Maximizing "kit" beers (hopped extract kits)

mrkeeg · #1 (**permalink**) 03-17-2005, 03:52 PM

I'm sure I will get into all grain and more specialized brewing eventually, but for now I don't have the space, time, money. I've enjoyed the handuful of kits I have tried so far.

Sooo... what can I do to maximize these hopped-extract (is that the proper term?) beers without adding much expense /trouble?

Some ideas:

- Using better/liquid yeast. Said to make a big difference? A $7 yeast package is half-again the price of a $14 kit... If careful about contamination (perhaps using a single carboy with blow-by tube instead of separate primary and secondarys?), you could at least reuse this.

-Boiling the hopped extract with the additional sugar and a volume of water for some period of time? No boiling is called for in the directions. Someone said this could destroy hop aromas (would any be present in an extract anyway?)

-If using the included dry-yeast packet - hydrate and create a starter

-Use DME instead of dextrose? (also adds significant cost.. $10 to a $14 kit). Maybe could go half and half?

-The standard things like washing bottles well, attention to sanitation

Thanks for any thoughts,
Keegan

wild · #2 (**permalink**) 03-18-2005, 06:46 AM

There are many ways to save money. The liquid yeast is expensive but it's also easier to keep sanitized and with starters, I've heard brewers have been able to create 4 starters from one vial. Not to mention racking onto the yeast cakes. I've also heard you can rack onto a yeast cake 3 times before you start getting some off flavors. So it you brew lightest to dark, you can get up to 12 batches from one single vial of yeast.

I've never brewed with hopped extracts but I understand that no boiling is necessary unless you add more hops.

Sugar is cheaper than DME and I think will create more ABV per pound than DME also. If you have recipes that call for Belgian candi sugar, I found a recipe on how to make your own from table sugar, lemon juice and water. That helps especially at $4 a pound.

If your kits cost $14 a piece, you're doing well. Most of my recipes start at $28 for extract and specialty grain.

Wild