Walmart's Make your own Beer setup?

Went to Walmart the other night and got the "Make your own beer" Home brewing kit for around $25. Anyone used this before? The instructions seem like a regular home brew setup. I have read the instructions twice and am about ready for the month long process. Here is to hoping for a good turn out.

Clayton Smith

Reply to
Askalon
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I've never seen anything like that at Walmart, and we go there fairly regularly (monthly?). Would you be willing to list the ingredients and items that it came with?

Reply to
Jazz

Sure can. Usually they were up front of the store past the cash registers as I was on my way out. They are made by Lakeview Valley farms (or rather Natural Science Industries).

6 plastic beer bottles with caps 6 pack holder Amber malt Light Dry malt 1 gallon Cubitainer & cap Air Lock Racking Cane tip Siphon Hose 1/4 teaspoon Yeast Packet Hops Packet Dextrose Packet Sterilizer Packet Label Sheets (for printing your name for the beer)

It will make 24 bottles of beer They also have a refiller pack, but am not sure what is in it. I would assume the consumables to make another 24 bottles of beer.

Reply to
Askalon

I've seen this in NJ and in the optical dept. I cant see how this would taste good. The ingredients must be bad or old since the yeast is not kept cold. Save your money and get a starter kit from your local HBS. Tom

Reply to
Tepe

Took everyone's advice on this and returned the Kit to Walmart. Stopped at the LHBS and was a huge success (and advice), bought everything I didn't have (or comming in) and am reading on making my first batch.

Clayton

Reply to
Askalon

Smart Man. If I do the math you get 24 / 12 oz bottles for $25. Well a kit from your local HBS $27 makes 5 gals = ~ 50 bottles.

Frank ATF Home Brew Club New Bern NC

Reply to
Frank J. Russo

I was perhaps not so smart. My mother bought this same kit, and called me out to get it started for her (I guess just because I drink beer, I'm expected to know how to make it). It's very cheap, with all light-weight plastic parts, including the bottles. My first problem seemed to be with the yeast starter. I mixed the sugar-water solution as instructed and sprinkled the yeast on top, but very little, if anything happened after a half an hour. The yeast expanded somewhat, perhaps a very small layer of foam in places, but not much else. Could this be a result of yeast not kept cool and fresh? I finished the wort and let it cool, but I think that the water I used was perhaps a bit too cold. The solution has been in the plastic (collapsible, of all things) fermenter for about 24 hours, and nothing appears to be happening. I don't see or hear any bubbling. Could the wort have been too cold for the yeast starter to properly begin the fermentation? How important is the wort temperature to proper fermentation? Was the starter doomed from the beginning based on it's relative lack of activity?

This purchase was a novelty for her. She won't be into buying a real homebrew kit, as she doesn't drink. So is it conceivable that this kit is so cheap that it's best kept in the dump?

Thanks, Matt

Reply to
MBrunt

You posted a couple of days ago, so with luck your yeast should have answered your queston for you. If there was any active yeast at all, it should have taken off by now.

Good Luck!

Reply to
Karl S.

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