My First Beer Kit

Young’s u brewbuddy – Complete Lager Kit (Available from Home Brewer aStore)

Great starting point for any newbies. This starter kit my partner brought me comes complete with everything I needed to make my first batch of lager, except for the water, sugar, a barrel or 40pint bottles for storages.

 The kit contains

• 25 Litre fermentation container to brew the lager in and a lid to prevent contamination.
• Hydrometer to check that the fermentation process is complete.
• A syphon tube and clip to transfer the beer from fermentation container to a barrel or bottles.
• Large can containing lager malted barley. (Malt Extract)
• Beer yeast to start the fermentation process.
• Steriliser to clean and sterilise all equipment.
• Full set of instructions.

Optional equipment I found useful

• One big plastic spoon.
• Thermometer. 
• Plastic trials jar to test gravity using hydrometer.
• Small funnel.

Instructions

This is a guide for you before you buy a kit, always read and follow the instructions which comes with your purchased kit carefully to get the most from it.

1. Sterilise all the equipment first. Fill the 25 litre fermentation container with warmer water and add the recommend amount of sterilising powered and stir until dissolved. Put all the other equipment into the container to be sterilised at the same time, wait for the recommend amount of time about 10 minutes.
2. Remove the label from the can and place it in some hot water, this helps the contents to soften, open the can using a can opener and pour the contents into the 25 litre fermentation container rinse out using some hot water until the can is clean.
3. Get the kettle on and add 6 pints of boiling water.
4. Add 1kg of sugar (costs about £1) or brewing sugar (costs about £6). I used normal sugar for my first attempt, but have now found that I get better results using the brewing sugar. It maybe a placebo I need to do some more experimenting. Mix well until the sugar has dissolved.
5. Using a large jug fill the container with cold water up to the 5 gallon marker. Sprinkle the yeast on the top and stir gently, put the plastic lid on the container and store in a warm place 18-21°C (airing cupboard). For the liquid to ferment and bubble.
6. Fermentation normally takes 4-6 days depending upon the temperature, (A cooler place will take longer) after 6 days check the liquid has stop bubbling or using a plastic trail jar and a hydrometer check for a constant S.G for 3 days. Instructions to do this are also included. The liquid is now ready to be transferred to a pressurised barrel or beer bottles. I used recycled bottles and brought a capper (costs about £5) and some metal caps (costs about a £1 for a hundred).
7. Sterilise the syphon tube and the bottles ready for transfer.
8. Syphon the lager into the bottles, being careful not to disturb the sediment at the bottom of the 25 litre container. The syphon tube has a clip which can be attached to the side of the container to prevent the bottom of the tube hit the sediment trap.
9. Using a small funnel add half a teaspoon of sugar to each pint bottle, cap and seal the bottles ready for storage. Now I would normally fill about 5 bottles and then add the sugar to each and then cap and seal, gently shaking each bottle to help dissolve the sugar before putting them in a box for storage. I try to fill the bottles equally to make them look good.
10. Store the bottles in a warm place for a further two days and then in a cool place like a garage for a further 14 days plus until the beer is clear. The taste of the lager improves the longer you leave it.

I tried the lager as soon as I could and it was ok, it’s nothing special just ok it did however improve the longer I left it. It’s similar to an average 4% Australian lager, but it tasted a bit stronger maybe about 5%, but I’m guessing. The bottles contain a bit of sediment in the bottom of each bottle which is hard to see initially, so be carefully not to disturb it when you’re pouring the lager into a glass.

Conclusion

Tastes clean and crisp similar to Australian lagers, it was a clear amber colour with an initial white head which quickly disappeared. I hope this helps if you are thinking about starting up home brewing I have made another 5 different kits since starting this blog, which i soon hope to write a blog/review for each all have been a better tasting kit.

Once you have finished drinking all 40pints you can re-use all the equipment, you will only need to purchase the can of malt extracts (£7 to £15) and brewing sugar to start the next batch. There are many different kits available i hope to try them all..