Muntons Premium Gold - Scottish Heavy Review

Overall Rating

Excellent quality beer kit, full flavoured, creamy head and nothing artificial added.

I do seem to get variable results (but this could be more to do with my technique rather than the kit). The kits are expensive compared with many others (although Trevors Home Brew Shop in Middleton, North Manchester has the cheapest prices I've ever seen)

I've been brewing Muntons beer kits for over 20 years now. I've tried other makes but these seem to give the best results. The Premium Gold range kits are of the type that requires no additional sugar and so the resulting beer does not have that 'watery' quality that some cheaper kits have. This type of kit is generally pretty expensive compared with the type that you add sugar but by the time you add the cost of sugar to a conventional kit(or dried malt extract if you prefer) the extra cost is worth it.

I try and use a fresh brewers yeast which seems to give better results than the dried sachet supplied with the beer. Two stage fermentation (where the liqour is transferred to a second, airlock protected vessel for 'anaerobic' fermentation following the initial vigourous fermentation) also seems to give better results.

The finished beer is a nice clear dark amber colour and the head is excellent (I use one of those sparklet type attachments fitted to a King Keg top feed barrel). The flavour is a liitle more bitter than I prefer but easily worth it for that special flavour that good home brew beer posseses (can anybody recommend a 'less bitter' no sugar kit?)

In spite of all this 'technology' that is now available to home brewers, I still find I get variable results - I guess this adds to the challenge.

I live in a hard water area which I believe is not good for optimum bitter production. I've tried looking for tips on the internet regarding additives for the water which may improve its condition for bitter production but without much success. I seem to have heard that addition of an acid can help but an experiment with lemon juice produced... beer with a lemony flavour. Surprise, surprise ;o)

Nope, that fool proof method for producing home brew is still out there eluding me - if anybody else has any tips, they would be much appreciated.

My value for rating is based on the ridiculously low price that Trevors Home Brew (Middleton, Manchester) sells these kits for.

Members' Comments onRichard's Review

• p3t3th0m on 14th Jan 2004

  Mate, I wouldn't worry. In fact, some brewers actually exceed others due to their hard water. Many breweries now try to emulate exactly the chemical makeup of the hardwater rivers that a well known brewer uses as its water supply for all their beers.

• Richard on 2nd Feb 2004

  Hi p3t3th0m, thanks for your encouragement - do you have any tips or particularly succesful kits you have used?

• georgewelsh on 3rd Jul 2004

  Hi,
  I live in Bridlington also a hard water area.
  When mashing I do use an acid blend but with kits you could try boiling the water for 15 mins before use. Do this the day before brewing and pour off the chalk sediment. When using this method do aireate the water by taking jugs full and pouring from a height. Do use a good dried yeast such as Danstar Nottingham, Gervin English Ale or Safale So4 as these give very good results.
  George
  Grape & Grain

• fitzy on 1st Nov 2004

  Hi.
  
  I'm a complete novice to Home Brewing, can anyone
  give mew any advice how, and where to start.
  
  Also can anyone recommend any good value internet -sites to buy, i'd quite like to have ago at brewing this Muntons Premium Gold - Scottish Heavy plus a good quality Larger.
  
  Finally. Are there any good forums for like minded people who enjoy the ale.
  
  Thanks.
  
  Fitzy