Brewer's Best kits - Any thoughts?

[Winesburg Ale]

I've tried some other extract ingredients kits, and I'm looking at trying a BB for my next brew. I think it will be the cerveza. The only knock on it is that the ABV target is 4-5%. I prefer 5-6% for a target. Do you think it would do much harm to add about a pound of plain light DME, or maybe even corn sugar to get the fermentables up? I'm not so interested in increasing the body, so maybe the corn sugar is the way to go. I know, everyone hates adjuncts, but I'd like to give it a shot. Any thoughts?

 

[Hoppin_Hill Brewery]

My first kit was a BB IPA kit and it came out very drinkable for me and my buddies.However, I think I did overboil the hops cause I couldnt notice any bitterness to it and there wasnt any hop notes either.It was more of a lighter colored amber ale.Still great for first time kits though.I think for the price of the BB kits you can get kits from AHBS.I am in the process of fermenting there Oatmeal stout and im going to be brewing there Two Hearted clone very soon,once I get a carboy.




Sean

Dear Sean; Definitely get a 6-gal Glass Carboy($22) I had trouble w/smaller & plastic...U can't overboil HOPS, Bud is fresh Hops hard boiled...Maybe U need additional Hops or fresh Hops R best...
Bruce

 

[Hoppin_Hill Brewery]

I've been using KARO Corn Syrup for over a year now, as an adjunct & a priming sugar..."Joy of Home Brewing" says corn sugar syrup is more fermentable than dextrose...More sugar more alcohol...There is also 'double fermentation' to get higher ABV...Long Trail Brewery in Vermont does it w/their "Double-Bag" & is 7.2% alcohol...Bruce

 

[Mustangj]

Just brew a stronger beer.

I'm not a big fan of adding more corn suger to my beer to get the ABV up.

 

[trabus]

One of my bottles didn't seal properly, so I drank it tonight. It doesn't have much carbonation due to the breached seal, but it's pretty damn good. It reminds me of Diamond Knot's IPA, but I did modify the recipe with 1 oz of Columbus hops at 20 minutes into the boil, and dry hopped with 1 oz of Amarillo hops. So it's not going to be quite like the stock recipe. Still, really tasty, with a deeper amber color (probably around 15 srm).

I cannot wait until this stuff is ready to drink (2 weeks to go!)

 

[Ol' Grog]

That's all I have ever done, is BB kits. Just recently I bought three kits from AHS. There is a big difference in taste. The BB kits have made me excellent brews and so did the AHS. I am particulary fond of the Continental Pilsner for kegging and the American Amber has really turned out good for bottling. This site had about the best prices:
www.leisure-time.com

 

[Brewmando]

The American Amber was the third batch I ever made. I dry hopped it with a half oz of Centennial leaf for two weeks in secondary. Very Tastey! My brew club Pres. can't wait till I make that again.

 

[cclloyd]

I've only done two BB kits - the Octoberfest which is long gone - and I have the Traditional European Bock in a secondary carboy now. I have supplemented both with grains and these are the only kits I have used. One of my wife's co-workers is a former homebrewer and has a vendor that sends him kits so passes them on to me in return for some suds. Great deal for me!!

 

[trabus]

Just finished brewing another batch of the IPA. This time I hit my target OG and used the right amount of water.