Can anyone recommend a lager or bitter kit.

tommyc

Hi new to homebrewing.

Just made a Finlandia Premium with brewing sugar, been in the bottles for around 1 month and have a nice clear lager with a decent taste, put in 1 level teaspoon of sugar  in half the bottles, should have gone with 1 heaped, the other bottles i did with 2 carbonation drops and are perfect.  Would like to try another lager kit my preferred taste leans towards carlsbeg export, stella and carling, has anyone get any kit suggestions and what additives (spray malt, brewing sugar, enhancer) to use to get the best taste i can.

Also got a Coopers English Bitter just about ready to bottle had a quick taste and seems to be quite good already, made with 1kg of brewing sugar and 650grms of honey (as on one of the reviews) abv of around 5.5% will let you know how it turns out. My prefernce of bitter are John Smiths extra cold, Tetleys and also enjoy the odd Guiness or two, any recommendations down these lines?

HBO_Staff

With any brew such as a 1 tin kit which needs sugar adding to it, we always recommend that you use a brew enhancer for best results, this gives it more body and mouth feel, and helps with the head etc. It is more than sugar, but it improves the end result. Muntons have one and Coopers have a couple of different ones, one for beer and one for lager;

http://home-brew-online.myshopify.com/collections/all/products/coopers-beer-kit-enhancer-1
http://home-brew-online.myshopify.com/collections/all/products/muntons-beer-kit-enhancer-1kg

Spraymalt does a similar thing but costs more as it is in half kilo bags, but it has the advantage of being available in flavours to alter your brew, such as hopped, and also comes in dark for stouts etc.

The more expensive 2 tin (3kg) kits come with all the extracts/sugars needed already included, although some then add a spraymalt to them, which will also increase the alcohol strength too.

We find the Better Brew Export Lager made with a kg of enhancer is great, and each 500ml bottle primed with a heaped teaspoon of sugar (or 2 carbonation drops if you prefer) gives it a good fizz too.

You'll probably enjoy the English Bitter it is popular, try the new Festival range they are getting good feedback, and for something darker the Brewmaker Irish Velvet gets good reviews;

http://home-brew-online.myshopify.com/collections/all/products/brewmaker-irish-velvet-dark-stout

Either of the Coopers stouts also get good feedback too

tommyc

Thanks

With just starting out wanted to see what a basic lager and bitter kit came out like obviusly to try to keep the price down, but even with the decent results i have so far, i will definitley be going onto better kits and enhancers as you have recommended. Also fancy having a go at adding extra hops.

Thanks for the help.

Oh yeah would be helpful if more out there could put on some decent reciews, kits used, enhancers etc.

HBO_Staff

Adding hops is a great way to personalise your brew to suit your taste, try this hop guide for more info;

http://home-brew-online.myshopify.com/pages/hop-tea-and-dry-hopping

tomstocker

Thanks tommyc and HBO staff, you've both asked and answered my question.  I'm looking to brew a lager for bottling for the summer and also ginger beer for a change.  I,ve been brewing ale for a couple of years but want something chilled aswell. Really love HBOnline.  Have a great 2013 everyone and keep on brewing. 

HBO_Staff

Thanks, Happy 2013 to you too, hopefully another successful year of brewing ahead! bottling is best if wanting to chill your lagers, the new 'Ultimate Brewery' range has some great quality ingredients, but theya re 2 can kits so whilst they need no sugar adding they are more expensive, but the ingredients are top quality, such as this lager;

http://home-brew-online.myshopify.com/collections/all/products/brewery-classics-german-pilsner-kit

We still also highly praise the Better Brew Export Lager (ideally made with 1kg of enhancer in place of sugar), but there are many others that are excellent too.

We have made the Coopers Ginger Beer a few times and it is excellent, many people tell us they prefer itto some of the main brand shop bought stuff, and it is great chilled in summer;

http://home-brew-online.myshopify.com/collections/all/products/coopers-beer-kit-ginger-beer