I was at the LHBS today to pick up a few odds and ends. I saw a can of Muntons IPA Bitter for $15. The instructions seenm quick-n-easy. I just want to toss it together tonite after work in an hour or two. Need beer.

Never did a kit before. What gives? Any advice?

make sure when you top off after your boil that you mix really well. otherwise you get a bad og reading. other than that, its about the easiest beer you'll ever make.

Add some real hops and or grain. Just adds a bit more depth to it.
I made a few looong ago. Pretty easy stuff.

So easy and so little time. Looks good too. I followed the instructions but reduced the water by a gallon and the sugar by a pound to compensate. About to pitch the dry yeast. I could top-crop an Abbey ale but then the experiment wouldn't be conclusive. IBU's should be a little higher too since the extract is more concentrated. I think at current prices of extract, hops and yeast plus steeping grains I might have come out ahead some by just buying a kit.

Just hoping it is palatable. I'll keg it in about 2 weeks.

This is just like the Cooper's Bitter Challenge we did a few months ago here. I've been very happy with the ease and turn-out of both a Cooper's and Munton's Bitter kits I did. For $18 (kit + sugar) and an hour's time, I can do these easily again. I don't think the beer is quite as tasty as my extract + steeping grains batches I usually do, but I love the ease.

Yeh, with my current setup and practices an AG brew session can last upwards from 8-10 hours. This is cold-start to pitch. The best I've had was 4 hours. I didn't have to do much with the kit session and It felt a little strange. I think if I needed I could just do the kits. Provided it tastes good. Not that I will since I am a 'dyed in the wool' grain brewer but in a pinch with good yeast... Who can say...? Might be good to have on hand for emergencies.

Well, here's an update. After 24 hours in the fridge the Muntons' Bitter isn't too bad. Some subtle apple and maybe pear; it's bitter but not hoppy. Maybe 30 IBU. Probably right for the style. I might dry-hop it or leave it as is.

Current state of mind: has ease of preparation but requires proper conditioning, just like any beer. I think I can fill a few chinks in my brewing schedule with these kits. Might benefit from late addition hops. Three weeks is a little young but not too early to drink.

Kits on their own are usually a bit thin and screechy. But replace 2/3 of the sugar with DME. Dry Hop and use good yeast and they're usually very drinkable. I love kits because I spend 7-8 hours on a weekend brewing beer and sometimes I just want to make something to drink. Nothing to impress my friends with or win awards with - and these do the trick.

Also, they always seem a little weak on the hop flavor part. Boiling your DME/Sugar water for 10 minutes with hops then turning off the flame and pouring in the can adds back some of what's missing.

Anyway, I like them.

I'm getting the GF started in brewing and the kit is definately the way to go for her first brew. She's kinda turned off by those 8-10hr AG brews.