Cooper's Lager, hopping and yeast questions....

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Immy's Dad

Cooper's Lager, hopping and yeast questions....

Post by Immy's Dad » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:39 pm

So I have to brew some lager for the doris and father in law but I'd like to be able to enjoy it (or a little bit) too so I was wondering:

1. What the Cooper's lager like? Is it just your bog standard light stuff or does it have more substance?

2. I have some Hellertau hops that I got on the cheap, would you suggest a bit of dry hopping?

3. The yeast that came with the kit is only about 6 grams, it's obviously not lager yeast, could I substitute anything else? (I don't have the ability to cool ferment really so would another ale yeast do?) I have windsor, gervin and Safale 04.

4. I have bought some 50/50 spray malt and brewing sugar mix and was thinging of using this rather than just spray malt, just to give it a lighter feel. Is this the way to go?

Cheers chaps! 8)

sparky Paul

Post by sparky Paul » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:43 pm

I reckon the Coopers Lager kits are about the best out there. With a few hops, they make a very decent attempt at a commercial-style lager.

They have quite a good hop flavour for a canned kit, but the addition of the hops do hit the spot, and you can be quite enthusiastic. I've been using Saaz to good effect, but your Halletauer should be great too...

This is my M.O... Fill the can with boiling water to dissolve the extract left after emptying the can into the fv. Put two can fulls in a pan, add 10-15g hops and boil for 15 minutes or so. Remove from heat and add 15-20g as the pan cools. Leave for 20-30 mins before straining into the fv through a sterilised sieve. If the hops are very fresh use less, if old use more. The basic idea was DaaB's, and once you have a taste for how many hops you need to add, it works very well.

AFAIK, the yeast supplied by Coopers is Safale, I usually use the supplied yeast and it seems to work okay. I did read on the Aussie forum that it was a mix of Safale and Saflager for the Lager Kits, but I would have thought that was unlikely.

I think anywhere between 50% and 75% Light Spraymalt is fine. Using 100% Spraymalt makes a good beer, but it's not like commercial lagers - too heavy on the palate.

Carbonate as much as you dare, I add 1 tsp sugar per pint to 2 litre PET bottles, but they need refridgerating before opening. :wink:

Edited for spelling... :roll:
Last edited by sparky Paul on Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:04 am, edited 1 time in total.

Immy's Dad

Post by Immy's Dad » Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:36 pm

Thanks for the info chaps, think I'll try running up a starter with the kit yeast and do a wee bit of steeping as per Sparky's idea.

I know it has to be bland, but I wouldn't mind it having a bit of flavour! Tally ho! :D

pongobilly

Post by pongobilly » Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:45 am

think i might give a lager a go, can the coopers be fermented at ale temps, as i dont have anywhere cool enough to brew at lager temps or is it just better to get some safale04 and brew with that

sparky Paul

Post by sparky Paul » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:28 am

pongobilly wrote:think i might give a lager a go, can the coopers be fermented at ale temps, as i dont have anywhere cool enough to brew at lager temps or is it just better to get some safale04 and brew with that
Yes, normal ale temps, the supplied Coopers yeast is Safale anyway.

I use the supplied yeast and the lager turns out surprisingly well with the extra hopping.

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