturers (not Brits in this case) for the procedures they recommend. I know better, and make a very good, very cheap house beer using kits and cans.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – True. I started on kits too. My comments were directed towards experienced brewers, some of whom are not aware that there is better homebrew available than a kit can make. Sorry I was not explicit. Yup, might as well not brew as use a kit beer. I’ll bet there is a corresponding group of audiophiles who carry earplugs so that they don’t have to listen to music playing on inferior systems. I started with a kit, and moved on to specialty grains with plain malt. Soon I’ll be doing all grain. That makes a nice progression, no one was hurt, and I’ll have first hand experience of the advantages and disadvantages of each method. – Mike – The use of generic pale malt extract, if pure, is just fine, and even better when combined with a partial mash. But please, I ask all self respecting brewers, for the sake of us all, to stop using kits from cans. These are relics from the early days when my old countrymen, the Brits, started making filthy beer at home. They equate to adding sugar or maize. Please, develop your style, your flavor, your mouth feel, your aroma, with specialty malts as the professionals do. Kits are not for us and they make inferior beer and are ridiculously expensive.

Response:

Mike, Could you post in plain text?  Your posts are making my news reader crazy. Thanks. Colin Medford, NY swap net.optonline to reply via e-mail

Response:

Micheal, I agree with what you say, but I disagree to the extent; Everything has it’s place. Kit Beers are a GREAT way to get started in the hobby. Every hobby, sport, profession, etc. has to have an infusion of new blood. How many NEW Blood’s would we aqquire if it required flying a Boeing 747 before they could taxi a Cessna 150? Brewing beer, like many things is a progression. My Grandfather brewed some pretty interesting beers using Red Top Canned Malt, and lots of imagination and experimentation. Sure the hobby has progressed to the point that most guys here can brew with the best of them. But everyone has to have a starting point that is cost effective and doesn’t require a Ph.D in Chemistry to get started. My parting advice to the Kit Beer-er’s…. Get some real live YEAST…… It’ll make your "CANNED BEERS" taste much better. Scott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is a multi-part message in MIME format. Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable The use of generic pale malt extract, if pure, is just fine, and even = better when combined with a partial mash. But please, I ask all self = respecting brewers, for the sake of us all, to stop using kits from = cans. These are relics from the early days when my old countrymen, the = Brits, started making filthy beer at home. They equate to adding sugar = or maize. Please, develop your style, your flavor, your mouth feel, your aroma, = with specialty malts as the professionals do. Kits are not for us and = they make inferior beer and are ridiculously expensive. I know I will get attacked for this from some quarters, such as the kit = sellers, but I feel passionately that brewing in America has gone beyond = this stage of infancy. Cheers, Mike S Content-Type: text/html;    charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" <HTML<HEAD <META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; = charset=3Diso-8859-1" <META content=3D"MSHTML 5.50.4611.1300" name=3DGENERATOR <STYLE</STYLE </HEAD <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2The use of generic pale malt extract, = if pure, is=20 just fine, and even better when combined with a partial mash. But = please, I ask=20 all self respecting brewers, for the sake of us all, to stop using kits = from=20 cans. These are relics from the early days when my old countrymen, the = Brits,=20 started making filthy beer at home. They equate to adding sugar or=20 maize.</FONT</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2</FONT&nbsp;</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2Please, develop your style, your = flavor, your mouth=20 feel, your aroma,&nbsp;with specialty malts as the professionals do. = Kits are=20 not for us and they make inferior beer and are ridiculously=20 expensive.</FONT</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2</FONT&nbsp;</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2I know I will get attacked for this = from some=20 quarters, such as the kit sellers, but I feel passionately that brewing = in=20 America has gone beyond this stage of infancy.</FONT</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2</FONT&nbsp;</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2Cheers,</FONT</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2</FONT&nbsp;</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2Mike S</FONT</DIV</BODY</HTML

Response:

The "True Brew" all malt kit is an excellent starting point IMHO as it allows the beginner to see all of the basic steps used in making a generic malt extract brew.  I would however recommend that you read TNCJOHB first as all kit instructions can be confusing and the insight gained from a little research will benefit you greatly.  Mr. Papazian may have his faults but his "relax, don’t worry" approach has moved many beginners far along the path to skillful home brewing.  I do not have any association with True Brew or any commercial activity. John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Micheal, I agree with what you say, but I disagree to the extent; Everything has it’s place. Kit Beers are a GREAT way to get started in the hobby. Every hobby, sport, profession, etc. has to have an infusion of new blood. How many NEW Blood’s would we aqquire if it required flying a Boeing 747 before they could taxi a Cessna 150? Brewing beer, like many things is a progression. My Grandfather brewed some pretty interesting beers using Red Top Canned Malt, and lots of imagination and experimentation. Sure the hobby has progressed to the point that most guys here can brew with the best of them. But everyone has to have a starting point that is cost effective and doesn’t require a Ph.D in Chemistry to get started. My parting advice to the Kit Beer-er’s…. Get some real live YEAST…… It’ll make your "CANNED BEERS" taste much better. Scott This is a multi-part message in MIME format. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable The use of generic pale malt extract, if pure, is just fine, and even = better when combined with a partial mash. But please, I ask all self = respecting brewers, for the sake of us all, to stop using kits from = cans. These are relics from the early days when my old countrymen, the = Brits, started making filthy beer at home. They equate to adding sugar = or maize. Please, develop your style, your flavor, your mouth feel, your aroma, = with specialty malts as the professionals do. Kits are not for us and = they make inferior beer and are ridiculously expensive. I know I will get attacked for this from some quarters, such as the kit = sellers, but I feel passionately that brewing in America has gone beyond = this stage of infancy. Cheers, Mike S Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" <HTML<HEAD <META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; = charset=3Diso-8859-1" <META content=3D"MSHTML 5.50.4611.1300" name=3DGENERATOR <STYLE</STYLE </HEAD <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2The use of generic pale malt extract, = if pure, is=20 just fine, and even better when combined with a partial mash. But = please, I ask=20 all self respecting brewers, for the sake of us all, to stop using kits = from=20 cans. These are relics from the early days when my old countrymen, the = Brits,=20 started making filthy beer at home. They equate to adding sugar or=20 maize.</FONT</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2</FONT&nbsp;</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2Please, develop your style, your = flavor, your mouth=20 feel, your aroma,&nbsp;with specialty malts as the professionals do. = Kits are=20 not for us and they make inferior beer and are ridiculously=20 expensive.</FONT</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2</FONT&nbsp;</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2I know I will get attacked for this = from some=20 quarters, such as the kit sellers, but I feel passionately that brewing = in=20 America has gone beyond this stage of infancy.</FONT</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2</FONT&nbsp;</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2Cheers,</FONT</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2</FONT&nbsp;</DIV <DIV<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2Mike S</FONT</DIV</BODY</HTML

Response:

I have a Ph.D. in chemistry and I did start with a kit.  Still waiting for the final product (bottled last night) however. paul- lernt tha chemistration gud at the colidge

Response:

True. I started on kits too. My comments were directed towards experienced brewers, some of whom are not aware that there is better homebrew available than a kit can make. Sorry I was not explicit.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yup, might as well not brew as use a kit beer. I’ll bet there is a corresponding group of audiophiles who carry earplugs so that they don’t have to listen to music playing on inferior systems. I started with a kit, and moved on to specialty grains with plain malt. Soon I’ll be doing all grain. That makes a nice progression, no one was hurt, and I’ll have first hand experience of the advantages and disadvantages of each method. – Mike – The use of generic pale malt extract, if pure, is just fine, and even better when combined with a partial mash. But please, I ask all self respecting brewers, for the sake of us all, to stop using kits from cans. These are relics from the early days when my old countrymen, the Brits, started making filthy beer at home. They equate to adding sugar or maize. Please, develop your style, your flavor, your mouth feel, your aroma, with specialty malts as the professionals do. Kits are not for us and they make inferior beer and are ridiculously expensive.

Response:

        Yup, might as well not brew as use a kit beer. I’ll bet there is a corresponding group of audiophiles who carry earplugs so that they don’t have to listen to music playing on inferior systems.         I started with a kit, and moved on to specialty grains with plain malt. Soon I’ll be doing all grain. That makes a nice progression, no one was hurt, and I’ll have first hand experience of the advantages and disadvantages of each method.         – Mike – – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The use of generic pale malt extract, if pure, is just fine, and even better when combined with a partial mash. But please, I ask all self respecting brewers, for the sake of us all, to stop using kits from cans. These are relics from the early days when my old countrymen, the Brits, started making filthy beer at home. They equate to adding sugar or maize. Please, develop your style, your flavor, your mouth feel, your aroma, with specialty malts as the professionals do. Kits are not for us and they make inferior beer and are ridiculously expensive.

Response:

The "True Brew" all malt kit is an excellent starting point IMHO as it allows the beginner to see all of the basic steps used in making a generic malt extract brew.

I agree wholeheartedly.  My first six batches were True Brew kits and they allowed me to brew with very little problems.  When you’re starting off at homebrewing, a no-brainer kit is very encouraging. — Phil visit the New York City Homebrewers Guild website: http://www.pipeline.com/~dogglebe/nychg.html

Response:

The use of generic pale malt extract, if pure, is just fine, and even better when combined with a partial mash. But please, I ask all self respecting brewers, for the sake of us all, to stop using kits from cans. These are relics from the early days when my old countrymen, the Brits, started making filthy beer at home. They equate to adding sugar or maize. Please, develop your style, your flavor, your mouth feel, your aroma, with specialty malts as the professionals do. Kits are not for us and they make inferior beer and are ridiculously expensive. I know I will get attacked for this from some quarters, such as the kit sellers, but I feel passionately that brewing in America has gone beyond this stage of infancy. Cheers, Mike S

Response: