Old Beer Kits from the 70s and 80s

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MacMan
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Old Beer Kits from the 70s and 80s

Post by MacMan » Sat Jul 28, 2018 5:05 pm

Does anyone remember the old crappy beer kits from the 70s and 80s. I used Coopers because I found their kits were better than the short cans... John Bull maybe? It was a short can and you used mostly corn sugar in it and fermented it in a really warm place because it tasted like crap anyways...
Kegged 1: Best Case West Coast IPA
Kegged 2: Bestcase Honey Wheat IPA
Kegged 3: Bestcase Irish Red IPA
Fermenting: TBD

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McGruff
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Re: Old Beer Kits from the 70s and 80s

Post by McGruff » Sun Jul 29, 2018 8:05 am

Yes, I used them when I started brewing in 1979. $9.99 + 2 lbs. of corn sugar. I went on to John Bull which were much better. I used the bigger cans which didn't need corn sugar. At one time I had 15 cases of beer stacked up in the corner of my living room. Soon after went to partial mash brewing until 1994, then all grain. I don't remember it being bad beer, except when I made it in the summer and my temp strip said - 83 F. That beer sucked. I found partial mash brewing was okay with these kits. What are they now? $25.00?

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Re: Old Beer Kits from the 70s and 80s

Post by GAM » Sun Jul 29, 2018 10:04 am

30 years ago it was the only option I knew of. AG was rocket science to me at the time. You could make a passable beer but not much creatively.

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Re: Old Beer Kits from the 70s and 80s

Post by elreplica » Sun Jul 29, 2018 11:16 am

Doric, Edme, John Bull, Coopers, Laaglander, Muntona - yup not Munton’s...the Edme and Muntona produced the better results...always planned on trying one by doubling up the malt instead of adding the sugar but never did.
At Bat: several Czech Pils
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In the Hole: Kolsch
Clean Up: Tall Ships Ale clones
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Re: Old Beer Kits from the 70s and 80s

Post by McGruff » Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:13 am

I did once. It was a Coopers Bitter. Tasted quite strong but drinkable.

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Re: Old Beer Kits from the 70s and 80s

Post by MacMan » Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:17 pm

I almost fell over when I saw these were still being sold. I remember using Coopers as I got older because as said above , the taller cans meant less corn sugar. I did start using malt extract instead of corn sugar but it definitely isn't as good as the Partial grain kits. And hop additions? That wasn't heard of back then for those kits lol
Kegged 1: Best Case West Coast IPA
Kegged 2: Bestcase Honey Wheat IPA
Kegged 3: Bestcase Irish Red IPA
Fermenting: TBD

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