How to Kit Brew (a beginner's guide)

[LordEoin]

I've completely removed the grains and hops parts for now.
They'll be added later on as a 'kit hacking' section.

[Bart]

Great guide, thanks!
Can the links be updated? They seem to be pointing to a YaBB3 forum.

[Metattron]

Links are updated to redirect to the new forum now.

[LordEoin]

Cheers Metattron

[LordEoin]

I just noticed this guide also in the 'Make Your Own Beer' brand on HomeBrewWest.
http://www.homebrewwest.ie/make-your-own-beer-18-kg-kits-from-995-best-value-242-c.asp
Nicely illustrated, simple and good.

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Hi there,
Thanks for steps - I will be following them when I get started, I just have a couple of questions.
I'm going to try a Coopers Canadian Blonde 1.7KG first.  I have a kilo of dextrose and a tin of LME as mentioned in your link already.
Will I use the dextrose or LME (from what I've read its better to use the LME instead)?
Do i use the whole tin of LME?

I'm a little confused as to what I add and when?
If I'm using the dextrose, when exactly do I add the Coopers Concentrate and Dextrose?
If I'm using the LME, when exactly do I add the Coopers Concentrate LME?
The yeast has "16813" inkjetted onto it so what would my fermentation temperature be?

I'm mad to get started but just want to make sure I havent forgotten anything before I do, just want to have all the steps clear in my head first.

Thanks in advance

[LordEoin]

Hey Fishjam!

I'd use the whole can of LME to end up at a little under 5% ABV
Warm both cans (LME and Kit), open them and empty into the FV.
Fill one can with boiling water stir to disolve any leftovers, dump it into the second can and stir to disolve any leftovers there too.
Dump that hot water into the FV and mix it all up to get rid of any thick goop.
Top it up to about 18L with cold water, then check the temperature. Aim to have it at about 22C when you get to 23L.
Stir it up vigorously to get as much air in as possible.
Pitch the yeast, seal it up, ferment at 18-20C

Simples

[IrishBeerSnob]

Great post.

Quick question, is it easy to install a tap in the bottom of a Plastic FV?

[irish_goat]

Great post.

Quick question, is it easy to install a tap in the bottom of a Plastic FV?

Reasonably easy but you might as well just buy one premade from a homebrew shop as you're always going to need plastic buckets.

[IrishBeerSnob]

Yeah reason I ask is I got vouchers for The Homebrew Company for xmas, but their starter kit appear to not be tapped. I suppose I could ask them to have taps installed on them for me. Only an extra few quid after all

[irish_goat]

Yeah reason I ask is I got vouchers for The Homebrew Company for xmas, but their starter kit appear to not be tapped. I suppose I could ask them to have taps installed on them for me. Only an extra few quid after all

Aye do that. You can then use one as a FV and the tapped one as a bottling bucket.

[LordEoin]

Use a 25mm wood flatbit.
They cost about €2 from any hardware/DIY shop 

[Ciderhead]

drill from inside out and finish outside in. to get a good score on the edges, if you can't, drill slowly into bucket and then finish edges with a stanley blade.

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Use a 25mm wood flatbit.
They cost about €2 from any hardware/DIY shop 

Not where I work 

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

I'll do a better deal where I work