Muntons Yorkshire Bitter by HonestJohn @ 16, May 2007
If you're looking for a smooth, inoffensive bitter, this might be the go. Although you'll have to justify the extra few $ to the domestic authorities. Give her a taste, she just might like it. Lovely colour, bit short on flavour, but getting close to the territory of the real thing. You'll want to mod it to get a better result. Mmm, could probably get just as good an ale modding some local kits. Cheaper too.

Morgans Royal Oak Amber Ale by HonestJohn @ 16, May 2007
I REALLY wanted to like this one, because I figure an Ozzie company producing such an English style ale, with all the attendant risks for marketing here, deserves praise. Unfortunately this comes out more like Victoria Bitter than English Bitter. You'd need to modify this considerably to get a decent result. Before doing that, do the sums and see if an ESB Trad Bitter would not be a better option. Not bad, not great, so 3 stars.

Malt Shovel Nut Brown Ale by HonestJohn @ 16, May 2007
Average brown ale. I dunno, all homebrew brown ales seem to taste the same to me, and I'm yet to sample one that is actually brown, as opposed to chocolate or mahoganey. Must be something to do with the malt extract process darkening the original syrup. Nothing very nutty about it either. Also lacks freshness, probably from sitting on wharf in Auckland, crossing the Tasman in a container, and then sitting on Melbourne's docks waiting to be unpacked. Take my advice, at least swap the yeast out for a fresher pack, or just buy a locally made kit. I'd give it 2 & 1/2 stars but they don't allow that, so 3.

E.S.B Special Traditional bitter by HonestJohn @ 15, May 2007
Not bad. Probably the best bitter (pun intended) you can get from a can of goo and just following the instructions. Comparable to Coopers IPA in end result, except it's less effort becuase there are no extras to add and mix. Best choice for the lazy brewer.

Malt Shovel Oatmeal Stout by HonestJohn @ 15, May 2007
Makes a half-way decent stout, although I really think you'd have to start adding sutff to get that really chewy mouthfeel. Smooth though, a bit like Sam Smiths. I said a bit, not a lot. Mine had a lactic aftertaste which I didn't particularly like. Don't know if it was my doing or the kit as sometimes such a flavour is desired in a stout. The beauty of this kit is, if you don't like it, you only have to drink 15 bottles of the stuff (11.5l)

Black Rock Lager by HonestJohn @ 15, May 2007
This stuff tastes like Birrells...you know, the canned beer-flavoured soft drink made under license by Coopers and sold in Woollies. No, wait a minute, I think Birrells has more flavour, and it doesn't give you a head ache. This is the sort of stuff that gives home brew a bad name. I'm off Black Rock for good now. They represent a triumph of marketing over substance. Won't be fooled again!!!!

Black Rock East India Pale Ale by HonestJohn @ 15, May 2007
They've got a nerve calling this IPA...even calling it beer is taking a liberty. You cannot make IPA from a can kit of this stuff with 1kg of dextrose. Heck, you can't even make beer! Gives Black Rock a bad name. On to the next one.

Morgans Blue Mountain Lager by HonestJohn @ 07, May 2007
Ah. Morgan's Blue Mountain. Best Home Brew lager on the market. Nuff said. What I like about Morgan's is they're unpretentious (take note, Malt Shovel!). Must go with the Queensland territory. Try it with a proper lager yeast. But even with the kit yeast it's OK, although really more a dinner ale than a proper lager. A good Aussie tradition, dinner ales! Why would you want to risk it with imported lagers that have spent 3 months in a container on a dock in Dubai when you can have this fresh from the local maker? (No, they don't employ me, but I'm open to offers) One of my few unqualified recommendations. (Not a "great" beer, mind you, but consistent and drinkable. No mean feat in homebrewland).

Morgans Golden Sheaf Wheat Beer by HonestJohn @ 07, May 2007
Really, unless you're German and it's part of your national heritage, why drink this stuff? Beer for the new, womanly man (anybody out there read James Joyce?), that's what it is. Having said that, this is not a bad example. As HonestJohn likes to be objective, he'll give it a 4. The one home brew beer style where dextrose adds, rather than substracts from the end result. Just say your brewing it for your wife. Real men drink bitter.

Malt Shovel Two-Row Lager by honestjohn @ 07, May 2007
He's back. The reviewer who strikes fear into the hearts of goo producers everywhere. If Passiona (you know, the soft drink that used to come in purple cans) were a beer, this would be it. Now I know this is trendy and uses boutique hops and all that, but it's just not my cup of, er , beer flavoured soft drink. Presumably based on Mac's Gold All Malt Lager. I dunno, if you like it go ahead and experiment. Can't fault them for the hops in the can, though - nice to see portions of whole hops in the goo rather than the ubiquitous invisible isohop extract. Deserve an extra star for that.

Wander Draught by HonestJohn @ 07, May 2007
HonestJohn doesn't like being unkind. So I won't recommend this to any customers out there and suggest that if it comes with a Wander Home Brewery in a box you toss it out and go to your local HBS (Home Brew Shop) for some advice instead -save yourself a lot of effort that will only lead to heartache (and flatulence). Only mildly resembles beer. Alcoholic lolly water. I believe they also make Ovaltine, which I prefer to this.

Muntons Barley Wine by HonestJohn @ 07, May 2007
It's not that Munton's don't know how to produce good beer kits. They do. Which means there is no excuse for this. Tastes for all the world like Toohey's Old mixed with Coke - which is not what an English Old Ale/Barley Wine is supposed to taste like. If they were an Australian company I'd have them for false advertising. Barley Wine indeed. Buy a generic "Old" kit, halve the amount of water, and get the same result. Rip off!!

Black Rock Lager by HonestJohn @ 07, May 2007
This is s***e. Gives lager a bad name. Anton Dreher will be rolling in his grave. Steer clear unless you are using as the most basic of bases for a recipe and there is nothing better available to you. They really should be ashamed to put this stuff out. Birrell's has more beer flavour!!

Coopers India Pale Ale (IPA) by honestjohn @ 07, May 2007
HonestJohn is fearless when it comes to rating his brews. I only brew according to the instructions, to rate the can and not the brewer's skill at concocting recipes. This way you get an "honest" appraisal of the kit contents. This is not a bad brew, actually. Tastes like an IPA should, although you'd want to like the style to like this. That being said, I do like it. So I give it a 4. Truly deserves it. Tastes like 50% of the English bottled bitters you can get in your local Dan Murphy's. A bit rough, after the style of the London bitters, but enjoyable nonetheless, and considerably cheaper! Kudos to Messrs Coopers & Co. for producing a really decent kit!!

Malt Shovel Pale Ale by honestjohn @ 07, May 2007
OK. First up -nothing to do with Malt Shovel. If you've rung MSB to complain about this brew and wondered why they know nothig, it's because it's based on Lion Nathan NZ stable-mate "Mac's Sassy Red". The spiel on the can is just a marketing ploy. So what we have here is an attempt at an English style Pale Ale with Saaz hops. Just doesn't work. Not worth the cover charge. Unless you absolutely MUST brew only in 11.5l batches, in which case you'll want to add some crystal and extra hops for some FLAVOUR! Not bad, nothing offensive, just not good.