Basics of Home Brewing: What is a beer kit?

[LeJimster]

I noticed you left out flavouring hops, I guess most of the time the recipes use aroma hops as a flavouring hop too. But not always ;-).

My next batch will be a pre-hopped Lager kit + DME + hallertau hops which i will use to flavour and add aroma to. I've never tried boiling the ingredients together before, so I'll be giving that a go as I've heard it really brings the flavours and body together.

[terpsichoreankid]

@LeJimster Nice! Sounds like that will be a pretty tasty brew. You'll love doing the full boil--it really adds some nice hop character--especially the aroma addition. And good call on the 3-tiered hop additions--most kits (at least the ones I buy) only include the bittering and the aroma hops. I completely didn't think to mention more additions in this video. I've read some recipes that call for 6-8 hop additions (crazy IPA brewers...) Cheers!

[JefferyWylde]

if you're buying a muntons can, do you need to buy anything extra?

[terpsichoreankid]

@JefferyWylde If you're buying a single can (usually about 4 lbs or so), and the can is pre-hopped, then I think all you need to do is add some additional fermentables--such as another can of unhopped liquid extract or a couple pounds of dry extract to boost your malty flavor and alcohol content. If you just got Muntons liquid malt that is unhopped, you would need another can of the same plus hops--to do a boil. Make sure to get both bittering hops and aroma hops. Also get good yeast! Cheers!