This kit with extract and steeping grains performed well. It was one of the easiest beers I'd made in over a year. I remember how relatively easy steeping and extract brewing were before converting to "all-grain" brewing, over a year ago. This brew day was quicker, and with steep and batch sparge, the O.G. came in slightly better than expected (unlike some of my all-grain adventures). I would suggest trying the "Palmer method" of modified extract boiling in very light extract recipes. John Palmer suggests adding 1/4 of the extract in at the beginning of the boil, with the bittering hops, and the last 3/4 at the last 10 minutes of the boil, to reduce the (Maillard reactions) darkening that occurs especially in partial boil extract recipes. I didn't do this, and the finished ale came out a little darker than expected. No big problem, I just labeled it "Texas Dark Blonde Summer Ale"; it tasted better than any summer ale I've made before. Definitely a home run in the home brew department, in my book.
