Simply Beer Kits — Brewing Instructions

Browse our full range of Simply 40 Pint Beer Kits, including Lager, Bitter, Yorkshire Bitter, Pale Ale, IPA, Export Stout, Mild, and Gluten Free Pale Ale.

Getting Started

  1. Clean & sanitise your fermentation bucket, lid, and mixing paddle using Harris SureSan No Rinse Sanitiser. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
  2. Find the yeast sachet at the bottom of the beer pouch and set aside until needed.
  3. Soften the extract. Stand the beer pouch in hot water for 15 minutes to soften the malt extract.
  4. Pour the extract into your sanitised fermentation bucket. Rinse out any remaining extract with warm water and add to the bucket.
  5. Add sugar and boiling water:
    1. Boil 3 litres of water and add to the fermenter.
    2. Add 1kg of Brewing Sugar (Dextrose) and stir until dissolved.
    3. For improved results, use 1kg of Beer Kit Enhancer in place of brewing sugar and stir until dissolved.
    4. Do not use beer enhancers if making gluten-free beer.
  6. Top up to 23 litres with cold tap water and stir well.
  7. Add the yeast. Check the liquid temperature is below 25°C, then add the contents of the yeast sachet and stir gently.
  8. Fit the airlock. Attach a fermentation airlock to the lid of the fermentation bucket and secure the lid so the seal is airtight. Half-fill the airlock with water to protect the brew during fermentation.

Fermentation

Place the fermentation bucket on a washable surface. Some foaming is normal during the first two days. Keep your brew at a constant temperature between 20–25°C for at least 8 days. Good temperature control is crucial for beer quality.

  • Below 20°C — fermentation will take longer than 8 days. Use a heat belt to maintain temperature.
  • Below 15°C — fermentation will stop altogether.
  • Above 25°C — beer quality will be reduced, especially for lagers.

Kegging / Barrelling

After 8 days:

  1. Siphon your beer off the sediment using your syphon kit into a sanitised pressure barrel.
  2. Add priming sugar: 100g for ales and bitters, or 160g for lagers. Leave in a warm place for 5 days for secondary fermentation.
  3. Transfer to a cool place for 7 days to allow the beer to clear.

Bottling

Simply Beer Kits use a complex malt extract that can take longer to ferment. Leave at least 8 days, or longer if the temperature is below 20°C. Ensure the airlock has stopped bubbling and the SG reading is stable for a full 48 hours before bottling.

  1. After 8 days, carefully check the SG using a hydrometer and record the reading.
  2. Re-check on day 10. If the reading is the same (or higher), proceed to bottle. If lower, leave to ferment longer and re-check every 2 days.
⚠️ IMPORTANT WARNING: The Specific Gravity must be stable for 48 hours before bottling. Never bottle until fermentation is complete.
  1. Clean and sanitise your syphon tube and bottles. Use only proper crown cap or glass flip-top beer bottles — reject any with cracks, chips, or imperfections. Glass swing top bottles or amber glass beer bottles are a good choice.
  2. Siphon your beer into bottles leaving 5cm (2") of headspace. Before sealing each bottle, add priming sugar:
    • Lagers: 1 rounded teaspoon of sugar per 500ml bottle.
    • All other beer types: 1 level teaspoon of sugar per 500ml bottle.
  3. Seal bottles and store in a warm place for 5 days, then move to a cool, dark place until clear.

Serving & Storage

Your beer is ready to drink as soon as it's clear, but leaving it somewhere cool and dark for an extra two weeks will produce a smoother result. Serve chilled. Pour slowly to avoid transferring the bottle sediment into your glass.

Browse Our Beer Range

Explore our full Beer Kits range, including Ale Beer Kits, Bitter Beer Kits, IPA Beer Kits, and Stout & Porter Beer Kits.