Which Extract Kit Should I get

[boomtown25]

I am sure I am going to get a lot of "it depends on your own taste" but I need guidance. I know what a lot of beers on the market taste like because I have had them at the bar. But I have never had any of these kits. I ordered Caribu Slobber as my first kit to make (this was based on description and the ratings from customers) but past that, I am flying blind on what these kits will end up tasting like. Is there someone that can point me in the right direction or make a suggestion? Here are the beers I generally like to drink (and please don't hate me for the non-craft beers):
1. Sam Adams Noble Pils (my favorite)
2. Guinness (second fav)
3. Sam Adams regular
4. Sam Adams Blackberry Whitbeir
5. Bud Light
6. Budweiser
7. Blue Moon
8. Shock Top
9. Dos Equis
10.Sweetwater IPA and Exodus

 

[amartinez]

You might want to try a dry stout kit since you like Guinness, although I personally haven't brewed one so I don't have any recommendations.

http://morebeer.com/view_product/18330/102178/American_Ale_-_Extract_Beer_Kit
^ was my second batch, it had a good amount of hops and malt while still being light and approachable enough for people that aren't into bigger beers.

 

[jaycount]

http://www.northernbrewer.com/default/sweet-stout-extract-kit-2.html

I loved this stout kit. Might give it a go if you like Guinness

 

[ETCS]

I've wanted to try that one, let me know how it turns out. Says 6 weeks, but I would give it a couple more.

 

[laiced]

I am pretty new but read these forums all the time and I would say that most peeps here would have you avoid Bud/light for sure. I hear it is incredibly hard to make a brew like that.

I would think Guinness would be hard to do unless you have a nitrous line to carbonate with, but this is speculative.

And if any of those beer are lagers, you need temperature controlled refrigeration to make them to style due to lower temp requirements.

Whatever you do, enjoy the hell out of doing it....this is fun stuff!

 

[jaycount]

I bottled my sweet stout and it came out great. The nitrogen gas makes a nice addition to a good stout but you can make a good stout without

 

[h22lude]

For stouts, my next batch will be either
http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_452_42_159&products_id=312
or
http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_452_42_159&products_id=310

For bud and bud light, there is a thread around here for a coors light clone. You won't be able to make a lager unless you have some kind of cooled temp control. You can use a fridge or freezer or you can use an ice bath but you will need to check the temp to make sure the ice bath keeps it constant.

Blue moon is a favorite of mine. You can do this http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_452_43_210&products_id=10902 or find any belgian wit.

 

[theWilly]

I did a Cooper's Wheat for my first beer. It's more and American Style light wheat, it doesn't have the body and hoppy/flowery flavor that Blue Moon tends to have. I added too much water to it (newb mistake...took the OG reading from the bottom, wasn't mixed well, came out high, added water to offset)

Recipe was 1 can Cooper's Wheat LME and 2# corn sugar, probably ended up with near 6 gallons of water. Since I effed up my OG reading I can't tell you what the ABV is....but I drank 5-7 24oz mugs (its kegged, i wasn't counting) last weekend and it made me happy, but not sloppy happy so maybe use more corn sugar or don't use too much water like i did....if you're looking for something with a little more kick, that is....

My buddy just made the comment this evening that it tasted to him sort of like a "full bodied Miller Lite"

I think it's decent for a first try...though I add orange in the mug for something extra...that really sets it off, otherwise its pretty flavor neutral.

I also tried it with lime just to see, it wasn't that good (too acidic), so i squeezed in some orange to add back sweetness and offset the acidic lime....and the strangest thing happened....it suddenly tasted like Corona!

So.....since you like Bud, Dos Equis, and Blue Moon.....this could be a good multi-purpose beer for ya!

 

[unionrdr]

Just a reminder that cooper's kits are 23L (6.072G) anyway,so you're probably ok. As for suggestions,Try the Brewer's Best Summer Ale. I'm told it's a shock Top clone,a Belgian White ale. My wife made that one (with provided steeping grain),& at 17 days in primary,it already tastes great! If we could get Shock Top fresh,I think this one is what it'd taste like. Quite good. Brewer's best,Midwest,AHS,& others all have good IPA kits,so shop around on that one to find one to your liking.

 

[Changeduser123]

austinhomebrew has a great selection of kits. they even have a section dedicated to clone recipes. Check it out, and pick one that you like. Their kits come with steeping grain and malt extract. Since they are very popular, all the ingredients are very fresh.

 

[TopherM]

Belgian Wheats, like Blue Moon, are very easy to make from an extract kit, and would make a really good introduction to brewing with additives, as you add coriander and orange peel to get the distinct Belgian style.

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_452_42_163&products_id=11251

The Noble Pils would require lagering, which is an advanced technique, but you could make IPAs and APAs that taste similar to the Noble Pils, and are a very easy style to make as well. The "Noble" refers to the hops used, which are European in origin. You'd probably like something like this one:

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_452_42_161&products_id=266

Enjoy!

 

[zachary80]

Which Guinness do you like? Draught, Extra, Foreign Extra?

As others mentioned, your pilsner and american adjunct lagers will be more difficult than most styles to do well. You might want to try this kit:
http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewi...ohn-q-adams-marblehead-lager-extract-kit.html

 

[MaltMonster]

You might try Northern Brewer's Cream Ale. It is about the closest you will get to an American Lager (Bud, etc.) without having to lager. To me it has fuller flavor and better mouthfeel than most American Lagers anyway. Not to mention it goes down smooth with no nasty bite at the finish.

 

[harrv]

Like Topher suggested, I would focus on making ales and avoid the lagers, at least at first. I've made kits from Midwest, Austin Homebrew, and my local HBS, and haven't had a bad one yet.

If you order from Austin Homebrew, pay with PayPal instead of using your credit card--they've had some problems.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Midwest Supply has an Amarillo Pale Ale that is quite good. It's light and easy drinking with some really nice hop flavor and aroma. I dry hopped my last batch of it but you wouldn't have to. It's a great beer and quite easy for a first kit.
Good luck whichever one you chose!!!

 

[boomtown25]

Thanks everyone this is the type of info I was looking for. As for Zachary's q- I like draught but know a real clone would need nitrogen. I think I will do my Caribu Slobber, then try the Blue Moon clone from AHS, then on to the suggestion Topher had. I saw a hybrid Blue moon clone with a blood orange. It sounded pretty awesome. I wouldn't mind a cucumber pale ale either!

 

[onipar]

Belgian Wheats, like Blue Moon, are very easy to make from an extract kit, and would make a really good introduction to brewing with additives, as you add coriander and orange peel to get the distinct Belgian style.

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_452_42_163&products_id=11251
/product_info.php?cPath=178_452_42_161&products_id=266[/url]

Enjoy!

I'd like to second this. My first brew (still bottle conditioning) is a Belgian White, and it was a nice easy intro to brewing, but still had some extra flavors, and from my first taste test, turned out pretty well.

Also, it's a nice summer ale.

 

[nymtber]

Northern Brewer's American Wheat is a solid winner, and ready to drink in 4 weeks (really, it is). More time in bottle makes it even smoother and better, but its delicious in 4 weeks total from boil to stomach. Great this time of year, too! Not to mention that with safale us-05 yeast, its only $21.99 plus shipping.

I have their St. Paul Porter in secondary right now, a second American wheat kit and Sierra Madre Pale Ale (Sierra Nevada clone...) on their way. All from Northern Brewer because their prices are good, and their ingredients seem to be real fresh. In fact, I really should go take a gravity sample of the Porter if I am going to bottle it monday...

 

[unionrdr]

We should be bottling my wife's BB summer ale tomorrow. It's a Belgian white clone that smells & tastes good already. The orange/lemon peel & spices are nice on the back.