heartbroken

[crazyeyebrow]

arrived home this evening to greet my little package that was delivered today a pouch kit of mangrove jacks pink grapefruit ipa the whole reason i got the homebrew bits to make tasty beers like this had my sunday planned to get it on the go and hop my first batch of blonde i done last sunday this is the only day i have time for this due to work and famliy so looks at the pack which says on the front only this i need are the basic tools this pouch and a certain amount of beer enhancer now no warning was given on description on site i got it from said extra ingredients needed so where do i stand now do i need to reorder enhancer and wait til next sunday or do wise brew heads here have any escape route for me ps please help

 

[SanPancho]

what the hell is beer enhancer?

 

[Cavpilot2000]

WTH is "beer enhancer"?

 

[crazyeyebrow]

i do not know ill take a pic of pouch and stick it up now in a min

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

I don't know but it says right below on the "Brewing Sugar Required" section that either LME or the "Brew Enhancer" will be required.

https://mangrovejacks.com/products/pink-grapefruit-ipa-limited-edition

 

[DromJohn]

Pitch it.
"Beer enhancer" is some combination of dextrose, Maltodextrin, or DME.
It presumes a recipe that doesn't have enough "mouth feel."
I would trust most recipes to have already compensated for "mouth feel."
RDWAHAHB.

 

[tll77]

what the hell is beer enhancer?

Hops

At least that's what I use as 'beer enhancer'

 

[crazyeyebrow]

Pitch it.
"Beer enhancer" is some combination of dextrose, Maltodextrin, or DME.
It presumes a recipe that doesn't have enough "mouth feel."
I would trust most recipes to have already compensated for "mouth feel."
RDWAHAHB.

Look at this and see what u think can I get away without it

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

Come on guys instead of guessing lets use the internet for 5 seconds and see what MG says:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0195/8620/files/V3_MJ_GENERIC_INST_HR.pdf?3084889648740892939

 

[Cavpilot2000]

Just brew it!

 

[Cavpilot2000]

I

Come on guys instead of guessing lets use the internet for 5 seconds and see what MG says:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0195/8620/files/V3_MJ_GENERIC_INST_HR.pdf?3084889648740892939

It still doesn't say what it is. Given that nobody else in the world sells or uses "beer enhancer", it sounds like some nonsense MG concocted to sell a product that is either
A: Totally unnecessary, or
B: Necessary to make up for a crappy kit.

 

[Cavpilot2000]

Just brew it, but don't set your expectations very high and you won't be disappointed.

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

I

It still doesn't say what it is. Given that nobody else in the world sells or uses "beer enhancer", it sounds like some nonsense MG concocted to sell a product that is either
A: Totally unnecessary, or
B: Necessary to make up for a crappy kit.

Right but it says to use dextrose brewing sugar OR that so it is probably some marked-up type of sugar or DME they try to sell you. So the point is you can just use dextrose which is not hard to come by. Or just omit both.

 

[SanPancho]

https://www.homebrewwest.co.nz/beer/malt-extract/enhancer/mangrove-jack-s-brew-enhancer.html

edit: got the link. for lighter beer use all dextrose, do the mix if you can, or go all dried extract if you want. at this point its probably whatever you can get your hands on im guessing.

yeah, I can't get link to work but a shop in NZ says its a mix of dextrose and malt. I assume you could split 50/50 or probably even just use all dried extract.

 

[deadwolfbones]

Or use table sugar. Not much different from dextrose in the end product. You're basically just goosing the ABV and drying out the beer a little.

 

[NineMileStyle]

 

[crazyeyebrow]

I'm ultimate noob this is my second brew attempt no home brew shop where I live so I can't just pick this up in the local shops or markets

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

I'm ultimate noob this is my second brew attempt no home brew shop where I live so I can't just pick this up in the local shops or markets

If you have dextorse or table sugar you could use that, or just skip that step, might not be as strong but if that doesn't matter brew on.

 

[Cavpilot2000]

Why would they even make a kit that is incomplete?
THat's just crappy business practice.

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

Why would they even make a kit that is incomplete?
THat's just crappy business practice.

It seems especially deceptive if the extra fermentables are what get you to their advertised ABV on the pouch. Scummy.

 

[crazyeyebrow]

So how much sugar would I need to add to get it to 5 or 6 abv

 

[SanPancho]

you should probably be able to find dextrose in the shops. its powdered corn sugar. use the amount listed on the pouch where it says "or" dextrose.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

A kilo seems to be required according to the package.

 

[bracconiere]

what the hell is beer enhancer?

i always thought it was drinking on an empty stomach....

 

[crazyeyebrow]

i always thought it was drinking on an empty stomach....

Thank u all
[emoji3] [emoji3] [emoji3] [emoji3] [emoji3]

 

[bleme]

If you can't find corn sugar (dextrose), just sub 1kg of table sugar (sucrose)

 

[tgolanos]

what the hell is beer enhancer?

Tends to only be sold in our part of the world. It's usually some combo of Dextose, DME, and Maltodextrine. Weird ****, if you ask me. Mangrove Jacks is a NZ company (as far as I remember), so I'm not surprosed they call for it.

 

[SEndorf]

I think the "beer enhancer" is on the shelf right next to the 5.2 stabilizer...…..

 

[Iseneye]

Tends to only be sold in our part of the world. It's usually some combo of Dextose, DME, and Maltodextrine. Weird poopy, if you ask me. Mangrove Jacks is a NZ company (as far as I remember), so I'm not surprosed they call for it.

What a stupid thing to say considering coopers Australia has brew enhancer as well.

https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_455223/coopers-brew-enhancer-no-3-1kg

 

[Steveruch]

If you brew this by adding table sugar you'll end up with a thin watery beer. You'd be better off using some dme. Or brew a smaller volume.

 

[tgolanos]

What a stupid thing to say considering coopers Australia has brew enhancer as well.

https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_455223/coopers-brew-enhancer-no-3-1kg

I fail to see the stupidity. I did say "our part of the world"... I still think it's a weird product, no need for the childish retort.

 

[bracconiere]

you know that thread "why do you come to homebrewtown"...where else can people get in a fight about something called, beer enhancer! lol, love it!

 

[Jayjay1976]

Sounds like marketing speak for "add a bunch of sugar to complete our "kit", sorry we're too cheap to do it ourselves", bunch of nonsense. Munton's, Cooper's, Mangrove Jack; all hucksters.

Not sayin' you can't make a good tasting beer with it, you just need to get your hands on some DME.
Good luck!

 

[bracconiere]

Sounds like marketing speak for "add a bunch of sugar to complete our "kit", sorry we're too cheap to do it ourselves", bunch of nonsense. Munton's, Cooper's, Mangrove Jack; all hucksters.

Not sayin' you can't make a good tasting beer with it, you just need to get your hands on some DME.
Good luck!

like what i've heard of early 80's homebrewing...

 

[TGFV]

Not to sure why everyone is so confused by the beer enhancer or adding extra Extract.

It's an extremely common practice in the middle to low end Extract kits brew series all over the world (coopers, mentions, mangrove and a few others do it, though don't worry mangroves are at the top end of these).

Don't brew without adding the extra fermentable, and I would recommend using the LME/DME route. Brew enhancers are overpriced and mediocre.

Really, all it would take for most people here is to simply look at the companies websites for a few moments (both Coopers and Mangrove mention it). Especially when it comes to giving advice to a very new brewer.

 

[crazyeyebrow]

My only options are glucose caster sugar or normal sugar been looking everywhere that's all I can find

 

[TGFV]

My only options are glucose caster sugar or normal sugar been looking everywhere that's all I can find

If you do add sugar, just a warning it will heavily thin your beer out. If you want for a lower Abv (making more of an ISA) you could opt in to doing it with a pound of sugar (instead of a kilo). It will still thin it out noticeably but not terribly with those kits (done it before out of curiosity more than a few times, and works good for making a surprisingly crush able BMC - esque beer).

Do you mail order your material?

 

[crazyeyebrow]

If you do add sugar, just a warning it will heavily thin your beer out. If you want for a lower Abv (making more of an ISA) you could opt in to doing it with a pound of sugar (instead of a kilo). It will still thin it out noticeably but not terribly with those kits (done it before out of curiosity more than a few times, and works good for making a surprisingly crush able BMC - esque beer).

Do you mail order your material?

Yep takes 3 days minimum to get to me no homebrew store around me

 

[TGFV]

Yep takes 3 days minimum to get to me no homebrew store around me

That's not terrible for time to wait, just may mean having to put it off for a bit, but extract kits like yours are quick to do so it isn't a huge dilemma.

I would order the DME and wait. And if you have the money to burn, I would order bulk for the next time.

 

[crazyeyebrow]

That's not terrible for time to wait, just may mean having to put it off for a bit, but extract kits like yours are quick to do so it isn't a huge dilemma.

I would order the DME and wait. And if you have the money to burn, I would order bulk for the next time.

Was just really looking forward to getting it going sunday