Adapting a kit with hops for the first time

[SquireKnott]

Is the yeast crap with these Coopers APA kits?

I had concerns with the first batch but it seemed ok in the end and now this next one has only ever created an apologetic little froth and Krausen.

The Woodforde's Wherry I've just started, on the other hand, has raced away to a big proud head and dirty brown Krausen.

[Monkeybrew]

Is the yeast crap with these Coopers APA kits?

No it's not crap, just different.

The Coopers APA yeast is made up of an ale yeast and a lager yeast, where as the Wherry yeast is all ale yeast.

Differences in fermentation temperature between the brews can also have an affect on yeast performance, as well as the yeasts best before date and also how the yeast has been stored/handled before it gets to you.

I always remove the dried yeast from a kit as soon as I get it home, and store it in the fridge.

Cheers

MB

[Manngold]

MB, that is good to know. I have some just sitting in a draw. Do you suggest always transfering to a fridge? What difference does the fridge actually make?

[Monkeybrew]

MB, that is good to know. I have some just sitting in a draw. Do you suggest always transfering to a fridge? What difference does the fridge actually make?

I know that I have no control over how the yeast has been handled on it's journey from the manufacturer (especially Coopers kits from OZ), but I store my kits in my garage and it can get very warm in there on a summers day, and yeast should be stored at 5-8C according to Danstars packaging.

At the end of the day, yeast is a living thing and should be cared for like a pet

Cheers

MB

[WalesAles]

I have some just sitting in a draw.

Manngold,
Do you mean Drawer? Or is it a draw that I know nothing about?
WA

[SquireKnott]

Right, it's on!

Coopers APA
500g Youngs light spray malt
250g dextrose
Amarillo hop tea

Smashed my hydrometer earlier so no idea of the OG.

I was going to brew it short to 21l rather than 23 but then thought - "what if it's REALLY good? That's four fewer bottles"

I met myself halfway at 22l.

I bottled this after bulk priming with , I think, about 85g of brewing sugar but it seems quite flat.

Should I have treated it more like a lager than an ale in this respect and gone with 160g?

(The next batch may well be bottled this weekend)

[Monkeybrew]

How long has it been bottled?

Carbonation can take quite a while sometimes. I'm drinking a couple of brews now, that seemed under primed at first, but have really improved after a few months in the bottle.

Cheers

MB

[tazzymutt]

Carbonation can take quite a while sometimes. I'm drinking a couple of brews now, that seemed under primed at first, but have really improved after a few months in the bottle.

Conversely, I've had brews that were spot on at six weeks, but by six months they had turned onto foam hydrants and required pouring into a two litre jug to settle before pouring again into a pint glass. I'd rather under carbonate than over.

Happy (hoppy?) brewing,


Ian.

[SquireKnott]

I've put the next APA on but this time I've just added 1kg of Youngs beer enhancer and brewed to 20l until I see what the Amarillo'd batch tastes like.

I left it to cool for approaching an hour before adding the yeast and when I went to there were what looked like lumps of the beer enhancer and it was quite murky - I stirred it and the lumps seemed to mix straight in easily - anything to worry about?

Bottled this last night, didn't bother with the hops in the end as I can't taste them in the samples I've had of my first adapted APA. Will they come through with age or if they're not they're now will they never be there at all?

Remember that fart spray you coild get in joke shops in the 80's?
This had a bit of a whiff of that when I took the lid off - anything to worry about?

[Monkeybrew]

I've just scanned through this topic and couldn't see how much Amarillo you used in your first APA.

Was it just a hop tea that you added?

Cheers

MB

[SquireKnott]

I've just scanned through this topic and couldn't see how much Amarillo you used in your first APA.

Was it just a hop tea that you added?

Cheers

MB

I dry hopped it for the last few days aswell

[Manngold]

How much did you dry hop with though SK? 50grams?

[SquireKnott]

How much did you dry hop with though SK? 50grams?

I don't remember!



About what I was told to at the beginning of the thread I think

[SquireKnott]

Yes, 50g it was

[Monkeybrew]

Seems weird that you don't think that you can taste the hops in your first brew

It will be interesting to see what you make of a standard APA.

With reference to the fart smell, it could just be a by product of the yeast, especially as the Coopers yeast in this kit is 50% lager.

Cheers

MB