What is the best homebrew "kit" you have bought and made?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by geneseohawk, Dec 26, 2012.

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  1. geneseohawk

    geneseohawk Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2008 Illinois

    Just curious as to what you think is the best "kit" available for purchase. I am looking to do buy something quick to try- any style but looking for a fairly quick turn around on the beer- 4-6 weeks.
     
  2. pointyskull

    pointyskull Zealot (651) Mar 17, 2010 Illinois
    Trader

    All from Northern Brewer:
    Dead Ringer
    Jamal's Evil Twin
    Big Honkin' Stout
    St. Paul Porter
     
  3. jmmy3

    jmmy3 Initiate (0) Nov 30, 2010 Massachusetts

    NB's Black IPA is excellent, takes about 6ish weeks but after about a month goes by from bottle conditioning is when it really starts to show, in my opinion. Give it a try if you enjoy the style. Can't go wrong with Dead Ringer either though.
     
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  4. dethTr0ll

    dethTr0ll Initiate (0) Dec 7, 2010 Delaware

    Northern brewers Chinook ipa is very good as well.
     
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  5. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,737) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Society

    From Northern Brewer:

    Caribou Slobber (Brown Ale) is a killer. It is good after 6 weeks and continues to get better. I am usually drinking the last bottle at about the peak of maturity.

    Irish Blonde Ale (Pale Ale) is the best kit I've ever brewed (brewing it again this weekend). It rocks after 6 weeks, in my opinion the best'est & quickest.
     
  6. psnydez86

    psnydez86 Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2012 Pennsylvania

    according to my friends NB's chinook ipa is my best kit that i brewed but if your a real hop head i think NB's Tongue Splitter is a nice sessionable hop bomb and probably my favorite kit to date.
     
  7. hopsandmalt

    hopsandmalt Initiate (0) Dec 14, 2006 Michigan

    Northern brewer has some great kits. A couple of my personal favorites from my extract days were the Bourbon barrel porter kit and the Patersbier kit .
     
  8. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,176) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I don't do many kits but not too long ago NB had some sort of sale on kits that I capitalized on; don't recall the details, but it was a good deal. I got Emma's Ale, a brown mild, and Patersbier. I didn't brew either kit straight but augmented them -- changed the hops around, added a specialty grain, etc. - I don't recall the actual changes but you get the idea. Good beers resulted.

    Rather than poll us on good kits, decide on a style you want to brew and then look at the selection of kits at Northern Brewer. How you perceive them probably will be influenced by your own preferences more than the quality of the kit - my guess is they are all good kits. Stay away from higher gravity beers and your time frame shouldn't be an issue.
     
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  9. mschofield

    mschofield Pooh-Bah (1,847) Oct 16, 2002 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    NB Dead Ringer to echo

    really great IPA
     
  10. akakii

    akakii Initiate (0) Jun 18, 2009 Virginia

    The Pliny the Elder kit from morebeer.com is fantastic.

    I've also been happy with all of the kits I've gotten from Austin Homebrew Supply.
     
  11. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,274) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Only kit that I have brewed was the brewers best tripel. It turned out nice. I have been toying with the idea of buying NBs 115th dream hopburst IIPA. After looking the recipie over it would cost a lot more to source out the hops I would like to use (read citra and amarillo). But maybe simcoe, calypso, and cascade would do okay.
     
  12. gestyr

    gestyr Savant (1,001) Dec 5, 2005 Pennsylvania

    Wind River Brewing Gopher Pale Ale. Nice and quick. It will give you a very tasty beer in 4 weeks.
     
  13. Ejayz

    Ejayz Initiate (0) May 15, 2011 Iowa

    I just finished my first year of home brewing and did 45 gallons all were kits and all but 2 were from NB. The NB kits are way better than the others I tried. My Favorites are the Lefse Blonde and the Speckled Heifer both were very popular with my non craft friends. Also want to give a shot out to Midwest supply their Apple ale is a great kit as well!
     
  14. bayareahustla

    bayareahustla Zealot (632) Jul 13, 2012 California
    Trader

    Ive never brewed before, but was givin a Brooklyn Brewing Kit for chirstmas. Does it suck? Any words of advice? Any ways to spruce it up?
     
  15. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,176) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Details of kit? Are you talking about a recipe kit or an equpment kit? If recipe, what style and what are the ingredients? If equipment, what do you have?
     
  16. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    From what I've heard, there's nothing wrong with Brooklyn Brewing kits, other than the one gallon size, which isn't much beer. Here's what I would recommend, in order...

    - Read this... www.howtobrew.com
    - Read the directions for the kit
    - If there seems to be any conflict between the two, ask about it on this forum
     
  17. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I don’t normally brew kit beers but I have purchased a number of Northern Brewer Kits as presents for my niece’s husband (birthday/Christmas gifts). Every one of the beers he brewed with those kits turned out great: Dead Ringer, Black IPA, Surly Furious clone (and maybe some others?).

    I have also received kit beers from Northern Brewer and they turned out well. I brewed the St. Paul Porter as is and it was very good. I brewed the Newcastle Brown Clone (Newkie) but I augmented that kit beer with 1 lb. of Weyermann Smoked Malt and 1 lb. of Briess Rye Malt; that beer turned out excellent!

    It seems to me (based upon the above) that Northern Brewer puts together very good kits. Pick the style you want to brew and pick the Northern Brewer kit commensurately (and feel free to augment if you are so inclined).

    Cheers!
     
  18. bayareahustla

    bayareahustla Zealot (632) Jul 13, 2012 California
    Trader

    Its a recipe Kit, its Allday IPA. and yes it is one gallon, which will last me about an hour, so i wanna make it good!!!
     
  19. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,176) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I assume it is this one: http://brooklynbrewshop.com/1-gallon-beer-mixes/everyday-ipa-mix

    I'm not finding a whole lot of info about the kit, but I like the combination of columbus and cascade hops. I don't like all the additions of the cascade though. The kit calls for cascade additions at 45, 30, 15, 5, and 0 minutes. I would move these around to try to get more hop aroma from them; some of the 45 and 30 min hops would get bumped to 60 to compensate for bitterness and the rest would go to a 0 min addition. Many would want to dry hop this beer, too.

    However, there is something to be said for following the instructions the first time through, especially if you have no experience making your own recipes.
     
  20. Danny1217

    Danny1217 Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2011 Florida

    I did northern brewer's dead ringer ipa as my first batch. It just finished bottle conditioning and although i have nothing to compare it to, it is delicious. I made a few mistakes while brewing it too, so i think that says something
     
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