Author Topic: new to home brewing (Read 6434 times)

simonn · « **on:** October 10, 2011, 08:03:33 pm »

Hi peeps i am new to home brewing and have been looking at a pills brewing kit,the alcohol content seems a bit low what can i do to pep it up a bit?

Dan · « **Reply #1 on:** October 10, 2011, 09:31:40 pm »

I'm no expert but a bit more sugar / maltose / spray malt / liquid malt extract will increase the ABV, but don't go mad or you'll end up with something undrinkable. The kits will have been produced for a balanced flavour for the hops / barley / flavourings they are based on, so you'll upset that by just lumping in more sugar.

Fermentation is the yeast converting sugar to alcohol, but brewers yeast can only withstand around 5% ABV until yeast cells are killed off thus preventing further fermentation, so that's your logical limit.

HTH, happy brewing. We just put 36 pints of bitter to ferment tonight.

Dan

simonn · « **Reply #2 on:** October 10, 2011, 09:39:57 pm »

mmm yummy, i need to get cracking ready for christmas,i might need a trail run...

Olly398 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2012, 10:26:58 am »

Hello, I'm new to brewing too but had a go at "all grain" on the weekend. So far its looking good.

More info and some useful links etc here

VSS · « **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2012, 11:31:02 am »

If you are looking at doing kit beers to start with (and they are a good way to get your hand in) I would avoid lager kits like the plague. Go for mild ale and bitter kits - they generally imo give a much better results.

FiB · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2013, 12:35:34 pm »

Just caught this topic - JUST what I needed to know! OH likes beer, but says kits are horrible (based on about 20 years ago prob!!! I may try the whole grain thing, but also any recomendations of tasty kits?