Does anyone use RJ Spanglons Brewhouse "Kit"?

[HighGravity]

This is not a plug for RJ, just wondering how wide their net is with their kit.

Everytime I brew a kit of theirs I have an alteration that is interesting. For those of that dont know, its 15 litres wort and you normally add 8 litres to it, though I usually dont myself. They are pretty good it seems and I am mostly inexperienced for HB. I see many here AG and wonder if they tried the BW and disliked it, or didnt try it and tried another wort kit. The thing is the BW says they are the only one, and I am happy with them as an inexperienced brewer.

I feel like writing a testimonial, due to crap extract experiences.

 

[boo boo]

To be honest, I did only 2 of those kits a number of years ago and didn't like the results. I did do a few Barrons kits with better results, but still not what I was looking for.

A buddy from NS sent me a FiestaBrew kit this week that I intend on trying. It is a full 23 liter microbrew kit in which you only add yeast. I have had the resulting beer from a kit my buddy did and can say it makes excellent beer.

I have heard that the thing with the BH kits are the little pack of pH adjuster that they have for you to add to your kits throws off the flavour.

 

[osagedr]

I have made a number of Brew House kits (and a number of Festa Brew as well) and think they are both excellent. One advantage to the Festa Brew is that they provide proper yeast with each kit (i.e. you get Saflager lager yeast with lager kits & Safale or Safbrew yeast with ale kits). With Brew House you get Coopers with every kit which means if you want to lager something you need to buy more yeast.

One thing I really Luke about Brew House is the kit tweak instructions on their website. I've done a couple of the tweaks & am very happy with the results.

 

[Memorex88]

Here's a few links on the same subject...

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/brewhouse-kits-looking-opinions-reviews-83073/

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f37/brewhouse-kits-60574/

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/brew-house-kits-103033/

 

[lurker18]

I have done several of these kits, and every one has turned out great. You are not getting the Oh My God Is This Stuff Great beer, but everything was just as good as you can get in the stores.

As for the pH adjuster, it MUST go into the brew. The wort in the bag is super acidic (or alkali, can't remember which way they went) so it will be sterile. If you didn't add the pH adjuster, I assume the yeast would be killed in they wort.

I agree that the Coopers yeast needs to be replaced, but I have never brewed with it, I always buy seperate yeast for the brews.

 

[glockentalk]

Total devotee here. I've made about 50 batches. I've actually never made anything else. Tweaking can turn these into very fine brews.

 

[Memorex88]

Total devotee here. I've made about 50 batches. I've actually never made anything else. Tweaking can turn these into very fine brews.

Have you made the IPA? If so, how was it and did you tweak it?

 

[McGarnigle]

I agree that the Coopers yeast needs to be replaced, but I have never brewed with it, I always buy seperate yeast for the brews.

I believe some include Cooper's and some include Windsor. I personally have subbed, but ended up using the Cooper's yeast for another brew. IIRC, the packet had a 'use by' date that was well in advance.

Cooper's might not be your yeast of choice, but BrewHouse seems diligent about freshness and dating (the wort itself has a use by date). So I wouldn't even say this is a situation where the yeast necessarily has to be set aside.

 

[glockentalk]

Have you made the IPA? If so, how was it and did you tweak it?

I've made it twice. The first time it was my very first batch. I tweaked it by adding 1lb of dextrose and some dry hops. The resulting beer really convinced me that the hobby was for me. The second time was last fall. I had intended to let it age in my keg, but I was forced to tap it (I really have to work on my production scheduling). Anyway, even though I hadn't let it age more than about 1 month, it tasted great. I tweaked it only by adding some pale malt wort and some dry hops. I've had some commercial IPA, and I definitely prefer my own.

 

[Memorex88]

I've made it twice. The first time it was my very first batch. I tweaked it by adding 1lb of dextrose and some dry hops. The resulting beer really convinced me that the hobby was for me. The second time was last fall. I had intended to let it age in my keg, but I was forced to tap it (I really have to work on my production scheduling). Anyway, even though I hadn't let it age more than about 1 month, it tasted great. I tweaked it only by adding some pale malt wort and some dry hops. I've had some commercial IPA, and I definitely prefer my own.

We don't have a decent "commercial IPA" in Canada. If I want a good IPA, I either make one or go to my favorite brewpub. The States have some amazing IPA's that I only get to try out at Mondial de la Bierre here in June.
The kits are handy if you can't brew AG in the house in the winter. I'm a week or so away from completing my electric keggle and brewing in the garage. Steaming the kitchen and my wife's nagging about it has gotten real old real fast

From all the people that tried the BH IPA, I've heard nothing but praise.

 

[glockentalk]

I was thinking of Marston's Old Empire as an IPA over which I prefer my own. I must say, though, that after tasting Marston's Pedigree, I no longer have any delusions about creating a great pale ale at home.

Kits are great for me: I have limited time, and I am mostly interested in tweaking recipes and processes.

 

[mitch101]

hey guys, i just bought my RJ's indian pale ale and rj'S brewing equpitment kit. i mixed in the wort with the ph and water stirred, and pitched my yeast in the primary with the lid (the lid with this kit doesnt have an airlock). i left it in the primary for the 3-5 days (40 for me) and the head rose and dropped like it was supposed to. i then siphoned it to the secondary with the airlock. its been 5 days and no airlock bubbling? its the correct temperature, is this supposed to happen? did my fermentation mostly happen in the primary with just the lid and co2 blanket?

HELP GREATLY APPRECIATED

-mitch

 

[mitch101]

hhey guys, i just bought my RJ's indian pale ale and rj'S brewing equpitment kit. i mixed in the wort with the ph and water stirred, and pitched my yeast in the primary with the lid (the lid with this kit doesnt have an airlock). i left it in the primary for the 3-5 days (40 for me) and the head rose and dropped like it was supposed to. i then siphoned it to the secondary with the airlock. its been 5 days and no airlock bubbling? its the correct temperature, is this supposed to happen? did my fermentation mostly happen in the primary with just the lid and co2 blanket?

HELP GREATLY APPRECIATED

-mitchell

 

[jbrookeiv]

hhey guys, i just bought my RJ's indian pale ale and rj'S brewing equpitment kit. i mixed in the wort with the ph and water stirred, and pitched my yeast in the primary with the lid (the lid with this kit doesnt have an airlock). i left it in the primary for the 3-5 days (40 for me) and the head rose and dropped like it was supposed to. i then siphoned it to the secondary with the airlock. its been 5 days and no airlock bubbling? its the correct temperature, is this supposed to happen? did my fermentation mostly happen in the primary with just the lid and co2 blanket?

HELP GREATLY APPRECIATED

-mitchell

Yea it probably finished fermenting in primary. Take a gravity reading.

Also, I would leave it in primary longer next time, for at least 2 weeks. This will allow the yeast to clean up after itself.

Also, no real reason to move to secondary unless you plan on adding fruit or oak, in which extended aging (over 6 months) is required.

I would leave your beer in secondary at least another week before bottling. Bulk aging/conditioning works wonders on homebrew. Enjoy!

 

[mitch101]

thanks alot! unfortunatly i didnt get a gravity reading before i began the process but i will be sure to take several reading over the next week to see if any change happens or not