alexavery

Recipes 

I'm thinking about Irish red ale for my next batch. I've read a number of posts on this. Since this will still just be my 3rd batch, I think I will stick with a recipe kit.

I will buy the recipe kit from either Midwest or Northern Brewer.

Anybody have experience with these kits from Midwest or Norther Brewer? How did they turn out?

I noticed Northern's uses Nottingham yeast and Midwest comes with Muntons. Not sure what kind of difference that will make.

thanks!

llazy_llama

Recipes 

If you do decide to go with the Midwest kit, choose the option to upgrade the yeast. Munton's ale yeast is crap, IMHO.

I haven't done this particular kit from Midwest, but I have had some tasty brews come from other Midwest kits. I generally use the White Labs liquid yeast option, but if the price is a bit too much, just tack on a dry packet of Nottingham to your order.

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BarleyWater

Recipes 

Based on the yeast selection, I say go with NB's because Nottingham is a hell of a lot better than Muntons.

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jay672

Recipes 

Ive done the partial mash Recipe from Midwest came out great +1 on the yeast tho i used the wyeast.

llazy_llama

Recipes 

True, but with a packet of Notty costing about $1, I don't think it would be any issue to just buy the pack along with the recipe if he decided to go that route.

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Weezknight

Recipes 

I'm about to do my very first batch ever this weekend and I'm doing an Irish Red. I studied a lot of the various kits/recipes, and was going to go with the Midwest kit. In the end, with the help of this site, some brewer friends, and BeerSmith, I decided to do my own Irish Red recipe.

If you are not completely sold on any of those kits, there is enough information around to put together a fairly easy Irish Red recipe.

Thumper

Recipes 

My second batch ever was the Midwest kit with the muttons yeast. I was not impressed with the muttons, but can't completly blame it becasue of another newbie mistake. I thought that it would be good to squeeze the grain bag after steeping the grains. DOH!. I later learned (from here) that I may have caused tannins from the grain to be in my wort. The beer is drinkable and is getting better with age (2 months) in bottle, but it has a aftertaste which is hard for me to describe. In summary I am sure that the kit is fine, but I would upgrade the yeast.

Good Luck,

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irunxcjm

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My first beer ever was the Midwest kit. I have friends say that it was thier favorite batch I've made yet. And I even used the Munton's yeast.

llazy_llama

Recipes 

Interesting, if a bit unrelated, side note:

Munton's yeast does make for a tasty Apfelwein. I say buy the Midwest kit (I've yet to make a Midwest kit I didn't enjoy) and a packet of Nottingham. Make the beer with the Notty, and use that Munton's yeast for a 5 gallon batch of Apfelwein.

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bennychico11

Recipes 

I did the same and I'm cracking open the first bottle tomorrow (2 weeks after bottling). When I tasted before bottling I was actually quite impressed with what I was able to come up with on my own.
I can post my recipe when I get home if you want.

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