Suggestions for a kit

[Cory and trevor]

Do you remember what brand dry yeast it came with?

no, I went all over the damn instruction sheet too looking for it to rebrew it.  that second and third week bottle conditioning was amazing.  lesson learned I'm a patient boy now.  I'm going to go to the store and crack open a box for that name I'm too curious myself.  all-grain kolsch is on my immediate list.

[KernelCrush]

Happy wife Happy life. 

[Maine Homebrewer]

Managed to make a light pilsner that tastes like a light pilsner. Well, not that light, but it's good.

Here's the recipe:

4# flaked maize
4# 6-row
2# pils
12oz wheat berries
1oz rice hulls

mash temp 145F

60 min boil
Saaz .25oz @ 60, 45, 30, dry

Saflager S-23

fermentation temp in the 40sF

S.G. 1.058
F.G 1.008

1 month lagering at 32F

Next time I'll double the 60 min addition, but otherwise it's pretty darn good.

[KernelCrush]

I know you have said your not a hop monster and not sure where your IBU is on this one, but I have tried to hit 40's IBU before with saaz on my pils and the low alpha is a hindrance.  Heard a podcast last week about just use a high alpha clean hop for the first addition and finish with saaz. 

[Maine Homebrewer]

In this experiment I was trying to use the least hops possible yet still have something good. So I don't mind using Saaz for the whole thing. The one before it was a bust, since an adjustment to the mill resulting in my overshooting my SG by like 20%. Didn't come out well. Sweet. No balance. Adjusting for efficiency I came up with this recipe, and I like the results. 

[Freak]

I think you are on the right track with the Kolsch. Just so happens the last batch I made was a Kolsch. Does need to be cold conditioned but it primaries at ale temps. (Don't get too anal about the gradual temp. decline. Just primary it and chill it. If you have the equipment to drop the temp over the coarse of a month then go for it. Otherwise just chill it.) I suggest you brew what you want and learn from your mistakes. Stay away from the Chocolate, banana, coffee, mint porter. Keep it simple and stick with traditional styles. Then, if you must, go crazy when you learn how to brew to style. Most of the time if you do a little research and plan your brew day you will seldom ever fail. It's just sugar, water and yeast. That's all. The end result is always beer and you can refine your skills over time. More power to ya brother.

[Cory and trevor]

Happy wife Happy life.

Quoted for TRUTH