New to the board

[bigmf]

Hi everyone, I just got back to homebrewing after a couple of years off due to young children/no time.

I started my first batch on the weekend, with some of the gift items I received in the last while. My boil consisted of a 2KG can of "bitter XXX" ale (LME) and a Beermachine dark ale kit. :eek: (nothing against the beermachine system I just dont have one). So I added the contents of that kit to the boil, including the half cup of priming sugar (I have plenty of priming sugar so I didn't need it).

Anyway I was wondering if anyone had made such a "mud" type beer before from gifts that weren't really appropriate and how did they turn out? I'm sure mine will be ok since it all seems to be good ingredients (priming sugar aside).

[mmmBeer...]

Welcome!

I can't say I have ever tried to make "mud" type beer, btu interested in how it turns out.

[S.F.B.]

Welcome to the board and welcome back to home brewing.

I can't say I have ever gone to the extreme that you appear to as far as a "mud" beer. The closest I get is I sometimes end up with left over hops and maybe some extracts. I will take those and try to make something that resembles a style of beer. It usually comes out good.

[Beerconnoisseur]

Welcome to the board, and back to brewing. You'll be delighted to know that there have been quite a few improvements while you were away, compared to the 80's and early 90's. Any ?'s you have, feel free to holler.

[danno]

I wouldn't say it's going to turn out to be like mud, but it will be either strong or sweet, depepnding on whether your yeast is up to the challenge of that much fermentables... did you happen to take a starting gravity reading?

[jsmurphy]

Welcome, bigmf. I'm a newbie as well. Bunch of good joes in here with a wealth of knowledge to answer any questions you may have.

[bigmf]

Thanks for the welcomes all.

I didn't take an S.G. reading because my Hydrometer was cracked :mad: and I read somewhere that broken glass doesn't ferment. I figured with 4 lb LME, 3 lb DME and ~ .33 of a cup of brewers sugar it shouldn't be a problem to ferment it all, I had made several batches heavier than this in the past.

Anyway day two: went down to check on it after work and about an inch of foam and Krausen on the top so it definately had a good start to it. I figure it will go to the secondary on wed. Then I can start my second batch. (two carboys!)

I still need to figure out what to call this batch and what to make next. I think I should make a nice light coloured ale with average alcohol content (5%). Let me know what you think.

Big