Steps to brewing canned beer (need help)

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userBeer

Steps to brewing canned beer (need help)

Post by userBeer » Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:33 pm

I have only tried a can beer once before but was a while back, just need some reminding about a few things :D

I am buying a "lager beer" (LME) can - which i assume is not a real lager but still ferments at ale temps.

Now i'm pretty sure i need to also add enhancer maybe 1kg....or should i add DME instead, what is difference between DME and enhancer, just flavour?

So basically i sterilise everyting properly, i then add can contents(LME) to thr fermentation bin, i fill up with warm water, ideally at about 20-23deg, i make a yeast starter with the yeast that came with can and then add it to bin, i stirr well for a min and then add the lid/airlock. Then after about 1 week when the fermentation has stopped i add some finnings and wait a couple more days for it to clear, i then syphon into bottles, add a teaspoon of sugar to each bottle and let sit for about 1 week?

Is this about right?

Thanks for any advice.

Zephiacus

Re: Steps to brewing canned beer (need help)

Post by Zephiacus » Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:57 pm

This gives you a really good step by step guide!
http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/kits.htm
As for the difference betweed dried malt extract and brew kit enhancher is that brew kit enhancer is about 50/50 dme and brewing sugar(glucose), it'll add a bit more body than just using sugar but a bit less colour than malt extract, best bet is once you've got your kit read what they reccomend in the instructions, all would work fine.
And if you haven't already got your kit I can reccomend the coopers kits(they have a couple lagers), or the brewferm 'pils' kit which i've tasted before and works great!

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Re: Steps to brewing canned beer (need help)

Post by Shadowknight » Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:00 pm

For your first kit, I would probably suggest sticking as close to the instructions as possible. Keep it simple and all that.
As you get more kits under your belt then introduce modifications and additions. You'll see the difference in end product.
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Re: Steps to brewing canned beer (need help)

Post by Marshbrewer » Thu Apr 14, 2011 2:00 pm

+1 for Coopers, I like the Canadian Blonde (and I don't mean the one living down the road), but I haven't had a kit from Coopers that didn't produce decent results yet, unlike certain other manufacturers. Bruferm kits are also good, in my opinion, but take much longer to mature ~ perhaps one to try after you've got a few under your belt. I'd also stay away from the Coopers European Lager and CooperHeritige Lager kits for the same reason ~ i.e. they take longer and need lower temps, so perhaps one to try when your confidence is a bit greater, although they are both cracking kits. Its (the Canadian Blonde) a few quid more than your bargain basement kits, but not much, and on a cost per pint basis, it's nowt. Make it up with 1kg of Muntons or Coopers brew enhancer and you'll end up with a nice brew. I wouldn't add 1Kg of dried malt extract to a lager style kit unless the manufacturers specifically reccomend it, as in my (very limited) experience, you need a bit of simple sugars to get that slightly 'thinner' / lighter lager taste.

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Re: Steps to brewing canned beer (need help)

Post by dunc » Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:07 am

Coopers kits are excellent - follow the instructions and you can't go wrong, and the yeast is very reliable. You're best off using enhancer rather than spraymalt (DME) with a lager kit IMO, unless you like em full bodied and sweeter.
Fermenting: nowt
Conditioning: Headcracker, Brewmaker Northumberland Brown, Brewmaker Export Bitter
Drinking: Coopers Euro Lager, Coopers Dark Ale, Hambleton Bard Amber Export, Coopers Aussie Pale Ale, Almondbury Old, Coopers Stout, Wherry w/Chinook
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