AWESOME !!

This was the second brew I attempted.  I brewed this and bottle it. Started drinking and sharing it about 1 month ago.  I really just want to keep it to myself but I've shared it with several of my friends and everyone has the same reaction...can I get some more.  Need to brew another one and keg it, it will certainly be a staple beer in my kegs !  You'll fall in love the first time you drink this.

First time brewer - turned out great

I purchased this kit from a local brewing store here in Ottawa. It's a little pricier than the other kits, but requires zero preparation - just pour it into a pail, pitch the yeast, and let it ferment. This was the first time I home-brewed anything. The Festa Brew Brown Ale turned out fantastic. Better than I dared to hope. While I've never brewed before, I am quite well versed in various microbrews and craft brews - I know my way around beer, and know a good beer from a bad one. This stuff turned out on level with many craft brown ales that I've had, and in fact, better than many of them. Another friend of mine who also knows his craft brews tried it and said, "This is craft brew quality right here." 

I can't take credit for it myself. Obviously, the quality of ingredients and preparation of the wort before it even gets to the store shelf is what makes the difference. I was really careful with sanitation every step of the way. Other than that, it was all up to the wort and the yeast to produce the results. And it exceeded my expecations. I've seen it compared favourably with Newcastle elsewhere, and I must concur, it is perhaps more like Newcastle than anything else I've tried, and honestly I don't think it's inferior in any way. 

I left it in the primary for only 3 days. For the first day and a half, I had a space heater in the room, and kept the temperature at about 78-80 F to make sure the yeast got a good start. By the end of day 3, the head had collapsed already. I then transferred into a glass carboy, being careful to leave the trub at the bottom. I left it in the carboy, with the room ranging from 68-72, for another 11 days. Then transferred to bottling bucket - once again leaving the trub at the bottom - added 142 grams of priming sugar mixed with a cup of boiling water, and bottled into 750 ml swing tops. 3 weeks later, it had carbed beautifully. I've already drunk 5 bottles in 3 days (not by myself). Will be transferring to the basement to store at cellar temp tonight. I can't wait to start my next batch. I think I'll try the Festa Brew Cream Ale next. For anyone thinking of starting out, start out with this stuff. It is top notch.

 I should remark on how clear and clean this beer turned out. There is a tiny bit of sediment at the bottom of the bottles, but it does not come out with the beer when poured. And I got this result without "cold crashing". I had no place to cold crash, and was concerned I'd be stuck with cloudy, murky "yeasty" beer with floaters. Nothing of the sort. The beer is amazingly clear, and there are no funky "off" or after-tastes at all. This gushing review probably sounds like a fake endorsement from someone at the company. I assure you it is not. I am just a first-time home brewer in Ottawa, and could not be happier with the results. 

Great Beer

I will concur with PEI Home Brewer that this is one of the best browns I have ever made. It's a staple in my kegerators, and bottle conditions exceptionally well. My American Brown Ale (Brewhouse Munich Dark w/Fest West Coast US 05 slurry) is the only one I have ever fermented that rivals and at times - beats this one. These beers are like having a harem - so much beauty and variety it's hard to be pleased with just one - although like a beer sultan, I do have my favourites! Modding and hacking has become necessary, and ultimately might lead me back to cooking my own recipes again. Might...maybe...

Fantastic

I've bought and made two of these kits over the winter and absolutely loved them.  What a deliciously malty beer, well balanced and easy drinking.  I've introduced it to a few people who had never had anything beyond pale lagers and they couldn't get over how approachable it was and how "not dark" it tasted.  I fermented at 18 degree for 1 week and then racked to a secondary for 2 weeks in order to clear it before kegging.

Superb brown ale

Brewed with kit yeast (Nottingham) at 21Celsius. One week primary, one week secondary. Left in bottles for 4 weeks before sampling; one of the best brown ales I've ever had (commercial or otherwise). Nice caramel sweetness with a hint of nutty character. Won't disappoint.