Brewers Best Kits

[ozzy616]

My first brew ever was the Brewers Best Classic English Ale which turned out great. Awesome carmel flavor, good color. Just bottled the American Cream Ale, sampled it and the flavor was great.

 

[david_the_greek]

Ok guys, I brewed up a Brewers Best scotch ale kit tonight but I put too much h20 in at the end. sigh. Probably not that much over, but still maybe about 5.15 gallons instead of 5. I hate being so ADD and rushing through things like I do. On a side note I'm hoping to add the yeast to my bank once this one's done brewing! So any reviews on the B.B. scotch ale?

 

[IrregularPulse]

I did the American Nut Brown for my second batch (also my 2nd BB kit) and i just racked to secondary last night. Smelled Great. I will be moving on from this to a partial mash as I believe 2 extracts were enough to be comfortable with the process. One step closer to AG baby. I am doing a Cream Ale recipe of DeathBrewer's that he converted to PM for me.

 

[brandona33]

I have done the Brown Ale and Red Ale. Both went fast when company was around. I really liked the Brown Ale. Have the Wiezenbier in the carboy right now, gonna bottle tomorrow!

 

[hrangil]

Ok guys, I brewed up a Brewers Best scotch ale kit tonight but I put too much h20 in at the end. sigh. Probably not that much over, but still maybe about 5.15 gallons instead of 5. I hate being so ADD and rushing through things like I do. On a side note I'm hoping to add the yeast to my bank once this one's done brewing! So any reviews on the B.B. scotch ale?

5.15 gallons is definitely NO problem. In fact it's a good idea to put in more like 5.25 or 5.5 gallons of water. You will lose some beer to the trub and to gravity testing, and you'll never get it all out of the fermenter at bottling time. Many experienced brewers add 10 percent more water to the wort than the ultimately hope to get out of their batch.
(Despite being a junior member here I've been brewing for about 15 years. Still consider myself a novice though; still learning with every batch. I have two going right now.)
I recently brewed a BB "Steam Style" kit, but I added 1 lb of light DME and 1 oz of Chinook hops. Probably the hops were a bit over the top, but after about a month bottle conditioning at 65 degrees this is one of the best beers I've ever tasted. Really awesome. And I used the dry yeast that came with the kit.
Yesterday I ordered a "California Steam" kit from Midwest Supplies. I'll be using the White Labs yeast, and this time I'll leave the recipe unadulterated. I'm curious to see how significant the differences are. I predict they will be dramatic.
-Hrangil

 

[EricK The Red]

I just tasted the bold series American Nut Brown after two weeks in the bottle and it's GREAT! Malty sweetness with a nutty, caramel type flavor and a bit of a warming sensation on the finish.


Yum!

 

[Silviakitty]

I did the Red Ale and the Irish Stout, and both turned out well.

The red is a touch sour (a tiny, tiny touch; I noticed it and a gourmet chef/wine connoisseur friend of mine noticed it, but nobody else did), but that's probably due to the fact that it was my first real batch and I fumbled along a lot. I can name about three occasions that I opened it up for infection. It's still tasty, so I'm not upset. I just learned from it.

The stout turned out _beautifully_, and it's going to age even more beautifully.

The kits are excellent for beginners (which I still am) because they walk you through the process and get you used to the idea of brewing...my next brew's going to be a recipe (I can't decide between Cheesefood's Caramel Cream Ale and Deathbrewer's Blood Ale next. Maybe I'll just have a gigantic brewday and do both), and I feel confident that I can do it because of my experience with the kits.

 

[Calvinfan1]

I've done multiple Brewer's Best kits and have been pleased with all of them with the exception of the Amber Cerveza. I've done it twice with poor results. The first time I tried to do an All-Grain, I bought a BB Nut Brown kit and had my brew shop guy put together an AG recipe with similar ingredients to the kit so I could see if there was any difference between Extract and AG brewing...there is!!! I've got one more BB kit to brew and then it's either Partial-Mash or All-Grain from here on out.

If you get the chance, check out the seasonal BB holiday ale. Good stuff!

 

[dilligas2u]

I've done multiple Brewer's Best kits and have been pleased with all of them with the exception of the Amber Cerveza. I've done it twice with poor results. The first time I tried to do an All-Grain, I bought a BB Nut Brown kit and had my brew shop guy put together an AG recipe with similar ingredients to the kit so I could see if there was any difference between Extract and AG brewing...there is!!! I've got one more BB kit to brew and then it's either Partial-Mash or All-Grain from here on out.

If you get the chance, check out the seasonal BB holiday ale. Good stuff!

I've done this one a few times. It is good.

 

[duker]

So far I have only used Midwest (1) Autum Amber Ale, I thought it was good, shared with my friends this past Saturday, now I am out!!! Pale Ale in the secondary, going to keg this weekend, then brewing a Petes Wiked clone.

I have not had or made a stout, may have to look into one

 

[bc23]

My first batch was the BB irish stout - I just finished the last bottle a couple weeks ago, and man o man!...I really wish I had just waited to crack my first bottle at about the time I actually opened the last one, because each bottle got progressively better with time!

 

[crazydutchmanbrewing]

Ok guys, I brewed up a Brewers Best scotch ale kit tonight but I put too much h20 in at the end. sigh. Probably not that much over, but still maybe about 5.15 gallons instead of 5. I hate being so ADD and rushing through things like I do. On a side note I'm hoping to add the yeast to my bank once this one's done brewing! So any reviews on the B.B. scotch ale?

The Scotch Ale is the only BB kit I have tried. I thought it was a good beer at 3weeks in the bottle but nothing special. At 6 weeks I couldnt get enough and I regretted giving so much of it away to friends. Taught me a lesson, never form a full opinion of a beer at 3 weeks, let it sit and mellow out. I liked it soo much I bought a wee heavy from Austin Homebrew and now Im currently enjoying ithat.

 

[Revvy]

I want to recommend the Brewer's best bold series, they're more expensive but worth it...They're more expensive because basically there's double the fermentables...In other words rather than a single 3.3 pound can of lme, you get two...It means more body, abd bigger flavor...

Of course you could tweak the standard kit yourself by adding more DME, and adjusting the hops accordingly....

Here's what they offer;

1044 Ivan’s Belgian Tripel
A high gravity beer utilizing Belgian Candi Sugar that is light gold in color with a creamy white head.. Speciality grains and Styrian Goldings hops create a mild, spicy character.


1045 California Style Imperial Pale
This is a take on the popular Arrogant Bastard Ale. This copper-colored brew begins with an intensely rich malt flavor followed by an explosion of hop aroma and bitterness.


1046 Russian Imperial Stout
This full-bodied dark brew has an intense roast flavor with a hugh malt influence. The slight hop bitterness is offset by a touch of sweetness from the grains.


1047 Dortmunder Style
This American style Dortmunder is dark gold colored with a mild caramel influence from the crystal malt. The hops drive the tasteand help give this brew a nice balance with this big body and great mouthfeel.


1048 American Nut Brown Ale
Balanced with a big body and plenty of hop character, this American style Brown Ale has a deep amber to brown color. The slight caramel and chocolate flavors are followed by a nutty aftertaste.


I used the Dortmunder kit as the basis for an orange/ginger beer I was experimenting with, to come up with a non-wheat fruit beer that would be quaffable in the summer....I used approximately 4 ounces of Orange and Clementine peel, approximately 3 ounces of ginger, and 2 cloves, in 2 additions (one at 20 and one at flameout). Doubled the bittering hop, and added about 3/4 of a cup of boiled fresh squeezed clementine juice in the secondary....It came out really amazing....so amazing I probably won't have any left for summer drinking!

 

[gruversm]

I'm currently brewing a BB "Classic English Pale Ale". Everything is good so far!

 

[Nosnum]

I just bottled the BB IPA. I decided to dry hop it. Of course I had to try a little bit of it, I could not believe how good a warm, non-carbonated beer could be!

 

[gruversm]

My basement has hovered around 61-64 degrees F. Will I have a problem fermenting a Brewers Best IPA?

 

[gruversm]

I brewing my second BB Batch Today. It's a Best Bold Series American Nut Brown Ale. I've decided to pair it up with the White Labs California Ale Yeast (WLP001).

Was this a good choice?

 

[Yooper]

The IPA should be fine in the 60s, depending on the yeast strain you used. Just about all the ale yeasts like that temperature, though.

WLP001 is a nice, clean, neutral yeast, and I'm sure it'll work well in the brown ale.

 

[Revvy]

Anybody know what yeast BB uses in their kits? I can't remember if they used one strain for everything or different ones....I'm tweaking and recreating an old BB recipe, the ingredient sheet I have doesn't state what brand/strain.

 

[Yooper]

It's been several years since I bought a BB kit, but according to my notes, the ones I bought came with Nottingham.

 

[gruversm]

Nottingham has come with the last two BB kits that I purchased.

 

[Revvy]

My dim recollection is that they were nottingham as well...

Thanks all!

 

[Der Meister]

I brewed the BB Red Ale about two months ago and used the White Labs Irish Ale yeast. It turned out OK. A little maltier than my taste. I have friends who love it though.

 

[stevea1210]

Anybody know what yeast BB uses in their kits? I can't remember if they used one strain for everything or different ones....I'm tweaking and recreating an old BB recipe, the ingredient sheet I have doesn't state what brand/strain.

I just brewed the California Style Imperial Pale this afternoon and it came with the Nottingham dry also.

 

[DeejayDebi]

I really enjoted the German Altbier. A brew brew!

 

[gruversm]

I'm looking to brew a BB Continental Pilsner with a White Labs WLP810 San Francisco Lager Yeast.

Will this work together or should I use the WLP800 Pilsen Lager instead?

 

[lspr_mtu]

I suggest you take a look at the kits from northern brewer. I have made a few of these with good results so far.

The LME they use comes in a milk jug and they crank out a pretty high volume so it is much fresher than what you get in a can. All their kits come with a liquid wyeast activator pack as well.

+1 for Northern Brewer kits. I'm now addicted to smack packs - I love the no-hassle prep and clear feedback on yeast activity

 

[Big10Seaner]

I would actually recommend the Nottingham for the Continental Pilsner. It was my roommate's first brew and everyone enjoyed it so much we've got it in the primary once again (with Nottingham). Wait-are you lagering?

 

[gruversm]

Has anyone brewed a BB Hefeweizen with White labs Hefeweizen yeast?

 

[DanInMadison]

Just tasted a BB Amber Ale I brewed about 6 weeks ago (used the 1-2-3 method).

It has a metal taste. After reading a post from Forrest, it's likely from the LME in a can.