Brewmaker Northumberland Brown Ale

This was my first kit, since starting to home brew again. It was bought by my sister as a birthday present. Thanks Sis :)

Its a 40 pint budget ale kit, that comes in a tin with 1.8kg pre-hopped Liquid Malt Extract. You will need 1kg of sugar or DME (Dried Malt Extract) or a beer kit enhancer (Which is a mixture of sugar and DME). Since this was a present, my sis had got me 1kg of sugar. Ok, so down to business...

After pitching the yeast

 Brew Date: Friday 10th December. 7-8pm
OG: 1.044
Pitching Temp: 24C
Yeast: CKB

Test Date: Tuesday 14th December. 12.15pm
SG: 1.013
Temp: 26C
Notes: Brown & cloudy. Very bitter taste. Bubbles rising to surface (Still fermenting)

Test Date: Thursday 16th December. 10.40am
SG: 1.013
Temp: 20C
Notes: Not as bitter.

Test Date: Tuesday, 21st December. 11.20am
FG: 1.010
Temp: 20C
Notes: Bottling. 5grams of Normal sugar per 750ml PET bottle.

After Bottling

Bottles were left in the hot press, for 1 week, before moving to the roof-space to condition. I will never use plastic bottle caps again, as they let the gas escape. Half my batch ended up flat!

After 3 weeks the beer was clear and ready to drink. It wasn't to bad for a budget kit, but it seemed a bit watery. If I was going to brew this kit again, I would defiantly substitute the 1kg of sugar for some beer kit enhancer of DME to give it a bit more body. It also ended up quite strong.