How can I easily spice up a light beer recipe?

What do you like? Hops, malt, sweetness, etc.?

 

Well first off I'd like you to realize that Mr Beer CAN come out very well. I have a friend who made his first three batches of Mr Beer and they were all quite good, even if not world-class. Mind you they were all drank very quickly and were well liked. So start this with a positive attitude.

Second, water is important. My first attempts at Mr Beer were NOT so good, because my water had chloramines in it, but I didn't know this. Tasted like band-aids. Otherwise they worked, they just didn't taste good. Solution: use bottled spring water (worked for me). Many municipalities use chloramine, if you're not sure, use bottled water.

Third: Spicing up a batch of Mr Beer? I might say "add more hops." Get an ounce of hops from a local homebrew store (LHBS). I'd suggest cascade, but other varieties would work too. Cascade are medium intensity and pretty universally liked. Add 1/4 of the pack at 15 minutes (left in the boil) and the rest at flameout.

It's an "American light" but probably isn't a lager. It's an ale. The fermentation temperatures will be the giveaway. Nobody starts a noob off with a lager, they're too complicated and require unrealistic times and fermentation temperatures. It will make a light beer (albeit an ale) that's quite drinkable and isn't likely to offend any bud drinkers. It should be fine with a little extra hops.

This all being said, get a batch going and then start reading. How to brew by Palmer is a good one. For a bit lighter reading, the joy of home brewing is also good. Read forums, this one is excellent but others are also good (I like the AHA forums). Post questions.

Read blogs. There are many fine blogs. Even I have a blog. Others may be better but I happen to like mine quite a bit. I write about commercial beers and homebrew. I have posted a lot of procedures on my beers which may be helpful when you move up.

You'll move beyond Mr Beer quickly if you are serious. This is more likely to happen if you have a good experience with Mr Beer. I still use my Mr Beer keg thingie for special purposes. Once in a while I still even use the bottles when I need an extra and I'm out of glass. They work fine.

I for one hope that your first attempt at making your own beer goes well. Feel free to ask questions and learn before you do.

Most importantly, don't worry, relax and have a beer.

 

Honestly, if this is your first time brewing I suggest followingthe directions to a t. My first brew day was pretty intimidating annd a little rushed and confusing. By throwing in your own twists and turns you may not focus on technique. If you turn this brew out okay then personalize your second brew instead. And, of course, check out www.howtobrew.com and read up before jumping in too deep. RDWHAHB

 

You could not possibly screw this up by adding one ounce of cascade hops as I outlined above. It would make it closer to a pale ale than an American light, but wouldn't fundamentally change the recipe.

I cannot help you with turning Mr Beer American Light into a Belgian tho.

 

I'd find a beer you like, see what hops were used in it and then add some of those to your brew if you want to add some extra flavor.

 

Pitch some brett brux into the party pig?

 

Following the set recipe gives you the ability to ttroubleshoot any off flavors or other problems you may encounter when its all said and done. Adding some hops would help add dimension to the beer, as well as steeping specialty grains prior to boiling your wort. Lastly you could change up the yeast you ferment with. Really, that's about all you can change short of aging on fruit or something along those lines. Check out the section on steeping grains at www.howtobrew.com . That can really change the dynamicof your beeer without getting too crazy.

 

Most people do.

 

You are a sick and twisted individual. I like that in a person.

 

After hearing that DFH used to use an old vibrating football game to add the hops for the original 120 min IPA I have decided that all bets are off. I reckon he could just leave the lid off and see what happens...

 

Or just pitch T-58 instead of the yeast that came with the kit.

I know. I'm a party pooper and my Mr. Beer lbk is full of party poop.

 

Use coconut instead of hops.

 

I second this. Just brewed my first batch yesterday and figured I was probably more delicate than I needed to be in following the details to a T but decided that as it was my best batch I had better try to keep it as close to the instructions as possible.

 

I lean towards a Keep It Simple, Stupid approach for newbies. I don't know much about your background in brewing (possibly with others) or cooking. If you're the type that could burn the house down trying to boil water, you shouldn't be trying to make a complicated beer. Bad process + a complex recipe = bad beer. As said above, maybe pick a favorite hop and add it to the late boil (last 10, 5 or 1 min of boil). Maybe a simple dry hop (hops go in just after fermentation is complete). Hops can lend a citrus, pine, earthy, or spicy flavor depending on the variety. Welcome to the obsession.

 

You could make a berliner weisse relatively easy. Just get a vial / smack pack for
Wyeast or white labs. Little to no hopping needed, low abv, temp not an issue ( I find that warmer temps makes it more tart) excellent on a warm day.