Are Kits worth buying?

You may have read on the net, like we have, that Kits are not even worth the effort. Part of the reason that we started this blog is that that is utter crap.

So far we have only used Kit beers. While we wouldn't mind trying the other way, which is to say using grain, we don't have the room in our house to store it nor the kitchen space to make it. But we were disheartened to find out that the internet is jam packed with nay-sayers and snobby kit haters. We couldn't find a decent recipe using Kits anywhere on the net, appart from on actual selling sites. We began to think that we were somehow worse, that we weren't getting the full experience, that our beer was crap and that we only thought it was good because we were making it.

But then we realised, no, our beer is bloody good. All our friends, who are fairly harsh but fair critics, like our beer, we love our beer so SCREW YOU INTERNET! So we started this blog to let you all know that 'Yes. you can make very drinkable beers with Kits'.

Using kits is not as hard as grain but it is still not as easy as making cordial. There is still all the sterilisation and proper temps needed to make a really good brew. We have made our fair share of mistakes, but we have also made some cracker brews so it can be done.

What you have to understand is that the Kits will taste good if you treat them with care. We view it more like an art than a science, but it definitely has scientitian aspects that make a big difference. Some kits are better than others, yeasts are definitely different. It all comes down to personal taste. If you like lager's make lagers.

Some things to watch out for:

• All kits come with Ale yeast. That is ALL. Kit makers don't trust your average joe bloe to regulate the temperature to the degree that you need in order not to screw up a lager.
• Kit yeast is fairly crap, it can be used but when you can buy good yeast for 3 bux do it.
• Kits vary mainly in flavour. If you want a subtle range of flavours then you need to spend a little bit more, but the main range is between 8 and 22 dollars so none of them will break the bank.
• Listen to your local brew shop guy for recipes - he knows what he is doing.
• Follow the instructions and it should turn out ok.
• Clean and clean and clean. But that stands for all brewing.

Basically these are good. Kits work. Use them

Tom