Sheisse

[d000hg]

I've always been tempted but the kit my mate used created very flat ale... nice flavour but I prefer something a bit more mainstream. Is that simply the style of ale (our local microbrewery does similar delicious but totally flat ale) or the way the low-end kits work?

[cojak]

It may be just the way your mate made it.

Mine has a lovely pffft! when the top is cracked (but I used Festival - £23 a kit).

[DaveB]

To release the vacuum and pour a pint of flat ale

Remind me never to drink round your gaff.

Nope, because the beer itself retains it's carbonation. It is still producing Co2, just not enough to fully pressurise the barrel. Provided it's not contaminated beer will "live" for years and continue to develop flavour and complexity as it does.

[DaveB]

I've always been tempted but the kit my mate used created very flat ale... nice flavour but I prefer something a bit more mainstream. Is that simply the style of ale (our local microbrewery does similar delicious but totally flat ale) or the way the low-end kits work?

Could be the way he made it, or the way he stored it.

If there wasn't enough sugar in the barrel for the secondary fermentation to get going properly you'll get flat beer. If it wasn't totally flat, but had only a tingle of carbonation to it, like a can of coke left open overnight, then chances are the cap of the barrel was loose, or not a perfect seal. If thats the case the Co2 escapes and doesn't create enough pressure to carbonate the beer properly.

[adubya]

I've got a microbrewery in my garage and brew from grains and hops wot like the proper breweries do.

Takes some time on a brewday but the results are worth it

Modern kits can give great results too but avoid the ones where you have to add sugar, the 3kg "all malt" kits are the way to go.

[suityou01]

How to Make Pruno: 8 steps - wikiHow

Jail brew

Now that's got to be worth an experiment!

Only if you're in jail.

Nope, because the beer itself retains it's carbonation. It is still producing Co2, just not enough to fully pressurise the barrel. Provided it's not contaminated beer will "live" for years and continue to develop flavour and complexity as it does.

Clearly you do not understand anything regarding carbonation. For the sake of my own beer brewing reputation only, and given the scant regard for anything you may have in retorts:

Ever had fizzy water from a sodastream?
Taste bitter?
Yes, CO2 does change the taste of a drink. It makes it more bitter.

So if a beer was put in a can, with instructions on how to brew it, they would most certainly have built those instructions around some sort of pressurised end result.

Mouthfeel is important. Too gassy and it's like drinking Grolsch, too flat and it's like drinking water. Each beer has it's own characteristics. For example, Flowers IPA IMHO is best hand pumped.

Greene King for example turned a hand pumped beer into a draught beer with their IPA. Very rare you get a hand pumped IPA these days (and couldn't really care less if the boozer within 20ft of your front room has this on pull tbh).

So basically, this is utter bollocks. 20 yrs brewing flat beer and I feel sorry for you. I have been brewing only 12 years, and I have endeavoured to brew beers like those that you buy, just as Dave Line set out to do.

Among my notable successes I have :

Deuchars IPA clone
London Pride clone
Guiness clone
Pilsner clone (a la holsten pils)

I have many plaudits in my area for brewing a good beer, and many a tip I have picked up from a brewery tour.

So if you don't mind, mr 20 years brewing, pop round to my gaff for a schooling.

HTH

[DaveB]

Jail brew



Only if you're in jail.



Clearly you do not understand anything regarding carbonation. For the sake of my own beer brewing reputation only, and given the scant regard for anything you may have in retorts:

Ever had fizzy water from a sodastream?
Taste bitter?
Yes, CO2 does change the taste of a drink. It makes it more bitter.

So if a beer was put in a can, with instructions on how to brew it, they would most certainly have built those instructions around some sort of pressurised end result.

Mouthfeel is important. Too gassy and it's like drinking Grolsch, too flat and it's like drinking water. Each beer has it's own characteristics. For example, Flowers IPA IMHO is best hand pumped.

Greene King for example turned a hand pumped beer into a draught beer with their IPA. Very rare you get a hand pumped IPA these days (and couldn't really care less if the boozer within 20ft of your front room has this on pull tbh).

So basically, this is utter bollocks. 20 yrs brewing flat beer and I feel sorry for you. I have been brewing only 12 years, and I have endeavoured to brew beers like those that you buy, just as Dave Line set out to do.

Among my notable successes I have :

Deuchars IPA clone
London Pride clone
Guiness clone
Pilsner clone (a la holsten pils)

I have many plaudits in my area for brewing a good beer, and many a tip I have picked up from a brewery tour.

So if you don't mind, mr 20 years brewing, pop round to my gaff for a schooling.

HTH

Not in the slightest

[doodab]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good Munich Helles clone?

I know fark all about brewing, except for farts.

[suityou01]

Not in the slightest

You're incorrigible

[cojak]

I've got a microbrewery in my garage and brew from grains and hops wot like the proper breweries do.

Takes some time on a brewday but the results are worth it

Modern kits can give great results too but avoid the ones where you have to add sugar, the 3kg "all malt" kits are the way to go.

Respect!

AG brewing sounds a bit of a PITA to me though. I might try brew in a bag later in the year when I have the time for a run at it.

http://homebrewmanual.com/brew-in-a-bag/