Malt Shovel Pale Ale

Poxy by Andrew @ 22, Jan 2008
This was one of the most disappointing kits I've ever done and it's not cheap when you consider the small volume that they recommend a can be made to. Made to recipe exactly and just gammy. Tastes like bananas. Never, ever again.

Surprised by FazerPete @ 12, Jun 2007
I've read negative things about this brew but got offered 2 cans by the HB shop at a very low price so I thought I'd try it. Mixed up two cans with 20g cascade and S-04 yeast in 21 lt. Fermented at 19c for 7 days then kegged. I was expecting a pretty bland brew but it's nicely hoppy and could almost pass for an APA. It's way too dark for a pale ale but the head is good and it's got good reviews from the mates.

saazy red! 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.

Bland! by pacman - Email Reviewer @ 02, Dec 2006
Put down 24/08/06 in MS fermenter to volume of 11.5L. Steeped Morgans Fuggles hop bag for 10 min, & added the lot to wort, plus Safale S-04 dry pitched @ 24degC. Brewed 18-20degC. OG 1040, FG 1014, = low alc! Bland & boring & rated @ 13/20. Not on my to do again list.

Bonza Brew by Tipsy Mcstagger - Email Reviewer @ 20, Sep 2006
put the brew down with two cans plus an extra can of amber liquid malt. added 25g of POR hops boiled for 20mins plus some cascade for 3mins. used the yeast that came with the can. left in fermenter for 3 weeks then in bottle for 10 weeks. fantastic!

Pale Ale Redux by the professor - Email Reviewer @ 10, Sep 2006
2nd go, as I thought there was a good ale in this kit somewhere -the challenge is to coax it out. Kit, 50gms crystal malt grain steeped, 1 plug East Kent Goldings hops added to this, 125 gm mix malt, dextrose, maltodextrine, volume 11 litres, Saf K-97 German Ale yeast. The yeast gives a cleaner, less fruity flavour, the crystal adds some depth and the hops some character. Hardly recognisable from the first go. Cleaner, more complex, after the style of a German Alt.

Not Happy Jan by Silk - Email Reviewer @ 08, Dec 2005
This was average to bad Kit. Careful modifying this one. Done to the letter it is a bit bland and well... a nothing beer not like there commercial beer at all. no delicate florals or late hop flavours. This one isn't exciting and not a standard. Modified it was aweful. I was so careful to use supporting hops and malts to the style and followed temps and instructions on kit closely. Made a double kit (23 litres).

Perfect First Time by Grunner - Email Reviewer @ 03, Oct 2005
Did the Pale Ale about a month ago. Took approximately 1 week to fully ferment. Followed instructions on the tin to the letter including using the supplied yeast. During bottling beer did smell funny but tasting after three weeks of bottling was quite surprising. I'm not good at describing tastes but this beer has definetely made it into my christmans party collection.

disappointing by the professor - Email Reviewer @ 20, Jul 2005
Made up to 11.5 litres. Safale yeast. Fermented at 21 celsius. OG 1.040 FG 1.014 At six weeks: colour exactly right for style: deep amber with hints of ruby; carbonation OK, finely beaded; good head; little malt or hop aroma. Taste is bland. More an 'ordinary' bitter than a PA. Slightly rough - could be from the kit hops. Not to the same standard as others in this range. Disappointing considering price of the kit.

Pretty darn good by Nudge - Email Reviewer @ 21, Feb 2005
Took 2 weeks to finish fermenting, bottled and consumed after 3 weeks. Nothing to rave about, very little head, lightly carbonated. Had a 44 degree day where one bottle exploded in my shed with an almighty bang. Thought my beer might be off, chilled and drank. Turns out it's one of the best ones I have done so far. Maybe it needed the ultra heat treatment. Doesn't have that distinct homebrew aftertaste, very nice, improving with age.