Kits- I don't get it

[gtpro]

I've never brewed a kit, so maybe somebody can give me some insight here. Don't most kits come with just one can (3.3lbs) of LME? With most average recipes calling for about twice that, how do these beers come out? They must leave some malt character to be desired.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Some do come with 2 cans of LME but, many also come with a few pounds of DME and steeping grains. Beer doth not need be rocket fuel to be desirable and many of the kits are geared toward style guidelines and sessionable styles.

 

[TipsyDragon]

the good kits come with what ever amount of extract the beer needs. i have only used specialty grain and extract kits and they all have turned out just fine.

if i got a kit that had half the needed extract i would complain and get my money back and never order from them again.

 

[BioBeing]

You are right: 1 can of LME isn't going to go very far.

The "kit" part is often prehopped extract, then make it to your desired gravity with DME and/or sugar. Look up "Kit and a kilo". Basically a can of LME and a kilo (or 2 lbs) of DME and/or sugar. Just boil it up: no need to worry about hops.

Other places, like Austin Homebrew, develop more sophisticated kits that have 6 or more pounds of LME plus steeping grains, hops etc.

 

[Revvy]

It depends on the type of "kit" and where you get it from. Many so-called kits are exactly what you or I would get if we stopped into the lhbs with our recipe. Except packed up in a nice box for us.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

There are good kits and bad kits. If you order a kit from Ikea, then you will probably get beer that looks like a coffee table.

If you have an idea of what you are after, then it should be possible to get an idea of how well that kit will meet your purpose. If you want opinions on a specific kit, then just post it here. There will be a ton of people happy to break it down and chime in with suggestions.

 

[robertvrabel]

It depends on the type of "kit" and where you get it from. Many so-called kits are exactly what you or I would get if we stopped into the lhbs with our recipe. Except packed up in a nice box for us.

Exactly what I was going to post... if you buy good kits, you can find exceptional recipes and everything is packed exactly for what you need. I've bought 4 kits from northernbrewer.com and they have been very good so far! I do plan to move away from these and do my own... but in getting the process down as a newbie I have found them to be great. I didn't have to worry about left overs, or measuring anything. I've also seen on Austin Homebrew that they have a lot of good clone recipe kits... those seem like they would be good to try.

 

[bam]

Homebrewers Outpost is another pretty decent one to order "kits" from.

 

[gtpro]

It just seems to me that if I can buy all of the ingredients separately for less, or even the same money, I would opt to do that.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

It just seems to me that if I can buy all of the ingredients separately for less, or even the same money, I would opt to do that.

You started a thread for that!!?? Where the heck is the facepalm smiley!??

 

[bam]

I think it really just depends on what your level of experience and what your goals for the beer are. If you're like me, a fairly new brewer, then it just seems easier to find a pre-measured, all ingredients included, packaged "kit" with a recipe to follow than trying to figure out each individual ingredient, how much of it, when to add it to the wort, etc. Us new brewers can follow the recipes and these kits, read along on here, ask questions, search for answers and really learn the process step by step before stepping up to buying ingredients in bulk or developing our own recipes.

**NOTE: This is my opinion on what has worked for me and the friends that I have gotten interested in homebrewing.

 

[osagedr]

It depends on the type of "kit" and where you get it from. Many so-called kits are exactly what you or I would get if we stopped into the lhbs with our recipe. Except packed up in a nice box for us.

Yep.

Some kits (like Festa Brew) actually come with up to six gallons of wort. Add yeast, aerate and wait.

Everyone finds the level that is right for them; many who start with the simplest kits (like I did) progress to extracts, extracts with specialty grains, partial mashes, then all-grain (like I am/plan to). Some people are limited by space/finances (or even interest) and can't go further than kits. Nobody really needs to have anyone imply they're inferior because they choose to brew simpler.

 

[MississippiSlim]

And the kit price and buying the individual ingredients are close if not cheaper at times with the kit unless you are buying in bulk

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Yep.

Some kits (like Festa Brew) actually come with up to six gallons of wort. Add yeast, aerate and wait.

Everyone finds the level that is right for them; many who start with the simplest kits (like I did) progress to extracts, extracts with specialty grains, partial mashes, then all-grain (like I am/plan to). Some people are limited by space/finances (or even interest) and can't go further than kits. Nobody really needs to have anyone imply they're inferior because they choose to brew simpler.

I agree with that, But the OP said that he had never brewed a kit anyway! I guess I understand the question. I just don't understand the reason for it.

 

[david_42]

I've been brewing for a while and really like odd clone kits. Sure I could track down a recipe and drive to the store, but when you figure in fuel costs vs shipping, ordering it wins.

And how else would you try "Jasper Murdock's Whistling Pig Red"?

 

[Yooper]

It just seems to me that if I can buy all of the ingredients separately for less, or even the same money, I would opt to do that.

Ah, but that's the beauty of those kits! I can order a kit like this: http://www.austinhomebrew.com/produ...=1125&osCsid=914154c99b928984509dffa80b5d36ec

As you can see, it comes with 7 pounds of extract, all the necessary hops and 10 ounces of specialty grains. There is a grain bag in there, too. I don't know if I could purchase 7 pounds of extract, and the grains I needed (sometimes you have to buy a whole pound of each grain if bought separately in some stores), for less.

 

[BioBeing]

The thread under this one in "My Replies" is https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f41/25-50-off-pliny-elder-clone-kit-156469/

Now there is a kit!

 

[gtpro]

Well I started this thread with a genuine interest in kits, I had them pushed on me at the LHBS when I was shopping my first ingredients, but I just didnt find that to be my style. Then I found the dialog to be interesting. I wanted to know what level of experience people will achieve before moving away from kits, (if ever). See, when I pictured a kit I was picturing one of those true brew "shoebox" brews I see on the shelf at my HBS.

Heres some numbers on that Pliny kit, (just rough figures)

Extract:
9lbs/3.3= 2.72 x ($11 -what I pay for a can of Muntons) = $30
1lb corn sugar = $0.77
.5lb base = $0.60
1.13lb specialty= $1.70
17oz hops (bought in bulk online) = $11.00
1 pack of Nottingham = $1.50
Total = $45.57 vs. 57.49 +7.99 shipping = $65.48

Obviously the restricting factor would be the hops, because I'm sure this beer takes a few different varieties, and you would hafta have those on hand, or be able to get them at wholesale to make this price.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Well I started this thread with a genuine interest in kits, I had them pushed on me at the LHBS when I was shopping my first ingredients, but I just didnt find that to be my style. Then I found the dialog to be interesting. I wanted to know what level of experience people will achieve before moving away from kits, (if ever). See, when I pictured a kit I was picturing one of those true brew "shoebox" brews I see on the shelf at my HBS.

Well, I brew my own recipes (All grain) But when i did the Greenwood Rover memorial brew I bought the kit from Brewmaster's Warehouse. All works out well in the end. I worry much more about my method than I do ingredients. ALL the ingredients make beer, however, not all brewers make beer. Some make liquid monkey poo.

 

[springer]

I will buy a kit like Austin Homebrews pliny when its on sale or when i am lazy and just want to brew.

 

[MississippiSlim]

I would say it takes a certain amount of the guess work out of brewing a certain beer. And AHS includes the recipe with the beer so if you choose to buy the individual ingredients the next time you have a list. Too me its the same as brewing from a recipe its just someone else put together the bill of ingredients for you. When I get my brew shed built I can see bulk ordering and brewing from recipe but I really like the kits.

 

[l1ranger]

I would say it takes a certain amount of the guess work out of brewing a certain beer. And AHS includes the recipe with the beer so if you choose to buy the individual ingredients the next time you have a list. Too me its the same as brewing from a recipe its just someone else put together the bill of ingredients for you. When I get my brew shed built I can see bulk ordering and brewing from recipe but I really like the kits.

thats a bingo

as a beginner - I'd basically have to have somebody tell me what to get, and then order it online, so why not just order a kit that has all the extract, hops, yeast, sugar and grains I need anyways.

 

[cheezydemon3]

There are good kits and bad kits. If you order a kit from Ikea, then you will probably get beer that looks like a coffee table.

LMAO!!!!

I would order a kit for some bizarro style that requires 2 oz of this and 3 oz of that, that would leave me with tons of extra.(Local mega liquor store is in 1 lb increments)

Still might not ever happen (no kits to date) but there is no shame in it.

 

[AnthonyD]

Don't forget that included in the price of the kit is all the time and testing it took to make that recipe just right. If you want to put your own "clone" recipe together, there's a good chance it's going to take some trial and error to get it just right.

If you're looking to enjoy that process, then go for it. But if you're looking to make the brew on the first shot, why not let someone else do all the trial and error?

In the case of Austin, you also have the choice to go with extract, partial mash, or all grain for any of their kits.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

Everything I was going to say was already said before.

 

[LarryC]

I'm still a rookie so kits and partial mash is my current level of progression. I did go to my LHBS last year and buy all the ingredients for a recipe I found on the web. It wasn't real fancy but I walked out of the store $60 poorer - I could have bought a similar kit on line for about $40.

I support my LHBS but I can't afford to give up that much...

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

I'm still a rookie so kits and partial mash is my current level of progression. I did go to my LHBS last year and buy all the ingredients for a recipe I found on the web. It wasn't real fancy but I walked out of the store $60 poorer - I could have bought a similar kit on line for about $40.

I support my LHBS but I can't afford to give up that much...

You probably could have bought the individual ingredients online for cheaper than what you got at the LHBS.

 

[xinunix]

My LHBS has great kits (IMHO). They seem to have very fresh ingredients, all come with DME, steeping grains, whirlfloc tablet, hops (plugs or pellets for bittering and flavoring hops, flowers for aroma) and priming sugar.

Every month they have 15 or so on sale for 15% off Alternative Beverage Monthly Specials.

Here is a full listing of the kits they offer: Full Extract Kit List

 

[dvdfnzwbr]

To get a decent good tasting beer from extract you need to buy a kit with hops, extract, and grains. A good one costs $40 and up. Uncle Bud comes close to that price with the beer made for you and no work. The only good tasting low cost way to brew your own is with all grain, farm your yeast, filter tap water, and buy hops in bulk.

 

[mr_bell]

I wanted to know what level of experience people will achieve before moving away from kits, (if ever).

Here's my experience with kits. I've been brewing 2 years. I still use kits (extract) from Austin, Northern Brewer and Midwest. These are most convenient for me. I've tweaked the kits, in terms of hop additions, using Beersmith due to the fact that I do partial boils, with late extract additions. I recently purchased a wort chiller and a turkey fryer set so that I can do full boils. Also been experimenting with yeast starters, yeast washing (or as Jamil Z would put it, yeast rinsing), and re-pitching yeast. Looking at picking up a spare fridge for better fermenting temp control, and to be able to brew lagers.

Even though I'm still using kits, I feel like I am still refining and improving my process. All of my beers (except 1) have been good, but I'm looking to make them great. For me, there is no desire to move away from extract kits at this point because I really want to get my process perfected. Yes, I'm that guy. If anything, I may try a partial mash soon.

While I've put together several extract (w/ spec. grains) recipes of my own, I have yet to brew one. The kits are just most convenient for me.