The Coopers Explosion!

[WishboneBrewery]

Are you drinking the IPA yet, whats it like?

I'm looking forward to the dark ale too, though I'll probably do it with either light or medium Spray malt.

[Mogwyth]

Bit lightweight compared to the dk and stout but still very nice. Think it is more a summer beer gonna go down great when we get some barby weather.

[WishboneBrewery]

It'll be nice an refreshing, should we get a summer!!

[softlad]

That'll be the things, mate. Though I couldn't get a look at that one. My vile, Vodafone 3G " connection " has decided it's time I read a book till about 01:00 (I'm actively working on regaining Real 'Broad Band', as of today. Watch this space).

Just out of interest; How much are they? I find most things to do with Bunding are silly money. Maybe a kiddies blow up paddling pool would be better?

Sorry Ditch - just seen this

Theyre about £160 a throw for the single drum bund. The paddling pool sounds a more cost effective option.

[WishboneBrewery]

Theyre about £160 a throw for the single drum bund. The paddling pool sounds a more cost effective option.

Wouldn't a really large Roasting Tin be cheaper?!

[lollypopp]

What do you have to do? to make that brew turn into the THING? so that when I do mine, I can hopfully avoid her in doors killing me?

[WishboneBrewery]

Have a bigger FV bucket and a nice THICK towel under it... You could always buy a cheap washing up bowl to stand it in
or suffer the wrath!!!

[jimjamjamie0]

Just put my first "ditchs stout" in the fv but made it up to 20lt rather than the 23 in the hope that there will be enough space.

will see how it goes and not sure yet if i should make up to 23 later or just leave it as a slightly thicker brew??

will keep ya all posted

jamie

[Ditch]

Jamie; My money's on 20 Lts I like my medium malt and that keeps the 'Thickness' under control. But, Coopers Stout isn't an earth shatteringly strong (abv) brew. A crafty couple of litres less shouldn't hurt.

[jimjamjamie0]

ok i'll leave it at the 20lt, ive done it with 1kg of medium dme and nothing else.

by the sounds of things this is gonna have to be a regular brew to do so will just leave as is and adjust next time if need be.

jamie

[PrayBoy]

Alright? New here...I wish I'd found this thread last week - I put a Coopers Dark Ale together yesterday with 1kg Light Spraymalt, got the supplied yeast started in a separate half-pint mug, etc, and thought it was all under control 8 hours later with a half-inch head. Come this morning the lid had flew off the 'handy' airlock and there was a nice ooze of froth all over the cupboard floor. No real damage, and another lesson learned. It's only my 2nd brew mind so I'm sure there's more lessons to come.

I've now got the FV in another plastic box to catch the spill, and maybe use less water next time.

How did 20L work out for you jimjamjamie0?

[Birdy]

Brewed my coopers stout in the larger 33ltr bin the lid bulged a bit and some froth escaped the air lock but the bin held it well,the only trouble with mine is i binned it friday night , had very lively saturday, then sunday as flat as a fluke,the reading over sunday and today is 1.010 has it finished fermenting in 2 days,? has it stuck? or is it still fermenting? anyone had similar experiance? getting a bit worried now in case its failed, on verge of chucking it

Cheers

[jimjamjamie0]

[quote]How did 20L work out for you jimjamjamie0/quote]

The 20l worked out just dandy, the foam came right up to the lid and a fraction more liquid and it would have burst through.

it sure was the most active ferment i have seen from a kit.

been drinking the black stuff the day after kegging and it really is amazing how quick this stuff is ready, gonna start another asap.

jamie

[nik_g]

on verge of chucking it

Woah there! I wouldn't suggest chucking it before you've tried it - it might be fine!

Firstly, the gravity sounds fine to me - 1.010 is a very reasonable FG, beer will be not too dry with reasonable body. If you've used spraymalt then don't forget that this won't get completely fermented and will therefore finish a bit higher than a kit made with sugar. In fact, this is a benefit of using spraymalt instead of sugar - all the sugar gets eaten so you end up with a drier beer, whereas some of the more complex (unfermentable) sugars in spraymalt remain, giving the beer better flavour and body.

As far as the 2 day ferment goes, it does sound fast but not necessarily that bad (what temperature was it fermenting at?). The only way to find out for sure is to taste it! Once you're happy the fermentation is finished then I'd go ahead and bottle/keg it, maybe have a quality control sample while you do so Unless it tastes of vinegar then stick with it, if it's not to your taste straight away then see how it develops over the next few days/weeks.

I'm currently drinking a Coopers Stout made with 500g Dark SM and 500g Medium SM (well not drinking it right now, you know what I mean ) and I think it's great! It was very good straight after kegging and has got even better over the last couple of weeks. Lovely 'roasty' flavour, and great body/mouthfeel (mine finished at around 1.014 - on the verge of being too high, but as I understand it not unreasonable with 100% spraymalt)

Don't give up yet - keep the faith!

[Birdy]

Thanks for all that advise nic,feel a bit more optimistic now,think i will give it 2 more days to make sure it's finished then i'll bottle it and keep my fingers crossed .

Cheers