Black Rock Cider by mafman @ 14, Aug 2006
I played around with this a bit...I put in 1kg of light dry malt, 250gm of lactose, a stocking with 4 apples and 1 pear peeled and halved and 2lt of pear and apple juice. Made up to 21lt. Slow to carbonate in the bottle...after 3 mths the flavour (slighty sweet) and carbonation was perfect. Highly recommended.

Coopers Sparkling Ale by Mafman @ 18, Mar 2006
I pretty much just followed the kit instructions on this one. The only variation was using 1.5kg of Amber Liquid malt. (Also added 500gm LDM and 300gm Dextrose) This has created a beer that is a bit too malty...it's more like a Newcastle Brown Ale. It would have been better with a lighter malt and some added hops.

Cascade Chocolate Mohogany Porter by Mafman @ 18, Mar 2006
I based my brew on Wassa's 5 star effort...as I'd heard some ordinary reports on this kit (which was a Xmas present) So I used the 500gm of yellowbox honey, 1kg of Morgans Chocolate Malt and 15 gm of Cascade hops pellets. The result is very, very nice. Perhaps, surprisingly, a little on the light side more like a dark lager almost...but still very drinkable!!

Black Rock Whispering Wheat by Mafman @ 07, Dec 2005
This was an attempted Hoegaarden clone using 15gm of crushed criander seeds and 2 tbs of orange rind. Added 1kg of Wheat malt brew-enhancer and used Safwheat yeast. Made to 21 litres. Doesn't have a clean, crisp citrusy flavour...it's difficult to describe...maybe medicine is the best decription. Hopefully with age it might get better.

Coopers Dark Ale by Mafman @ 07, Dec 2005
This was an experiment. I bought 2 tins of Dark for $5 each and thought I would make the brew with both tins. I added a bag of Brew enhancer 2 and used some lager yeast from other kits (Brewed in winter) I should have used more malt...early on it had an overpowering bitterness..which is slowly mellowing over time. Closer to a stout.

Brewcraft Mexican Cerveza by Mafman @ 07, Dec 2005
This one turned out a treat. Bought a full "Corona" kit from the HB shop (Can't remember what was in it!!) used SAFlager yeast. As one of the other reviews said be wary of over carbonation. I used two drops per long neck as per normal and it is the fizziest beer I have ever seen!! Not quite as light still as a Corona but still great on a hot day.

Coopers Bavarian Lager by Mafman @ 30, Nov 2005
Made to the recipe on the Coopers website for "Burly Bavarian"....Brew enhancer 1 and 500gm of light dry malt. Used supplied yeast and made up to 23lt. Result was a 5.5% brew with a nice flavour,malty aftertaste and average head retention. Could have done with some added hops.

Tooheys Draught by Mafman @ 30, Nov 2005
Made this up with 1kg of dextrose and supplied yeast. Unremarkable flavour and poor head retention. Did not improve with age....should be drunk young maybe??

Coopers Canadian Blonde by Mafman @ 30, Nov 2005
I was making this with the warmer weather in mind. Just used the kit and supplied yeast and a Coopers brew enhancer 1. Poor head retention (I find this with most Coopers kits) and sweet/malty aftertaste stop this from being a magnificent beer. Could use some added hops I think. Still OK on a hot day.

Coopers Stout by Mafman @ 30, Nov 2005
This one got better with age!! I used a kit plus Coopers Brew Enhancer 2 and 630gm of Golden Syrup I found in the pantry. Made up to 19lt. It tasted very burnt and bitter initially...but over time it mellowed into a very smooth stout. Also had a bit of a kick at 8.6%!!!

Morgans Blue Mountain Lager by Mafman @ 30, Nov 2005
This is my best ever!!! So simple...kit plus MasterBlend Brew Enhancer, Saflager yeast. Brewed in the middle of winter at around 12c. Great head and flavour...as good as a commercial brew (so other people say!!)

Coopers Original Lager by Mafman @ 10, Jan 2005
I did his one as per the book!! The results taste great (4.5% Alcohol) My only problem with this one is head retention...pours great from the bottle...but 10-15 secs later all but gone. This may improve with age as the bubbles get smaller...we'll wait and see. Also had problems with temperature fluctuating from very cold overnight to very hot during the day.

Coopers Dark Ale by Mafman @ 10, Jan 2005
I was hoping for something closer to Tooheys Old with this one. I used 500gm of Light Dry Malt and Brew Enhancer 1. I actually got theidea to use these ingredients from the Coopers website (on a recipe for Real Ale) so I didn't really know how it would turn out. Low alcohol (3.8%) excellent head, a little bit sweet and lacking in bitterness. Maybe should have added some Dark Malt for a bit of a burnt flavor. But it still tastes alright and will be even better by the time Winter rolls around!!!

Coopers Australian Pale Ale by Mafman @ 10, Jan 2005
Used brew enhancer 2 as recommended on the can. Very strong (5.8%), excellent mouthfeel, great head retention. Still only young (4 weeks in the bottle) and only going to get better!!