When you order kits from Austin Homebrew Supply as they like to be called ( http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=42641 ) do you add either the 1% Alcohol Boost or the BrewVint Yeast Fuel? If wanted the effect but didn't want to pay for it what should I do?
You're fine to go with just the kit. If you're looking to do an etoh boost, you're prob better off picking up a few lbs of dextrose from them. It's always good to have extra on hand for priming ... and throwing together extra batches of apfelwein
I've only added yeast nutrient to my ciders and wines. I haven't had a problem leaving it out of my beers.
__________________ Sündestadt Brauerei
Primary: Apfelwein w/ fructose, Apfelwein w/sucrose
Aging: Matt's Mega Cider, Raspberry wine, Unfiltered Apple Cider
Bottled: IPA, Hefeweizen, Magic Hat #9 clone, CCA, Apfelwein, Panty Dropping Apple Cider
Kegged: Belgian White PM, Orfy's Hob Goblin
If wanted the effect but didn't want to pay for it what should I do?
Do you really think that $1.99 is an exorbitant price? You get close to a pound of maltose+dextrose, IIRC, and at that price it seems cheaper than buying extra extract and corn sugar.
If you want to be a cheapskate and don't care about how your beer tastes, throw in table sugar, and it'll probably wind up tasting like cider.
The cheapest option of all is to simply use the kit the way it is and stop focusing on ABV - this is my recommendation.
Last edited by Funkenjaeger; 12-03-2007 at 01:37 PM.
No and No in general. I don't really brew for ABV 'cept as part of the style/recipe profile so the boost really hasn't been an attractive option for me.
As some others have implied, you could in theory up the ABV by adding in extra dextrose. HOWEVER, as I learned from a similar post, you will give your beer a cidery and extra dry flavor in the process. The alcohol boost provided by AHS is apparently more than just dextrose so if you go with their option you'll avoid these flavors.
As some others have implied, you could in theory up the ABV by adding in extra dextrose. HOWEVER, as I learned from a similar post, you will give your beer a cidery and extra dry flavor in the process. The alcohol boost provided by AHS is apparently more than just dextrose so if you go with their option you'll avoid these flavors.
Adding dextrose can have effect the body and flavor...to what degree depends on a number of factors including the quantity used. You have to roll a fairly high quantity to get into cidery territory in most cases.
Do you really think that $1.99 is an exorbitant price? You get close to a pound of maltose+dextrose, IIRC, and at that price it seems cheaper than buying extra extract and corn sugar.
If you want to be a cheapskate and don't care about how your beer tastes, throw in table sugar, and it'll probably wind up tasting like cider.
The cheapest option of all is to simply use the kit the way it is and stop focusing on ABV - this is my recommendation.
Austin homebrew supply ABV Boost
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