How Well Does Mr. Beer Work For Beginners?

Mr. Beer is a beer-making kit that has been around since 1996 and is often the first introduction to home brewing for many people. The kit includes everything you need to brew and bottle 2 gallons of beer with their compact Little Brown Keg fermenter. The only things you need to add are some common kitchen items and water. The kit is highly rated on Amazon and has been responsible for getting many people into home brewing, with some even launching their own breweries. However, some people dislike the kit because it uses pre-hopped extract, which limits the types of beer you can brew, and because the ingredients are not always fresh. Overall, Mr. Beer is a great way to get started in the world of home brewing without having to spend a lot of money.

Mr Beer's pre-hopped extract limits the types of beer you can brew

Mr. Beer's pre-hopped extract does limit the types of beer one can brew. Hopped malt extract (HME) is malt extract with hops added to streamline the brewing process. Hops are chosen for the aromatic and bittering properties they can bring to the finished beer. The type of beer brewed depends on the type of hops used. Mr. Beer offers a variety of HMEs, including American Lager, Classic American Light, Aztec Mexican Cerveza, Bavarian Weissbier, and Bewitched Amber Ale.

While Mr. Beer's HMEs limit the types of beer one can brew, they offer a convenient and straightforward way to brew beer. The use of HME simplifies the brewing process without diminishing the quality of the finished beer. HMEs are produced with high-quality brewing malts, and the same malts that go into award-winning beers are used in Mr. Beer's extracts. Brewing with HME also significantly reduces the time required, shortening the brew day from 6 to 8 hours down to 1-2 hours.

It is worth noting that Mr. Beer provides detailed instructions and customer support to ensure a successful brewing experience. Additionally, proper sanitation and following recommended practices, such as using spring or purified drinking water, are crucial for achieving desirable outcomes.

Mr Beer's recipes have a low level of involvement and control over the outcome

Mr. Beer kits are a great way to get started with homebrewing. They are simple, require little time and space, and are not a big investment. The kits come with everything you need to brew beer, including a fermenter, bottles, malt extract, yeast, and instructions.

However, the recipes included with Mr. Beer kits have a low level of involvement and control over the outcome. The kits contain pre-hopped extract, so brewers have little control over the amount of bitterness in their beer. The recipes are also very simple, requiring brewers to only add water, yeast, and sugar. This low level of involvement may be disappointing for those who want to be more creative with their beer recipes.

Additionally, the ingredients in Mr. Beer kits may not be as fresh as those purchased from dedicated homebrew suppliers. This can affect the quality of the final product. The plastic bottles included in the kits are also not ideal and may need to be replaced with glass bottles for better results.

Overall, while Mr. Beer kits are a great introduction to homebrewing, they offer limited control over the outcome of the beer. Brewers who want more involvement and creativity in their recipes may need to invest in more advanced equipment and ingredients.

Mr Beer's ingredients are not fresh

Mr. Beer's ingredients are not fresh. This is a common issue with the product, as the company has a history of sending out expired kits. While it is possible to brew with expired Mr. Beer products, the final beer will be darker and less bitter than intended. This is because the malt extract in the kits darkens over time, and hop flavour, aroma, and bitterness fade. The yeast included in the kits may also lose viability, impacting fermentation.

To avoid these issues, it is recommended to purchase new yeast if using an expired Mr. Beer kit. For most refills, any type of dry ale yeast will work as a replacement. Alternatively, wheat yeast like WB-06 is recommended for wheat beers. It is also important to sanitise all equipment, including the yeast packet and scissors used to open it, to prevent infection.

While Mr. Beer kits may not produce the freshest beer, they can still be a good option for beginners. The kits are affordable, require minimal equipment and space, and come with straightforward instructions. However, more experienced brewers may prefer to use fresher ingredients and more advanced equipment to achieve better results.

Mr Beer's fermenter is unsealed

Mr. Beer is a popular beer-making kit that has introduced many people to the world of brewing. The kit includes everything you need to brew beer, including a fermenter, spigot, malt extract, yeast packet, bottles, and instructions. While the kit is a great starting point for beginners, some people may want to customize their setup or troubleshoot common issues. One such issue is an unsealed fermenter, which can happen if the lid does not create an airtight seal.

It is not uncommon for the lid of a fermenting bucket to not create a perfect airtight seal. As long as your equipment was properly sanitized and you are only leaving the beer to ferment for a couple of weeks, this is usually not a problem. The carbon dioxide (CO2) produced during fermentation will create a protective layer that prevents foreign contaminants from entering the beer. Additionally, the alcohol and hops in the beer have antimicrobial properties.

Potential Issues

While an unsealed fermenter may not be an issue in most cases, there are a few potential problems to be aware of:

• Ambient air getting sucked into the fermenter if there is a drastic drop in temperature after fermentation has stopped. However, this is unlikely to cause significant issues due to the protective layer of CO2 and the antimicrobial properties of the beer.
• The need for an airlock may arise to allow CO2 to escape and prevent a potential explosion, especially if your bucket lid does not have a seal or is not airtight.
• Anaerobic conditions (lack of oxygen) are optimal for yeast to produce alcohol rather than growth. An unsealed fermenter may affect this process.

Tips for a Better Seal

If you want to improve the seal of your Mr. Beer fermenter or are concerned about potential issues, here are some tips:

• Use duct tape to keep the lid securely in place, especially if you need to move the fermenter.
• Leave an inch or two uncovered to allow CO2 to escape.
• Use a starter for your beer to ensure a higher number of active yeast, reducing the chance of wild bugs or yeast affecting your brew.
• Create a seal with a small silicone hose or cheesecloth over the rim of the pot and rest the lid on top. You can also weigh down the lid with something heavy.
• Sanitize everything, including the yeast packet and any tools used to open it, to prevent contamination.

Mr Beer's kits are not cost-effective

Mr. Beer kits are not cost-effective. The kits are marketed as a low-cost, easy way to get into homebrewing, but there are a number of hidden costs and inconveniences that make it more expensive than it seems.

Firstly, the kits themselves are not cheap. The Mr. Beer American Lager Craft Beer Making Kit, for example, costs $39.95. This includes a 2-gallon barrel fermenter, a spigot, malt extract, a yeast packet, a Brewmax Booster Packet, 11 22-oz plastic bottles with caps, and stickers. However, this is just the start-up cost, and there are a number of ongoing expenses that need to be considered.

One of the biggest hidden costs is the need to buy spring or purified drinking water. The instructions recommend against using tap water, as it can affect the flavor of the beer. This means that homebrewers need to factor in the cost of buying bottled water, which can add up over time.

Another cost to consider is the need to replace some of the equipment. The plastic bottles, for example, are not very durable and may need to be replaced after a few uses. Additionally, the spigot assembly and plastic barrel are not very well made and may need to be upgraded if brewers want to improve the quality of their beer.

Finally, there are the costs associated with sanitization. The kits come with a packet of No-Rinse Cleaner, but this is not enough for multiple brews. Homebrewers will need to factor in the cost of buying more sanitizer or investing in a different sanitizing solution, such as Star-San, which is more effective but also more expensive.

Overall, while Mr. Beer kits may seem like a low-cost way to get into homebrewing, there are a number of hidden costs that make it less cost-effective than it seems. For those who are serious about brewing their own beer, it may be more worthwhile to invest in higher-quality equipment and ingredients upfront to save money in the long run.

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