Making kits to a reduced volume

[Kev888]

Hi, and welcome.

in theory the hop component in the kits and so on is ballanced for the recomended volume, but its all down to personal taste so if it works for you then great stuff - I can't see a problem otherwise. I've been using a few kits recently as 'beer time' is being used to upgrade equipment; I've been using the 2-can kits that don't need additional extract but brewing 'slightly' shorter lengths (and so slightly stronger beers) to fit cornie kegs which are only 18 litres - its worked well but I've been tempted to try different yeasts and so on too and you're right that it bumps up the cost.

Normally one would only add extract to the single-can kits and not much else to the 2-can ones, rather than making many other changes - that in my view is their true strength; good, satisfying, home-brewed beer with minimal aggro. But It could be if you're tweaking all the other ingredients as well, then perhaps extract or partial grain brewing may be more appropriate. There isn't a massive saving in cost, in fact often the reverse, but it gives you the flexibility to start from where you want instead of taking off from where the kit leaves you and not using the supplied yeast that you've already bought.

Cheers,
kev

[Willie Eckerslike]

storing five gallons of beer only to find after a couple of months that its only fit for drain cleaner. Any thoughts?

A couple of months..............? It's lucky to get a full week in this house!

[Kev888]

Yeah that bit does sound a bit odd on reflection; not sure if that means its taking 2 months to discover that it didn't work or that its not lasting for two months? It should normally keep for a couple of months in reasonable conditions.

Cheers,
Kev