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DannyboyUSMC · 03-20-2013, 09:23 AM

I only have 3 brews so far and 2 being the Brewers best kits. (3rd is Edwort's apfelwein doing its thing in the fermenter). The first was the BB IPA kit. Not bad for a first time brew but the hops didn't come out as much as I thought. I'm about to bottle the BB Witbier and add blueberry extract at bottling. The Witbier is an intermediate kit I assume because of the specialty grains but I didn't have too much trouble figuring it out (find out in a couple of weeks).

**OhReally** · 03-20-2013, 12:12 PM

I just took a gravity reading for my BB Imperial IPA, and it's damn tasty already. It's almost certainly ready to bottle. I'm pumped to taste it cold and carbonated.

One thing I don't understand is where BB gets their numbers from for this thing. According to BB:

OG: 1.075 - 1.080
FG: 1.017 - 1.020
ABV: 8.0 - 8.5%

These numbers don't add up. Doing the math, those gravities yield an ABV range of 7.2 - 8.3%. From my own experience, I got 7.6% (1.076, 1.018 ). Maybe they do some sort of funny Midwest math.

Awesome products, though.

**philber** · 03-20-2013, 12:29 PM

I have done 4-5 of these kits and I think they are great. When I mis-plan my AG brew/fermentation times, I pick up one of these kits, Whole[Paycheck]Foods has them in stock! I also love the 3 hour brew session and the 2 week brew to glass turn around time.

I have done the Imperial Blonde Ale, I made 4.5 gals not 5 and it was very strong, I usually don't take readings with the kits since they are kinda idiot proof. I also did the American Pale Ale, Dunkel, American Amber and last week I did the Rye IPA (hitting the keg tomorrow!).

I tend not to like Fruit/Vegetables in my beer so I pick classics and haven't been disappointed. Next I will probably pick up the Kolsh and/or Nut Brown.

beercity23 · 03-20-2013, 02:28 PM

Has anyone else tried the european bock? I brewed this my first kit, and it came out with a licorice flavor? What did i do wrong?

skipfab74 · 03-20-2013, 06:03 PM

Haven't done one yet, but I'm planning on doing the Pumpkin Spice Porter for the fall. Anyone have experience with that one?

**OhReally** · 03-20-2013, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skipfab74

Haven't done one yet, but I'm planning on doing the Pumpkin Spice Porter for the fall. Anyone have experience with that one?

I made that one last fall. I still have half a case left because it hasn't been the easiest going down. Whatever spices are in the packet, there's too much of it. So much so that it's... I dunno what the word for it is... Not cloying, but it's overpowering. If I ever made it again (not by choice) I'd use half or less of the included spice packet.

**scottab** · 03-21-2013, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beercity23

Has anyone else tried the european bock? I brewed this my first kit, and it came out with a licorice flavor? What did i do wrong?

The European bock was very good for me, tasted of caramel and a hint of almost coffee... maybe you steeped your grain at too high a temp or scorched your extract. The bock was a pretty good and filling brew

**scottab** · 03-21-2013, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhReally

I made that one last fall. I still have half a case left because it hasn't been the easiest going down. Whatever spices are in the packet, there's too much of it. So much so that it's... I dunno what the word for it is... Not cloying, but it's overpowering. If I ever made it again (not by choice) I'd use half or less of the included spice packet.

I did the pumpkin spiced porter as my 2nd brew and only thing i can say about that one is use no more than half the spice pack. Even after a year it was still overwhelming spice.

kurzschluss1 · 03-21-2013, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannyboyUSMC

I only have 3 brews so far and 2 being the Brewers best kits. (3rd is Edwort's apfelwein doing its thing in the fermenter). The first was the BB IPA kit. Not bad for a first time brew but the hops didn't come out as much as I thought. I'm about to bottle the BB Witbier and add blueberry extract at bottling. The Witbier is an intermediate kit I assume because of the specialty grains but I didn't have too much trouble figuring it out (find out in a couple of weeks).

I'm curious how you like the witbeer. I just made that kit and tried it 3 weeks after bottling and was a little bit underwhelmed. Now I'm trying to wait longer to allow the flavors to mesh a little more. Overall I thought it was good but not great. But I'm hoping the flavor will improve with a few more weeks in the bottle.

kurzschluss1 · 03-21-2013, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philber

I have done 4-5 of these kits and I think they are great. When I mis-plan my AG brew/fermentation times, I pick up one of these kits, Whole[Paycheck]Foods has them in stock! I also love the 3 hour brew session and the 2 week brew to glass turn around time.

I have done the Imperial Blonde Ale, I made 4.5 gals not 5 and it was very strong, I usually don't take readings with the kits since they are kinda idiot proof. I also did the American Pale Ale, Dunkel, American Amber and last week I did the Rye IPA (hitting the keg tomorrow!).

I tend not to like Fruit/Vegetables in my beer so I pick classics and haven't been disappointed. Next I will probably pick up the Kolsh and/or Nut Brown.

I just bottled the kolsch a week ago (my very first brew). It was easy to make. I gave it two weeks in the primary and a month in secondary and now waiting for the carbonation is making me insane.

it looked beautiful though.