Ordered 3/12/2015 and was promptly shipped and was very fresh. The expire date was 1 year and several months out. This was my 4th Mr Beer brew and my best so far.
This kit does a great job, no issues and I will be buying again soon I'm sure.
Modifications -
I wanted a little more ABV so I added an additional 1lb 2.4 oz Briess Amber LME (I was shooting for 1lb) and also added 1oz Hallertau hops to balance the additional malt. I used a glass carboy instead of the Mr. Beer keg since I had a carboy available.
Recipe -
I brought ~1.5 gallons of spring water to a boil, added the 1 lb 2.4 oz Amber Briess LME and the hops, boiled for 20 minutes. Burner off. Added the Mr Beer hopped extract, cooled in ice bath. Added spring water to about 2+ gallons for an OG of 1.054. I aerated the wort (shook the glass carboy for several minutes) and pitched the dry Mr. beer yeast. Fermentation took off within 8 hrs, the yeast did a great job and active fermentation tapered off within 5 days.
I left it in the carboy for 4 weeks to finish. FG was 1.007, which is ~87% attenuation and ABV ~6.3%.
I kegged straight to a corney keg, and forced carbonated.
Taste-
Malty and smooth, great head that sticks around. Nice finish and good ABV level.
Additional thoughts -
Mind your sanitation, I'd recommend getting some Star San and use as directed.
Oktoberfest technically is a lager recipe but this kit is intended to be fermented at ale temperatures and does so very well. I would recommend keeping the fermentation temp on the low end ~68. My first few batches fermented warmer than ideal and you could tell.
Also, do not be in a hurry! Let this sit for a few weeks at least. Dark ales should be 3-4 weeks. Green beer is not good!
Summary -
This kit was fresh, yeast performed well, the extract was tasty, and I ended up with a great brew.
Will buy again!
Update -
That 2 gallons did not go far, the keg kicked tonight. :o(
That was a really nice brew.
I already have my next brew lined up but I'm very tempted to jump on the Mr. Beer website's 30% off sale and grab some for some double batches... that sale is going on for a few more days.
(I gave in - double batches of Oktoberfest, Voodoo, and Dark Forest Stout are on the way :o)
The brewing process is simple with this setup. The main things- I'd say -you have to think about are temperature and sanitation. The hardest part is the waiting. Just follow the instructions and wait a while to get a tastey drink. I did have one problem. I had trouble with a leak at the spigot on my first keg. I had it replaced. Everything is good now and I have 2 batches conditioning. The Oktoberfest tastes good, well I'm not a beer connoisseur, so there's that. Just remember to give it at least 4 weeks conditioning time. It's a cool process and very rewarding.
My only complaint is that my beer was about $8.50 / sixpack , and a cooper's kit done in a similar fashion was $4.73 / sixpack. The rest: It makes good beer.. The smaller size was much easier to deal with on brewing day and bottling day. I really liked the taste of the beer, and it was very easy to make. It really does taste like you went to the store and bought an import. I used 22oz of dry malt extract instead of sugar. This quote applies: "Also referred to as Märzenbier, this malty, deep amber colored beer features a smooth body, toffee-like malt richness, and a full, biscuit like bouquet. Sample the celebrated beer of Munich's world famous Oktoberfest."
You know the one I mean if you like Irish Stout beer. You can make this one yourself, and it's delicious. Just take time and follow the directions. The fermentation temperature is important. Probably not a problem if you have a basement or air conditioned room. I have to do mine during winter, so I can warm the room to the ideal temperature for fermentation. I like glass bottles, but I have used the plastic ones that came with my fermenter in a pinch.
I bought this as the 2nd brew to try in my Mr Beer kit. It has everything needed including instructions on the side. I only gave this 4 stars because it's currently brewing. In 3-4 weeks I'll update my review once I taste the final product. My first brew was the blonde light beer that came in the kit and it was really good, so I can't imagine I won't update it to 5 full stars.
Feature Product
- Millions of brewers have brewed using Mr. Beer's Hopped Malt Extract. Our Hopped Malt Extracts are created from all natural ingredients using the highest quality Barley and Hops. No Matter if your skill set, Mr. Beer makes the brewing process simple, efficient, consistent and fun.
- Mr. Beer is the only homebrewing company that is owned by a brewery. Coopers Brewery is Australia's largest craft brewery and every Mr. Beer refill is designed and tested by Coopers Master Brewer's
- Brewing with Mr. Beer's Hopped Malt Extracts are perfect for any brewer. Whether it's your first time brewing or you're a seasoned brew veteran, this kit cuts down on time, reduces risk of contamination and helps create a more consistent beer every time
- Each Mr. Beer Refill will come with everything you need to brew another batch of Mr. Beer. These refills are designed to be used with your Mr. Beer Kit however, any 2 or 3-gallon fermenter will work. If you looking to brew larger volumes use 2 refills for 4 gallons or 3 refills for 6 gallons.
- Mr. Beer's American Ale Refill produces a beer that is a rich golden color that has toasty malt character with a citrusy hop aroma and crisp bitterness similar to the most popular pale ale's.
Description
Mr. Beer's American Ale Refill produces a beer that is a rich golden color that has toasty malt character with a citrusy hop aroma and crisp bitterness similar to the most popular pale ale's.
I like Mr. Beer kits, and this is one of my favorite flavors. Of course these kits are not for hardcore DIY beer brewers, but they satisfy my need for dabbling occasionally. One drawback: Every now and then you'll probably make a mistake, and an entire batch will come out lousy. But overall, I enjoy the process and the results. And when these replacement kits go on sale, they're significantly cheaper than a comparable commercial beer.
Followed the instructions to the letter and ended up with a great tasting beer I have a REALLY hard time believing I brewed on my own. I won't go into details on flavor and character because other reviews have nailed it. I will be making another batch of this one.
I purchased this to try my hands on an Oktoberfest, and so far everyone seems to like the brew. I added the brew enhancer even though Mr Beer said it did not need it. I also let it sit for 2 weeks instead of one week. I brought 3 of these kits to make a 5 gallon batch and then kegged it. All in all very satisfied with the brew and how flavorful it is. I definitely recommend this kit!
This is a great gift or just an easy way for newbies to brew up several different flavors. Mr beer products are second to none. I have been brewing with them for years. Takes the guesswork out and helps you make great drinkable beverage every time.
This is an absolutely awesome extract. I have had a number of world class stouts, bocks, dopplebocks and porters, and I can honestly say that this stout compares favorably with all of them. Even my friends who dislike stouts absolutely loved this beer (the one drank a whole liter in one sitting; he would have drank more if I had had more on hand). It has a low ABV and a great taste. It's not too light or too heavy, it's slightly sweet but by no means overwhelming. I was very pleased with my purchase. That's why I've decided to buy another and use this as my base for stout experiments (vanilla stout, coffee stout, etc). Buy it. You won't regret it.
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