Suggestions on Improving two MR BEER kits ?

[Banjo-guy]

Hey guys. I'm back on the board after a brief break to deal with a family member's addiction problem. I think I can brew again without messing up her recovery.

I have two Mr. Beer HME kits.

1. Patriot Lager
2. American Classic Light.

Most of the Mr. Kits can be greatly improved with additional extract,different yeast, dry hopping,and steeping grains.
Could I get some suggestions on how to add some ingredients that I have on hand to improve these two kits?
I could buy some yeast, hops,grains ect ... if I need to.

Here are the ingredients that I have.
Extracts :
1. MB Patriot Lager - hopped LME
2. MB American Classic Light-hopped LME
3. 1 lbs. Amber dried malt extract- color EBC 18, Lovibond 7

Hops
1 oz German Hallertau Alpha Acid-4.5, Beta acid- B 5.2
.5 oz Cascade Alpha- 5.2 , Beta-6.2

Yeast.
1 packet US-50 ( 11.50 grams )
3 packets MB from under

Grains.
.75 lbs Weyermann Cara Red
.75 Weyermann Caramunich III

Adjuncts
Coriander, Grains of Paradise, Orange peel.

I could lager because I have a mini fridge and a temperature controller.


It's great to get the brain thinking about brewing again. I missed all of you!

Thanks for any suggestions.

[monsteroyd]

Well, I just did a Patriot + CAL together in one LBK. I haven't bottled this yet, so I don't know how it's going to turn out.

Monty

[FrozenInTime]

Very glad to hear it's going well with you! I hope she is doing well on her recovery. I will try a suggestion with what you have but my strike out rate is high so take it with a grain of salt.

Early Fall session brewski:
MB American Classic Light
1 lb Amber dried malt extract
I know u want to do with what u have, but can u get some carapils? 1/4 lb of carapils, steeped @ ~155 for 30 minutes (head & retention) If u cann't get any at the moment, pm me your addy and I will grind up some and send it too you, I have extra.
1/4 oz Cascade @ T-30
1/4 oz Cascade @ T-7
2 packs of fromunda

I'm thunkin, do you have access to some pumpkin? A can, or 12 ounces of fresh pie pumpkin and a couple spices, this might make a pretty decent autumn pumpkin ale? just my 1 cents worth of thunkin... (ouch)

I DID NOT run this past qbrew so I would do so first.

[Banjo-guy]

Carapils is something that seems to improve every brew.
That's really nice of you to offer to send me some.
I might have to put in an order for other ingredients so I will put Carapils on the list. Thanks for your ideas and offer.
I'm hoping to get some more ideas and then sit down with qbrew before I brew.

The Mr. Beer site has a recipe that combines both LMEs as Monty suggested. I could do that but I'd rather get two different batches out of it.

[madman960]

FIT;

Do you mind if I use this recipe with my Classic American Blonde? How much water should I steep the grains in?

Thanks;

Bill

[jimjohson]

i usually use 2 qts for a steep. seems to work