first time brewing
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Guest
first time brewing
Just a few quick questions related to my first brew with a coopers micro-brew kit. Has been sitting at a constant temp of 24degrees C and started bubbling around 4hours after the fermenter was sealed for the first time. Wondering if all is going to plan at this stage and what we can expect the final product to taste like. Its the plain lager from the kit and was done stock standard as per instructions. Is this temperature alright, and is there any other tips from anyone regarding this or any future brews. Thanks a lot.
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Oliver
- Administrator
- Posts: 3424
- Joined: Thursday Jul 22, 2004 1:22 am
- Location: West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Sounds like all is going fine.
Despite what the instructions say, try and get the temperature down to between 18C and 22C. Ideal would be about 20C. But 24C is not the end of the world. It's just that higher temperatures produce more undesirable flavors.
As for tips for future brews, I'd have a browse of the forum, looking at suggestions people have for using liquid/dried malt, hops, grains or other ingredients to vary the recipe.
Perhaps try a search.
Cheers,
Oliver
Despite what the instructions say, try and get the temperature down to between 18C and 22C. Ideal would be about 20C. But 24C is not the end of the world. It's just that higher temperatures produce more undesirable flavors.
As for tips for future brews, I'd have a browse of the forum, looking at suggestions people have for using liquid/dried malt, hops, grains or other ingredients to vary the recipe.
Perhaps try a search.
Cheers,
Oliver
My first few kits didnt taste anything special, but I seem to have found a recipe that always tastes good (well 4 out of 4 times now).
Coopers Pale Ale Tin and supplied yeast
Coopers Brew Enchancer 2
500ml of honey
10-15g of cascade hops
(I'm going to start playing around with hops to see what different tastes they make)
Coopers Pale Ale Tin and supplied yeast
Coopers Brew Enchancer 2
500ml of honey
10-15g of cascade hops
(I'm going to start playing around with hops to see what different tastes they make)
Just keep in mind that you won't get the best beer ever on your first try.
If you want really nice tasty kits you'll have to get away from the cheapo options, in my opinion.
Have a look at ESB 3Kgs or 15Kgs packs, Grumpy's masterbrews (bloody yummy even in the fermenter) or Malt Shovel kits, or maybe the top of the range coopers + LME, I haven't tried those.
I think there's only so much you can tweak out of a tin of coopers and the enhancer #2 pack.
check them out:
http://esbeer.com.au
Grumpy's masterbrews (free shipping over $100 order if not in SA I think)
http://www.grumpys.com.au/phpshop/?page ... 5b5c02ce3c
Or go the grain steeping + extract + 60 minutes boil route.
I've just put my second grumpy's to ferment, first one is racked ready to bottle, and both taste great even now. I've tried the Irish Red ESB 15Kgs pack, and it is damn beautiful. I've also done an extract recipe, pretty nice too. But all of those were more expensive - well worth it.
If you want really nice tasty kits you'll have to get away from the cheapo options, in my opinion.
Have a look at ESB 3Kgs or 15Kgs packs, Grumpy's masterbrews (bloody yummy even in the fermenter) or Malt Shovel kits, or maybe the top of the range coopers + LME, I haven't tried those.
I think there's only so much you can tweak out of a tin of coopers and the enhancer #2 pack.
check them out:
http://esbeer.com.au
Grumpy's masterbrews (free shipping over $100 order if not in SA I think)
http://www.grumpys.com.au/phpshop/?page ... 5b5c02ce3c
Or go the grain steeping + extract + 60 minutes boil route.
I've just put my second grumpy's to ferment, first one is racked ready to bottle, and both taste great even now. I've tried the Irish Red ESB 15Kgs pack, and it is damn beautiful. I've also done an extract recipe, pretty nice too. But all of those were more expensive - well worth it.
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Guest
Thanks guys for all your help. Ive started with no knowledge at all and have already learnt a stack just from reading through your posts. By the sounds of it the next step for a newcomer like myself would be to swap the sugar that comes with the kit and add some malt extracts/honey etc. Also maybe try a better quality yeast.
I started the wort 3days ago and its pretty much stopped fermenting in my opinion, bottling is planned for sunday (i know about secondary fermentation, but its a first kit, might not taste flash anyway) so we're gonna get it into bottles reasonably soon. Took a gravity reading 3days after beginning, its sitting at 1011ish. First 2.5 days it was at 24degrees but i have taken off the insulation now and its resting at around 20degrees. I feel im doing ok.
I started the wort 3days ago and its pretty much stopped fermenting in my opinion, bottling is planned for sunday (i know about secondary fermentation, but its a first kit, might not taste flash anyway) so we're gonna get it into bottles reasonably soon. Took a gravity reading 3days after beginning, its sitting at 1011ish. First 2.5 days it was at 24degrees but i have taken off the insulation now and its resting at around 20degrees. I feel im doing ok.