Has anyone ever just continued with kits?

[Kev888]

You could still do that with beer, be a right pita though!!

Yes indeed - I'm not dissatisfied 'enough' to want to harvest, malt and roast my own grains.. let alone grow them

Noble thought Kev, but they don't take the blame if you cock it up. Soaking it the right way sells your skills rather short.

You clearly haven't tried my beer then
But yes, an under-statement of course. I'm just pointing out that even as an AG brewer I still don't entirely own the beer-making process so it depends where you draw the line; theres quite a lot involved in 'Malting' the grain in the right way, too.

Cheers
Kev

[cellone]

But you are a brewer not a miller. If you cooked a meal with shop bought herbs, would that be a ready meal?

[sweatysock]

I first started brewing kits about 2 years ago and had every intention to continue until a colleague offered me an electrim boiler. I then spent £14 on a coolbox and the same on 10 metres of copper coil. Along with a few odds and sods from the garage I embarked on AG. I bought 4 AG kits from Worcester Hop Shop and have not looked backed. Although I do not profess to be a master brewer the results are in a different league. The raw ingredients for AG are also less than 50% of the kit cost so I have recouped my capital.

I was proud of the kits I had made and would not be and AG brewer or forum contributor if it was not for them.

[lovelldr]

Personally, I can't see myself ever becoming an ag brewer, unfortunately. I'd love to be able to, but as it is, I only just get enough time to brew kits. So, yo be ag I think I'd need to go part time at work!

Add to that the fact that missus already moans about me making kits, and I think unfortunately I'll be stuck making kits. Gotta say though, I'm not complaining too much, as I still enjoy the kits and Mich cheaper than buying beer from the shop...

[lee1]

hi lovelldr you might not think you have time[ as i did at first] but swmbo will soon understand 1; your not at the boozer with ya mates getting blatherd 2; your not blowing loads of money in the boozer 3; your at home near swimbo making beer where she can keep her eyes on you at a fraction of the cost 4; the few hours dont seem to take that long if you plan it out ; everyones a winner [happy brewing lee ]

[Greatcthulhu]

Personally, I love the beer I make from modern kits- I say modern because I remember beer kits from the 70s and they were truly horrible. Whilst I love the idea of AG brewing there is a definite emphasis on the word idea- I don't have the time or space unfortunately. Perhaps if the state (spit) ever lets me retire I'll take it up, but until then I'll stick with kits

[orlando]

Personally, I love the beer I make from modern kits- I say modern because I remember beer kits from the 70s and they were truly horrible. Whilst I love the idea of AG brewing there is a definite emphasis on the word idea- I don't have the time or space unfortunately. Perhaps if the state (spit) ever lets me retire I'll take it up, but until then I'll stick with kits

I made kits in the 70's and truly horrible struggles to convey it, it would be "interesting" to make one again just to really make sure that the bile rising in me as I type is still a justified reaction. This strong memory of the experience was why I decided to go the dark side from the off when I returned to the dark art. However, since I've been on this forum and read so many positive things about the modern kits and not least the modifying that goes on, I have wondered how big the gap is as I haven't tasted a kit brew since then. Maybe I should make one, or better still find someone who does and try theirs, just in case

[Manx Guy]

Hi!

Interesting points being made here...

I statrted brew kits and enjoyed the results, I soon got some good results amking only minor modifications (Using DME & Hop tea and dry hopping etc.)
I then tried Extract as I wanted to make an Jaipur clone...

I swapped to AG just over 2 years ago and despite having children (ones nearly three with another on the way) I manage to brew 10-12 AG brews a year.

I have made two Kits since going AG and they were ok, pretty close to my AG but still better than most commercial beers.

I still have the odd dissapointing beer, or with my recent SNPA type clone I get a chill haze or something is 'slightly off' like an unbalanced beer or slightly low carbonation etc.

But I learn and move on

I certainly wouldnt rule out doing more kits in future, but I would buy decent yeast and maybe do a partial mash or amke some hop tea/dry hop depending on the Kit style.

I'm lucky that I have space, if I lived in a flat then I would have stuck with kits...
Cheers!

Guy

[nutmeg31415]

I started with Kits a long time ago, and quickly moved to AG. It was good fun and the beers did taste better, but I just found I didnt have the time to fit in brew days, and in the end completely stopped. A few years on and I fancied giving it ago and moved back to the kits. The selection of kits now is a hell of a lot better than when I started, and so far they have all been really good - certainly comparable to my AG efforts. Just a few simple changes to some kits, and I've found I can make some excellent beers in a few hours , rather than a whole day, so I'm definitely sticking to kits from now on - or at least till I retire in 50 years and can spare the time! Just done a Citra IPA adaptation with a Coopers Australian Pale kit, with a can of Coopers Light LME, 1 kg brewing sugar, and 50g Citra hops in a hop tea at the start, and 50g dry hopped at the end of fermentation for 7 days. It blows the socks off anything else I've made ever, and most other IPAs I've tried.

[yamr6]

well i must be right at the very very very back of the room (probably out in the street if truth be known )
as i only brew one brand of kits and i still go to the pub
and i buy tinnys from the supermarket
ive even been known to drink Fosters lager which for a northern lad is about as far a southern beer i can get
but l look in wonder at the way you gets it all complicated like

[cellone]

ive even been known to drink Fosters lager which for a northern lad is about as far a southern beer i can get

Care to explain that statement in greater detail for me?

[crafty john]

ive even been known to drink Fosters lager which for a northern lad is about as far a southern beer i can get

Care to explain that statement in greater detail for me?

I think he is saying that southern beer is shit I personally have tried beer all over the country and as long as it's kept properly it doesn't matter which part of the country you are drinking in, it all tastes good.

[lee1]

yes john us northen lads can drink owt brought up on black pudding and yorkshire pudding we can drink owt

[yamr6]

ive even been known to drink Fosters lager which for a northern lad is about as far a southern beer i can get

Care to explain that statement in greater detail for me?

I think he is saying that southern beer is shit I personally have tried beer all over the country and as long as it's kept properly it doesn't matter which part of the country you are drinking in, it all tastes good.

Naa way to complex all beers good i was trying to be funny as Austraila is a long way south of britain