What's the best lager kits?

[Wekslap]

Hi guys.
Thinking of lagers next after my wilko bargain beers are done. Thinking ahead, what one can and two can lager kits would you brew wizards say are the best to buy?

Thanks

John

[Monkeybrew]

Coopers Pilsener for me, but it comes with a proper lager yeast that needs a stable cold fermentation temperature, something that is very hard to achieve without a brewfridge.

Coopers Aussie Lager was my first ever attempt at brewing a lager kit (this one comes with an ale yeast), and it's not bad to be honest and can be fermented at ale temperatures (ideally the lower end) of 17-18C.

Let the lager debate begin..........

Cheers

MB

[neilmcca]

I haven't tried the Coopers Pilsner yet,
But i have done the Aussie lager dozens of times, and it never fails....can't go wrong with it, nice pint every time.
At the moment i'm supping Richies simply lager, which is pretty damn good and at £7:99 what more could u ask for !

[twentyfootwilf]

Depends What you want from a lager kit. If you want a true lager then as MB says it comes with conditions. However if you want a light lagerish beer that tastes very drinkable then I have always been happy with Coopers Australian lager and Coopers Canadian Blonde brewed quite light with not too much body, I have found that using 50/50 DME and dextrose would be as much DME I would want to use with these kits to keep them light and refreshing and tasting pretty good for a no messing about brew. My son in law brewed a Canadian Blonde with just 1kg of Dextrose and you know cold out of the fridge it was very nice on a hot day. Dead easy to do and quickly conditions.

[SquireKnott]

I thought Simply Lager was awful when I tried drinking some too early but it improved no end and is fine for the price

[alexlark]

Coopers European Lager has been the best lager I have brewed to date. Comes with a true lager yeast. I haven't got a brew fridge so I brew these in the winter in the coldest room in my house. Works well

[harbinger]

Oh well I suppose i'd better get my 2 pence worth in as I only make lager and occassionally cack cider for my mate

Coopers european lager is ok but I tend to choose GEORDIE LAGER never had one go bad yet,though i use saflager yeast,2 saaz teabags and 1kg LME and it comes out lovely everytime guess it depends if you just want to make just the kit or spend a little more per pint to make it nice.Even if you just change/add one thing each time you will notice and when you find your winning combination you will stick with it.Its all down to taste really.For example I have been supping becks and grolsch lately and there both nice but i had a pint of tuborg in a pub and it was vile,once you find the taste you like its easy after that.Have fun playing.

[Exiled Bradfordian]

Depends what you want. I'm not much of a lager head but enjoy the odd cold one when it's hot. Wilko Cerveza works for me. Not a 'true lager', but brewed with plain old dextrose it works for me for a refreshing summer drink.

[cellone]

I Haven't got a clue.

[alexlark]

Im currently drinking a lager that I brewed using a Youngs Harvest Lager kit, Saflager Yeast, 1kg light spray malt and a saaz hop tea. The yeast really makes all the difference.

[cellone]

The yeast really makes all the difference.

Top advice.

[cellone]

Oh well I suppose i'd better get my 2 pence worth in as I only make lager and occassionally cack cider for my mate

Coopers european lager is ok but I tend to choose GEORDIE LAGER never had one go bad yet,though i use saflager yeast,2 saaz teabags and 1kg LME and it comes out lovely everytime guess it depends if you just want to make just the kit or spend a little more per pint to make it nice.Even if you just change/add one thing each time you will notice and when you find your winning combination you will stick with it.Its all down to taste really.For example I have been supping becks and grolsch lately and there both nice but i had a pint of tuborg in a pub and it was vile,once you find the taste you like its easy after that.Have fun playing.

I've got a kit adaption that is Grolsch like. Will post it up some time.

[cellone]

What type of lager are you after John and can you set up a brew fridge and lagering fridge?

[Wekslap]

I'm sorry I can't set up a lager fridge etc. I like personally something like pilsner urquell or one I used to get in bottles ages ago called something like herforder.

My daughter wants me to brew her a Mexicanstyle or Australian style lager.

I know there is an ongoing purists debate going on about real lagers brewed and stored cold but I don't have those facilities.

[Exiled Bradfordian]

Wekslap,

I'm gonna be contentious here, but my Cerveza has gone to my dad, father in law, about 6 people at work, and our neighbours.

All described it as a 'lager'.

It tastes like a lager. It's fizzy like a lager.

I completely understand that the manufacturing process means that it is not a 'true lager' because it hasn't been cold fermented.

But to all intents and purposes, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

I'm not the biggest lager drinker in the world, so am not an expert, but if I got my Cerveza in the pub I'd happily pay for it. Brew it, let it carbonate for a couple weeks and condition for at least another two, then get it in the fridge to serve up cold.

Others are free to disagree with anyone's opinion, but you'll only know if you personally like a particular kit once you've tried it.