My first Coopers (God help me...)

[timothio]

Just started my first Coopers brew, plain old Coopers Lager. I've had the kit a few weeks now, but I've been too scared to get it going...

Couple of things...

First off, I made it up using 1.5 kg BKE and 300 gms sugar, and as a precaution, only to the 20 litre mark on my FV. Should I prepare for an explosion of biblical proportions, or am I running in safe mode? I'm hoping my over-use of fermentables will make it up to the 4.5 - 5.0 % mark (havent taken a hydrometer reading yet, only just got the wort mixed so need to let it cool for a wee while).

Second, I'm probably gonna make it up to the full 23 litre mark after said explosion subsides, when I do this should I give it a good old full on stir, or just a tickle to get the extra water mixed in? I dont wanna disturb anything I shouldnt be disturbing...

I got some hops dirt cheap on e-bay yesterday (from a post in the hops section of the forum), also some saflager yeast, just waiting for them to be delivered now. My master plan is for this brew to be my "control", and further Coopers Lager brews to have different hops added in various chunks to see how they turn out. To be honest I dont have a damn clue what I'm doing, or what flavours the hops I bought will actually impart to the brew, but I'm lovin it! I'm havin a whale of a time with all this hopping nonsense! Even if my brews end up tasting of excrement, as long as I make them alcoholic enough for my liking I'm sure they'll all get drunk...

Lets all raise a glass to uneducated experimentation!!

Whoop whoop!!

[Titanium Tone]

Dont forget if it turns out good to post th recipe in the (Adapted kits recipe) link. TT.

[sparky Paul]

I made it up using 1.5 kg BKE and 300 gms sugar, and as a precaution, only to the 20 litre mark on my FV. Should I prepare for an explosion of biblical proportions, or am I running in safe mode? I'm hoping my over-use of fermentables will make it up to the 4.5 - 5.0 % mark

You shouldn't have a problem with the lager kit foaming up, it's the darker Coopers kits which give the real problems. I would just make it up to 5 gallons at the start. With 1.8Kg of added dry fermentables, expect a beer of around 5.5%, maybe a bit higher.

[timothio]

Cheers Paul, just whacked in some more water and took a reading, 1050 or thereabouts. Should be 5.2 ish % if it gets down to 1010 like all my other kits have. Maybe a lil bit strong, but not too far off the mark. Time to pitch the yeast! (Can I send you the cleaning bill if all goes a bit tits up?!!)

Dont forget if it turns out good to post th recipe in the (Adapted kits recipe) link. TT.

Thats a very big IF, but yes I will post if I get something actually pleasant from my experimentation...

[sparky Paul]

A drop of 40 points will give you an ABV of 5.4%, plus around 0.2% from the priming sugar - 5.6% total.

Can I send you the cleaning bill if all goes a bit tits up?

Sorry, all advice comes without warranty of any kind.

I've done quite a lot of these Coopers Sparkling Ale, Pale Ale and Lager kits, and never had any nasty incidents... yet.

The Coopers Stouts and Dark Ale are a very different matter...

[timothio]

5.6% total.

Ooh eck... Perhaps I shouldnt've been so generous with the sugar... Oh well, live n learn! Maybe I'll have to do another batch to be my "control"... More beer in my cupboard, such a chore...

[gaztop]

timothio,

Really interested to see how this went for you, I have a coopers pale ale brew day pencilled in for next week.
Any chance of any pics?

Are you still going to top it up to the 23l mark?

[sparky Paul]

Ooh eck... Perhaps I shouldnt've been so generous with the sugar...

It's a great kit, and will stand the strength. You will find that it will not reach its best for a few months though.

[timothio]

timothio,

Really interested to see how this went for you, I have a coopers pale ale brew day pencilled in for next week.
Any chance of any pics?

Are you still going to top it up to the 23l mark?

Hi Gaztop,

All going well so far, I made it up to the full 23 litres before pitching the yeast (on Sparky's advice), 12 hours after pitching the foam was right up to the lid of the FV, but so far its a no-blow (thank god!). We'll see if anything changes in the next few hours...

It's a great kit, and will stand the strength. You will find that it will not reach its best for a few months though.

Chances are I'll never taste it at its best then!! I have no self control...

[timothio]

so far its a no-blow (thank god!).

Ha! I spoke too soon... Its blown!!

[sparky Paul]

so far its a no-blow (thank god!).

Ha! I spoke too soon... Its blown!!

You're not using a sealed fermenter and a trap are you?

I just leave the bucket cracked open, and have no problems with the light beers.

[timothio]

You're not using a sealed fermenter and a trap are you?

I just leave the bucket carcked open, and have no problems with the light beers.

I was using a sealed FV, until it started resembling the millennium dome and had crazy foam seeping out from round the edges of the lid...

I've since unsealed it and have just left the lid loosely on top - the lid is now sitting on top a layer of foam about an inch above the top of the FV! I jus cant seem to keep the bugger down!! (Is this gonna be OK? I'm a little worried about nasties finding their way in there the way it is at the moment... But dont really know what else to do?)

I'm guessing my explosion is a case of too much sugar, plus Coopers yeast. Seems this combination will turn even the most well behaved kits into monsters!

[sparky Paul]

A good yeasty head should keep out anything nasty.

How warm is it where you have the fermenter?

[Ady1975]

Don't worry, mine did the same and I only used 1KG of BKE
nothing got in and the lager turned out great, gets better the longer I leave it but i reckon it'd be even better if I could leave it longer.
I started brewing to save money but it seems i'm just brewing all the time and drinking more!!
it's gonna end up costing me a fortune in bigger clothes for me beer belly!!

[FlourPower]

Did my first coopers stout the other week. Made it to 20L in a bucket that takes 23L to the top and had no problems. Tried it last night after 1 week conditioning. Once you get past the green taste it's not half bad!