Burton Bridge Summer Ale

Type: Kit Brew
Sugars: 1kg Muntons Brew Enhancer (500g Light Dry Malt, 500g Dextrose)
Yeast: Kit Yeast
Additions:Water de-chlorinated with 1/2 Campden tablet.
Time in Primary: 2 weeks
Secondary method: King Keg
Time in Secondary: 21 days
O.G. 1044
F.G. 1010

I had some reservations about buying this, as the nice lady in my favourite home brew centre explained that it was manufactured on behalf of Burton Bridge Brewery by Muntons. After my last experience, I wasn't overly confident. However, my Dad brews one of their bitter kits on a regular basis so I thought I'd give it a go.

Fermentation went without a hitch, leaving it in the FV for my usual 2 weeks. Very slightly darker than the ale pictures, but no much, it was looking hopeful. I had a little taste after2 weeks, but it wasn't ready so I spent another week drinking brought beer, as I had run out of home brew that was ready ~ more on that later.


After three weeks, it is a quite nice pint. Still a little green, or young, but quite drinkable. It has developed a slightly darker shade, but it is still a pale ale, and is quite light and refreshing. Not overly hoppy, either, but with a nice bitter edge. Would I recommend this kit? Yes, I think so, although I'd be tempted to bottle it and give it at least a month before drinking, as I appears to improve with age.

Next up ~ Coopers Original Series Stout 'a la Ditch'.

Temperature control on a budget

Having recently moved house, and no longer having access to a room that was kept at a fairly steady temperature by an oil burning range, I took temperature readings of various parts of the house, both when the central heating was on, and when it wasn't. The difference was sufficient to have me worry that I wouldn't be able to find anywhere with a steady 20 degree Celsius temperature that I find ideal foe most brews, those with real lager yeast excepted.

As is often the case, an excellent solution to this was provided by reading various online forums ~ fish tank immersion heaters, such as this;

Rated at 25 watts, it isn't going to chomp it way through too much electricity, and by placing the fermentation vessel in a builders bucket, filling with water so that is covers the part that has wort / beer in it, you can then drop the immersion heater in this and not have to worry about sterilising it, or unplugging it when you remove the FV for hydrometer readings, etc.

Total cost? I got 3 of the heaters for about £25, and the buckets are about a fiver each. So now I can have three brew on the go, all at a steady temperature. The brew pictured is a Coopers Original Series Stout, attempting to climb its way out of the FV! More on that anon...