Westcountry Ales for a Beginner(ish)

[Sparkler]

G'day all, new to the forum but been brewing off and on for a few years.

I am an aussie living in Devon and have in the past mostly brewed Coopers kits.

I have grown rather fond of some of the local ales and would like to try to emulate them so am after some advice. My favourites are: Otter Ale, Proper Job and Tribute but i do like the Coopers Sparkling/Pale Ales so will probably bottle it and add a bit of fizz. Am also quite fond of Newcastle Brown in bottled form.

I'm not really familiar with anything other than the coopers kits which i find a bit limited so am after some guidence on what the other manufacturers are like and anything others have had sucess with.

Cheers...

[twentyfootwilf]

I'm not sure what those ales you mention are like,but I've brewed a couple of kits which are typical English style ales and very nice too. Last year I did a Yorkhire Terrier bitter http://www.hamstead-brewing-centre.co.uk/itmidx11.htm (they also do Stonewall bitter but I haven't done that one but should also be good) also I've just done Muntons premium gold Smugglers, a very full bodied malty beer which I ike very much. I can recommend both those kits.

[Sparkler]

Cheers wilf. Like the look of the smugglers... I think I need to work out how the northern ale types relate to the ones down here. I never see mild or Yorkshire bitter etc round here.


Has anyone tried the ritchies Simply range. They sound good but are pretty cheap...