homebrewandbeer.com

Was walking through big-w and saw this on the shelf so I grabbed it (was $10). Is it close to the original? Is the yeast decent or should I get some safale? And lastly any little extras to make it taste more like the original?

Cheers

Thats a pretty little can

Uh, I was going to say the "h" word but maybe try 1 kilo of malt extract to replace the sugar and maybe 12 grams say Centennial hops as a finish.

250 grams of Crystal malt would be cool to, give it a nice red colour

Of course you still can't go wrong with 500 mls of honey

Dogger

I found this can came very close to the production version when I brewed with Half Kilo light dry malt extract, quater kilo each Dextrose and Maltodextrin. (Ultrabrew) and the yeast as supplied.

Greg.

I'd brew it with the yeast as supplied and the recommended Cooper's brew enhancer (or, as gregb suggests, 500g light malt and 250g each of dextrose and maltodextrin).

If you're not happy with the results, you can always add more malt and some hops next time.

A simple variation would be to make a yeast starter from a Cooper's bottle-conditioned ale and use that instead of the yeast as supplied.

Cheers,

Oliver

PS Sorry Dogger

I just brewed one of these cans today. I used the Coopers Brew Enhancer 2 and the supplied yeast as suggested in the instructions. I also added a little extra sugar to make it a bit stronger. Cant wait to see how it goes, from all reports this kit gets pretty close to the real thing

I've brewed five of these and just followed the directions, especially the Brew Enhancer no. 2. Makes a great smooth slightly sweet beer. Tastes close to the storebought stuff side by side

How much extra dextrose could you add? (I have a 1kg bag lying around I want to get rid of)

I also want to add about 500ml of honey, off to the homebrew shop now to get some light dry malt and maltodextrin.

Westbrew doesnt seem to stock the coopers brew enchancer (or anything coopers really ) but the guy reckoned their brew booster 15 is pretty much the same. Also picked up some cascade hops. Can anyone see anything obviously wrong with this before I try it..

Coopers pale ale tin and yeast
Westbrew brew booster 15 1kg
500ml honey
25g cascade hops (was thinking of just boiling them for 10 minutes and then straining into fermenter before I add cold water?)

That should be pretty nice, although 25g of extra Cascade might be too much. As I've said before, it's easier to add more hops next time than take away hops from this brew if you add too much.

Perhaps try half the 25g pack instead.

Let us know how it goes.

Cheers,

Oliver

Thanks for help will try about 10g of hops (should I be storing hop pellets in the fridge?)

Just gotta bottle my current little creatures from westbrew (has some white lumps which I think was the light malt not properly dissolved.. hopefully wont effect the taste too much :/)

Some say store them in the fridge. Others say the freezer.

Thoughts, anyone?

But either way, make sure the container is absolutely airtight, otherwise their life will be cut dramatically.

I store mine in the fridge in glass Moccona coffee jars, which have a really tight seal.

You're probably right about the small lumps of malt. Shouldn't affect taste though, I wouldn't think.

Cheers,

Oliver

Store your hops in the fridge in a couple of zip locks.

Don't store them in the freezer as is often suggested, The oxidize in a New York minute there. My HBS always suggested putting them in the freezer until I pointed out their freezer is at 4 deg and most mortals are at -22 deg

Dogger

Well have just tried a few of these and have to say its the best brew i've made yet and tastes better than the store version.

Gave my dad a taste and he agreed it was very nice.

I used the coopers pale ale tin and the westbrew brew enchancer with some cascade hops and 500ml of honey from my dads farm.

Looks like this product is a good un as most posts I've seen are very positive.
Finished drinking my pale ale and it was one of the better brews.
Made it with the Brew enhancer as recommended.
Is it like the commercial stuff??? Wouldn't have a clue as I usually buy the Sparkling.
Another is de rigueur.

My pale ale is not up to the standard as others are. I used the yeast supplied, and BE2. Followed the instructions, and have found that the aftertaste is somewhat tart. Seems to have begun to mellow after about a month in the bottle. The only thing I can think of as to why it turned out this way is that the temp may have been too high during fermentation. oh well, traps for young players.