Fresher extracts?

[Brownbeard]

I do not like to use canned goods. Whether it be when making dinner, or now making beer. I have found at least a couple places that make their own extract in house. I am assuming these would be fresher than your canned extracts, and I am definitely interested in that. Also, they don't use preservatives, I like that.
www.northernbrewer.com
www.annapolishomebrew.com
I think I am going to order a kit from Northern Brewer on friday (payday). I will let you guys know what I think of it. Anyone else order from these spots? Northern Brewer appeals to me because I am in the midwest, and make it to the Twin Cities on occasion.

[barley ben]

I ordered my first starter kit from Northern Brewer and also my first batch. I can't say I can complain. My yeast was wrapped in a ice pack that arrived still cool to New Jersey. The batch itself came out pretty good also and it was my first real batch. I'm sure it would have been great if it wasn't for human error(me).

[IBrewMine]

Best of my knowledge, there is not a single homebrew shop that makes there own extract. Check with Northern Brewer and I would bet that it is made by Breiss (in their neck of the woods).

[Brownbeard]

Oh yeah, I forgot to come back to this. You are exactly right, I emailed NB and they gave me great info on this. Some of the brew shops online are a little misleading about this. There are only two manufacturers of Extract in the US, Breiss and Alexander's. They carry both in bulk.

[Fast_Eddy]

In the spirit of morbid pedanticism - it's Briess not Breiss....

[kevin]

I have a kit from northern yet to brew it ESB, and I did do the Ultimate Amber Ale from Annapolis.
The only thing I don't like about annapolis is they don't tell you what the ingriedients are, just add this at 60 min, 30 mins last 2. I think they protect there product, but I like to write down everything I use to compare notes against others I have brewed.

[danno]

Northern Brewer is my LHBS, so I frequest them. Never had problems, and they're always willing to customize (they drop $ for skipping priming sugar in kits, for example). Nice forum, too...

[paul84043]

Kevin,
Have you tried your Ultimate Amber yet?
That was the only batch I have ruined, I think I infected it while bleeding off the trub out the bottom of a plastic conical...
So I made it a second time.
Anyway, it was one of our favorites. Very fruity and tart due to the ingredients really pushing the upper limits of the style...It was some pretty potent stuff.
They age very well too.

I have always been very happy with the ingredients I have recieved. Even the few that have had canned malt were in very good condition and the beer turned out great.

[kevin]

Paul,
I decided to try one tonight and it was still not ready 16 days in the bottle. Taste was very hoppy as expected, I think by Christmas this will be a very nice brew. Maybe Rudolfs Rednose Ale?

[paul84043]

Great name!!....
Yes, it needs a month minimum in the bottle and even then, you may think it's a bit green.
It's a pretty strong beer, they need a bit more time.

[ZSK]

I order from Northern Brewer frequently and have used their extract. Good people to do business with. They also have a helpful staff on the advice phone.

[ray m]

Originally posted by Brownbeard:
_______________________________________
I do not like to use canned goods.........
_______________________________________

I do not like them in a vat, I do not like them in a hat. I do not like them in a box, with a fox, or on the rox. I do not like them in my car, I do not like them in a bar.

I DO NOT LIKE GREEN EGGS AND HAM!!!! I DO NOT LIKE THEM SAM I AM!!!!!:p

Sorry, Brownbeard....I had to!!!

Drink hearty!!!!

Ray