Canned Kits - Can you really make a clean tasting beer ?

[Starting Fresh]

Hi Chaps,

Been reading your forum with interest. I'm keen to have a go at this game, but have heard (over the years) that the stuff u make out of the can has the "basic taste" and an alcoholic kick, but its not something you'd serve to your friends and expect them to be fooled into thinking you had just opened a bottle from the supermarket.

I'd be happy to learn that this is nonsense, since these kits are appearing everywhere you look, so they must be selling..... So the question is, is it possible to make a clean, decent tasting beer from the canned kits, or do I have to go the whole hog and go for the mashing technique to get something worthwhile ? Can I actually make something from a canned kit that tastes like a commercial beer ?

Your assistance appreciated

[grabman]

from a kit you can get something better than a commercial brew, hell anythin is better than VB! To get better results adjust the extra's you use from just sugar to malts etc

BUt basically yes from a kit you can get a good brew!!!

[Tony]

Here's a first-timer's response to that. I bottled my 1st brew 2 weeks ago (the lager + brewing sugar that comes with the Cooper's brewery kit). It's just starting to hold a head for more than about 30 seconds.

Anyhow, on the weekend, I dished some up to my brother-in-law for lunch after he helped me with some concreting. He seemed to enjoy it, so I put a couple of bottles in the esky to take to his place for dinner. At the end of his second glass he asked if I had any more. Nope. Damm - I'll have to go back to crownies. So,

Can I actually make something from a canned kit that tastes like a commercial beer?

For the most part, why would you want to?
But, you can brew something that people will drink in preference to commercial beer. If I can do that 1st time around without doing any research other than the booklet and video that came with the kit, there's hope for us all.

Tony

[Antsvb]

For sure. A basic kit will still get you some great beers.

As grabman said, play with some different malts to take the experience even further.

I'd recommend doing a couple of kits using just 1kg dextrose first up and then see the difference some other malts and blends makes.

[kitkat]

Maybe as an additional recommendation, do not use sugar, as it'll give your beer a cidery taste.
I am not sure what's in the coopers kit, but it seems to work. Supermarkets also store "brewmixes" or similar, basically fermentables to use instead of sugar. But if you can, try to get some dried malt extract or liquid mal extract. Heaps of online stores if you don't have one in your town.

[gregb]

Short answer to your question: yep.

In addition to the above about malts etc, also drop into your nearest Home Brew Shop (often referred to on the forum as 'HBS') and grab a sachet of 'saflager' yeast and try the premium dry yeast.

Greg.

[Dogger Dan]

I guess I don't need to put in my two cents

Dogger

[NRB]

grab a sachet of 'saflager' yeast and try the premium dry yeast.

I would only recommend that to someone who could ferment at true lager temps. You don't want to be brewing with SAFLager at 20+C

You'll also need a diacetyl rest using it.

[kitkat]

grab a sachet of 'saflager' yeast and try the premium dry yeast.

I would only recommend that to someone who could ferment at true lager temps. You don't want to be brewing with SAFLager at 20+C

I can confirm from experience, it's not really that great ... first kit I made, the coopers lager, thought I'd use a proper lager yeast ... didn't know about brewing temperature (knew just enough to be dangerous ), and the HBS guy didn't actually mention it either when I bought the yeast.

You'll also need a diacetyl rest using it.

... only if you actually ferment at the proper temperature, no? Given that the rest is just bringing the fermenter to 20ish degrees a bit before the end of the fermentation, if you do the whole thing at 20+, it wouldn't be an issue.

[db]

i wouldn't even think about using saflager if your gonna brew it at 20deg.. safale would be a much better choice

[Shaun]

Simple, yes kits rock as a starting point. Have fun playing with kits using different malts and hops not a lot can go wrong here. Once you have malts and hops in hand then start playing with yeast.

Work your way up, start simple and build on it, don't jump straight into the deep end.


Have fun playing and yes munkey drinking as well

[NRB]

... only if you actually ferment at the proper temperature, no? Given that the rest is just bringing the fermenter to 20ish degrees a bit before the end of the fermentation, if you do the whole thing at 20+, it wouldn't be an issue.

That's correct. I'd say the brew would be so full of diacetyl there'd be no way the yeast would be able to clean it up!

[db]

i could be wrong nrb but i dont think diacetyl would be an issue.. the yeast would create a large amount of acetolactate (which later oxidises to for diacetyl) but this would be absorbed in the later stages of fermentation.. so i think by brewing at higher temps you would actually be performing a 'diacetyl rest'.. just the same as when your brewing an ale.. if that makes sense

[dab123]

Please lads, will someone be so kind as to clarify for
(the sake of this poor soul ) what is a diacetle rest ?
is it anything to do with that thing used in the game of snooker !!.

[NRB]

In a lot of beers it's an unwanted fermentation byproduct; in some beers it's desired.

It's taste is described as butterscotch/buttery.

Google diacetyl and you've got a lot to read, but clicking on the first page points you here: http://www.beerme.com/diacetyl.shtml

Enjoy!

[dab123]

Many thanks for that NRB, will certainly check it out
( Butterscotch) sounds fascinating
dab.

[breamstalker]

Hi guy's i've been brewing for 20 years and every 3rd batch is the standard coopers ale, it's a great leveler and a base standard for me any way, just go for it