Problems with Brigalow???

[gpigeon]

About 25 years ago I brewed my first batch of beer using a Brigalow can. It was a failure and tasted terrible. At the time I wrote to Brigalow and complained but they only suggested I get a good book on home brewing. Maybe they were right but in any case I didn't get a book but changed to Coopers Home brews. Now I have 25 yrs experience and hundreds of Coopers brews "under my belt" all without another failure.
Recently I purchased my fourth kit and it happened to be a Brigalow kit. Feeling quite confident after all the years of experience I brewed the ale but to my astonishment it was once again "off" tasting.
Naturally I will now stick firmly to Coopers but I was wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences and what could possibly be the difference between the two brands?
Bill W.

[Bluegum]

I've made a couple Brigalow kits and I thought they were a little bit lacking in body and flavour. I did make a ginger beer kit and it was gassy and worked well but once agian I thought it lacked body. I've made quite a few Coopers kits and had no real dramas either. I'm experimenting with the Morgan's range at the moment and they're pretty good as well.

[Buzza]

Not just because I am a South Australian, but my experiences with all others that I've tried, none come up to Coopers. :2tsup:

[jonesy007]

Hi guys first post in the brew section. I am a home brewer and have been for about 2 years now. I started because i use to run a small supermarket and i put in a home brew section i did a deal with a home brew shop a couple of towns away and we build a great business only thing i had no idea on home brew so i started and have never stopped. Because of this i became good friends with the couple that own Brigalow home brewing. Now i agree not quite as good as coopers but it has improved 10 fold over the older days from what the old fellows use to tell me. Their kits might not be great but there products such as there sugars are great quality as i have had chance to see the factory. Very clean very well run, also saw coopers factory, very much the same yet coopers have a lot more money. They really are a great bunch of guys at Brigalow and need support because if it wasn't for them home brew wouldn't be in shops it would only be in home brew shops and they could charge what ever they want. John and colin and johns wife travel for weeks on end dealing with big w and the like trying ever so hard to keep prices fair and on the shelves. SO PLEASE support them

[Buzza]

Okay Jonesy007, you have made a sale. I will put one down next time I brew, and see how it goes. The thing is, we beer drinkers get into the habit of drinking a particular beer, and when something different is quaffed, because it tastes different, we make detracting remarks about it. I used to drink West End Draught because my mates did. After brewing up my own and settling for Cooper's Real Ale, I went over to a friends place who gave me a W E D. It tasted awful, and I had to get back home to wash the taste away with a home brew. Many years ago I travelled a lot in Australia, and had to get used to many different beers, crossing borders almost daily, and found that you can soon get used to them after downing a few. . . . all except one in Sydney that of the "old" style. If it wasn't drunk quickly, it started to smell off in the glass. :oo:

[jonesy007]

Very true buzz, as i said i do think coopers is a great drop and sign it praises as well but just how much work the guys put in to brigalow they deserve our support so good on you for giving them a chance that's all i ask.

[Buzza]

Where do you get it?

Brigalow in South Australia that is. :cool:

SWMBO purchased yet another Canadian Blonde kit and I've put that down this evening. When it is done, I will try a Brigalow kit, but I will have to find a source for them. I hope all home brewers realise that spring is just around the corner, and that means higher consumption rates. It's time to brew up for warmer days ahead. :D