Can someone recommend me a beer kit?

[Priemus]

By a beer kit I mean a quick and easy "can and kg" style no boil job.

I'm basically looking for something that I can turn over constantly, like 20-40 leters every month +/- a few days (have a few house guests the rest of the year).

So, want a cheap way to keep the beer flowing.

Things to keep in mind are that Im trying to do this cheap. I have 'some' Saaz hop pellets that I can dry hop with although Im not sure how much I should use in pre-hopped cans, and will probably do a 50/50 LME+Dextrose for sugars.

But, can someone recommend a kit to start with? LHB carrys Muntons and Coopers cans, but not a fantastic selection.

Online reseller I have used in the past carrys these:

http://vinogbar.no/index.php?cPath=198_199_200

and these:

http://vinogbar.no/index.php?cPath=198_199_247


Thanks

 

[Shooter]

By a beer kit I mean a quick and easy "can and kg" style no boil job.

I'm basically looking for something that I can turn over constantly, like 20-40 leters every month +/- a few days (have a few house guests the rest of the year).

So, want a cheap way to keep the beer flowing.

Things to keep in mind are that Im trying to do this cheap. I have 'some' Saaz hop pellets that I can dry hop with although Im not sure how much I should use in pre-hopped cans, and will probably do a 50/50 LME+Dextrose for sugars.

But, can someone recommend a kit to start with? LHB carrys Muntons and Coopers cans, but not a fantastic selection.

Online reseller I have used in the past carrys these:

http://vinogbar.no/index.php?cPath=198_199_200

and these:

http://vinogbar.no/index.php?cPath=198_199_247


Thanks

Can't comment on the Munton's stuff, but, if you're going with canned kits, I think the Coopers cans are one of the better products out there.

 

[Priemus]

I was hoping for something a little more specific within either of the brands.

 

[Shooter]

Well, I've made the Coopers Mexican Cerveza, Dark Ale and Sparkling Ale. All were decent, but I wasn't a huge fan of the Sparkling Ale.

 

[tomheff]

I was hoping for something a little more specific within either of the brands.

I see that you're from Norway. If you like Pilseners, I'd make the Coopers Pilsener. I just finished my last bottle-conditioned one and it was very good. I wouldn't dry hop with pellets though. I'd boil them in 2 liters of water for about 3-5 minutes before adding the water to the fermenter through a strainer. I used Saaz for aroma on my Pilsener.

 

[Toga]

The coopers kits are drinkable. I have done a couple. I tried the lager kit and the Canadian Blonde kit. The lager was a little rough going down in my opinion but everyone I gave a bottle to loved it. I bottled a batch made from their Canadian Blonde kit a couple months ago and it is pretty darn good. I used their recommended brew enhancer, a half pound of honey, and 3/4 oz hallertau hops. I did a 10 minute boil with the brew enhancer, honey, and hops. I used 1 gallon of spring water for the boil. I dumped the unboiled malt extract straight into the fermenter as directed then added my slurry of brew enhancer, honey, and hops. I used the provided yeast and fermented at 74 degrees as the coopers yeast seems to prefer warmer temps. I gave it 3 weeks in primary from the day the yeast was pitched.

If you want something easy that will be drinkable fast you should consider a wit or a weizen. Try this the extra 45 minutes to make it is well worth the time. It is not no boil but easy, tastes awesome, and is drinkable as soon as it is carbed.

1 hour 3 gallon boil
1 can coopers wheat malt extract
1 can coopers light malt extract
1oz hersbrucker 45 min
1oz hersbrucker 15 min
1oz sweet orange peel 15 min
1/2 oz coriander 15 min
1 pack of Safbrew S-33

Add extracts once at full boil, bring back to boil then add first oz of hops, boil 45 min, add flavoring hops + orange peel + coriander boil for last 15 minutes

 

[BellTap]

Coopers are good, Muntons are also good. I think Mountmellick puts them both to shame.
http://www.mountmellick-homebrew.co.uk/index.html

As far as the individual flavors go, they are all pretty good actually. It depends on what you like. I've tried all the coopers and haven't had a bad one. The heritage lager, draught and stout are my favorites. Just use about 2 lbs of corn sugar (dex) and 1 lb dme and they will come out tasty and smooth, very easy to drink.

 

[Priemus]

Great information there guys, also checking out that Mountmellick site, shame they seem to be hard to get a hold of here in Norway.

thanks!