Mr. Beer comparison

[Kegstand]

Hey guys,
Not to be a thread starting nazi...but I've got one more question. I forgot to mention in my other post that yes, although ashamed to admit it, my first batch is from the Mr. Beer kit.

Was just wondering (if any of you have ever used this) how it compares to the store bought beers.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

Mr. Beer isn't horrible beer in my opinion, it's just not really brewing to most people. On that note...it's a good place to get started for some people.

 

[Yooper]

I have a friend who has been using Mr. Beer for years and loves it. She shares some of her beers with me. She loves the beer she makes, and is happy with it and has no plans to change what she's doing. In my opinion, they're....................okay. Most of the time. I haven't poured many of them out, but I haven't really had any that I'd call "good" either.

 

[BigEd]

You're not going to be chipping away at anybody's market share with Mr. Beer. Sorry, but you can't make "commercial quality" beer with that process. Like Yooper says it will make beer that some consider drinkable but you can do a lot better. A conventional five gallon beginner's homebrew setup with a good quality extract + steeping grain recipe will let you kick it up a notch or two without a drastic increase in work required.

 

[Shooter]

Don't be worried about starting with Mr. Beer. Check out the Mr. Beer thread!

I still make the Mr. Beer kits every once in a while, swapping out 1lb DME for the booster and upgrading the yeast really improves the flavor. I do find that all of their basic kits kind of taste the same. However, the beer is fine, nothing award winning, but drinkable.

I upgraded to five gallon kits after only two Mr. Beer batches, but I still make them. I also make Coopers canned kits, full extract batches, partial mashes and all grain batches. I've got a limited amount of time, but I enjoy making beer. So, sometimes a Mr. Beer batch works great. Also, that Mr. Beer keg is a great little fermenter.

 

[rl1373]

As several others have stated, Its a great jump off point. I think for the amount of time invested in a Mr. Beer kit you can easily do a five gallon batch and have alot better beer. The beer I brewed with Mr. Beer is just ok. Nothing spectacular. I did the same as other have mentioned and upgraded the yeast and the booster(used light dry malt extract) for better flavor. There is little to no hop flavor in my opinion. Definetly a good place to start and see if your interested. Just dont base your opinion of homebrewed beer on what those kits produce.

 

[Rustysocket]

I am new here, but I started brewing many years ago with a Mr. Beer kit that I still have. I'm not sure where it is anymore but for years I used it when I lived in apartments and was low on space. If I remember I had a few kits going all the time to keep the supply moving.

I have not used the Mr. Beer extracts for many years, but I remember them being alright. I have used kits with booster. I have used kits and substituted DME. All made drinkable beer in the end.

If you are clean and sanitize your equipment you will make drinkable beer, maybe even great beer. And it is always fun.

Its sometimes good to use a small batch to try new recipes. Mr Beer is great for that.

 

[malkore]

I've never done a mr. beer, but I bought one for my dad last christmas because he's a bud light only guy and won't touch my homebrew. I figured the 'less complex' flavors of the default pale ale kit it came with might not be 'too heavy' for him.

its definitely beer and drinkable...but its a little 'un-refined' for homebrewers that really fall in love with brewing. if mr. beer seems like too much work, it'll save a person from investing alot of money in a hobby they ultimately won't enjoy.

 

[doctorRobert]

it's a good star.....but not economical, i would take the plunge to a 5 gallon kit, the mr. beer prices for refills is what caused me to get a real kit. My 1st batch isnt even ready yet but just by tasting the wort I know the difference will be tremendous.

My first who drank my mr. beer kit said it tastes marginally better than bud light. And yeah, I had different kits and they all tasted the same.

 

[thezepster]

Ive made a couple of batches with mr. beer and I just cant seem to get the flavor that other homebrewed beers have. Ive tried changing my techniques but all of the beers seem to be lacking in flavor. I would only get mr. beer if u are hesitant in taking the plunge into brewing. If you think you will go further with the hobby, I would get a 5 gallon kit.

Yes, they are drinkable... No, they dont compare to store bought beer

 

[oldtrucker]

i've read these mr. beer comments here many times. make the mr. beer. see if YOU like if. my drinking group likes high country canadian draft better than any other beer. commercial or homebrew. i make either 5 or 10 gals. at a time and some times still can't keep up. it's quick and cheap to make if you learn how to buy.
kent