Complete Newbie - Update

[Baldrick]

Good Morning All

Well, I have bottled my second batch - Wilko's Pilsner made with spray malt, brewed short to 20 litres. Whilst I am certainly no expert, it smelt like beer, & appears beer like in appearance, so all I have to do is wait - about 21 days or more I reckon.

My initial attempt, Wilko's Copper Bitter seems to be conditioning in the bottles nicely - nothing has exploded which I understand is a good sign! Although it's only 15 days post bottling, I've decided to risk a tasting with my "idiot friend" this afternoon - I'll let you know how it goes - assuming I survive!!!

If anyone has any suggestions for my 3rd brew, I'd be very grateful.

Cheers

Mark

[LeeH]

Try a Festival kit such as Razorback or the Youngs 2 can APA/IPA. All 3 are very good and a step up from what you have tried already

[neilmcca]

If you want recommendations on what to try next, give us a hint of what type of beer you like,
i recall someone recently saying they aren't particulary fond of stout (BLASPHEMY ) not sure if that was you or not !
if it wasn't, Coopers stout is epic and is ready to drink unbelievably fast !
Coopers dark ale, is as good if not better !
Woodfordes wherry is just stunning if you can leave it alone for a couple of month, even better if you can leave it longer.
another favorite of mine is Coopers Brewmaster Wheat Beer, i love wheat beer and intend doing a Brewferm wheat beer with added coriander and curacao orange peel, trouble with Brewferm kits is they take months (possibly a year) to reach their best !

good luck ..

[LeeH]

I always have a stock of Brewferm kriek maturing as it's dam tasty.

[Hopping_Mad]

If you want recommendations on what to try next, give us a hint of what type of beer you like,
i recall someone recently saying they aren't particulary fond of stout (BLASPHEMY ) not sure if that was you or not !
if it wasn't, Coopers stout is epic and is ready to drink unbelievably fast !
Coopers dark ale, is as good if not better !
Woodfordes wherry is just stunning if you can leave it alone for a couple of month, even better if you can leave it longer ..

I was that blasphemer!!! I used to love stout too. Probably just can't get a decent commercial pint and started to get a taste for less malty, more hoppy ales through homebrewing!!!

Baldrick - you are now officially a brewer!

I've heard Coopers stout is v good. I've done two Coopers Dark Ales and that is pretty good too. Concur on Woodfordes Wherry - I recommend 3 months for optimum.

The Festival range are top notch, as are the Youngs Craft American Range too. Bulldog are not far behind those two.

[harbinger]

Try this Mate,Geordie lager kit,1-1.5kg light or extra light spraymalt(dme) some honey and some glucose syrup 2x saaz finishing hops (tea bags) 1 in initial mix and one on day 6 .throw away the geordie lager yeast and get some saflager 34/70 x2 and use instead.leave for 14 days then bottle and leave for 14 days more = lusciuos tasty lager.....no pretenciousness,noo gobshite just lush lager ,stick in fridge and revel in your excellence i make this a lot and its lush(if you need more help pm me)you could probably do this with a wilko kit too just bin the yeast and use saflger nee bovva.

[Baldrick]

Good Morning All

Firstly, many thanks for the suggestions & encouragement, I reckon I may well try Harbinger's suggestion, possibly not for my next brew. Thankfully, I am not a blasphemer & do like stout as with most beers to be honest.

Well, I tried my first brew yesterday & I'm still here - which is obviously a good result. It was definitely beer, if maybe a bit light on the taste, probably due to not brewing short. It certainly had a pretty good head & poured clearly, so I am pretty happy with it as a first attempt. Oh, & the Guinea Pig, my "Idiot Friend", has also survived!

So, looks like I will inflict the Hoppy Copper on my Dad & Brother-in-Law tomorrow as we celebrate my parents' Golden Wedding.....

Cheers

Mark