New brewer and Coopers Aussie lager question

[drumgerry]

Hi all

Totally new to the home brewing game but I guess it was only a matter of time seeing how much I like to drink the stuff. Plus I live smack bang between three distilleries with malt lorries rumbling past my door 24/7 and all the trees covered in black, alcohol-loving fungus/lichen! Again it was only a matter of time before I turned up here

So I've bought myself Papazian's book and a Cooper's micro-brew kit (including Cooper's Aussie lager) to start with - hoping to move on to AG brewing at some point. Been trying to do a bit of research on the kit in the forum (and wow! what a forum this is! ) and I've seen a few comments that the lager produced can be a bit sweet/cider-like. So my question is - would it be worth adding anything which might improve on the finished product? For example more hops? I've ordered a sachet of Saaz hops from ebay in case this is a good idea (in a sort of teabag form I think). Or does the kit produce a decent brew just from the ingredients provided?

Any other advice humbly and gratefully received.

Cheers

Gerry

[paulbrrtt]

Hi Jerry afraid I cant help you as Im new to all this myself, but if you look at my post (lager kit) theres a link on there all to do with lager variations etc. Its quite good. Sorry I cant be of more help

[drumgerry]

Hi Paul and thanks for the reply. Your thread was very helpful. I like the sound of using spraymalt as a sugar replacement.

And I've had a brainwave about my water source as well. Our domestic supply is flouridated so I'm wary of using it. But running at the bottom of our garden (we live in a rural location!) is a stream which is used by the next door distillery in its single malt - does that sound too good to be true? It may not be the purest water in its raw state but wasn't beer originally used to make dubious water safe for drinking.

Cheers

Gerry

[paulbrrtt]

I got a river running by my house also but its the taff lol and the gurnos is above me pmsl , jeez be like del boys peckham water lol

[brysie]

hi gerry

first off have a butchers at `lager` on wikipedia. helps to understand the process.
then swap the kit yeast for a true `lager` yeast. brew slower at lower temperature. then bottle and store somewhere cool for a few months.
then you`ll have `lager`.

most lager kits come with ale yeast and ferment at higher temperatures, and can brew some very drinkable beer, but it doesnt
taste much like any lager ive ever tasted.

[Manx Guy]

Hi & welcome...
I'm new to this too, but bought the same 'starter kit' as you have...

I brewed the Lager as instructed and I suspect it was too warm... (24C is recomended in the kit instructions)

I would agree with the previous post in that cooler tempratures produce cleaner crisper beers...

I have yet to try using a lager yeast myself simply because I cannot be sure the ambient temprature will be ok for the longer fermentation time (10-14 days)
I have made 2 further brews (both ales) since I did the lager and the cooler temps (~18c) seems to have made them clean and crisp!

You will need to decide whether you can control the temp well enough to ensure a sucessful brew using the lager yeast... Something I intend to try in october...

This said I plan to do a coopers Draught using the included ale yeast but fermented at 18C and will add some Saaz hops for aroma...
But this is an experiment I want to try, therefore cannot gaurentee its success...
I would repeat the advice given else where and have alook round the forum and decide for your self... at least it will be a better informed choice!

My coopers lager is drinkable but not like most lagers, however its slightly sweet aftertaste suits spicy food very well!!!


Slainte!

[J_P]

If you're going to use the spring water you'll have to boil it to sterilise it first, the other alternative is to add a crushed camden tablet to the water before adding it to the malt extract, that will remove and chlorine and chloramines.

[drumgerry]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I'm not sure I'd be able to keep the temp low enough to use a lager yeast. I do have an unused cellar but not sure what the temp is down there. What sort of temp should I be looking at for a lager yeast? Does it have to be really low or can it be in the mid-teens centigrade? I won't have a problem keeping the temp at the right level in a few months time so maybe should try to brew a proper lager then.

Maybe I should stop thinking of this kit as a lager and just take it for what it is.

Re the spring water I've discovered that our domestic supply is, in fact, chlorinated not flouridated as I originally said. I do like the thought of using the burn water but I might leave it till I do an AG fermentation.

Cheers

Gerry

[minimilo]

Hi, I am new to all this too, My second kit is a youngs cheapo lager. I added 500g of light spray malt, 300g of golden syrup and 200g of granulated sugar. I also boiled up some hops (20g), strained and added to the FV and topped up to 20 Litres. All seemed to brew up ok, an OG of 1040. I bottled it up Sunday, so fingers crossed its drinkable!

[Manx Guy]

Hi!

Re: Lager yeast mid teens should be ok... ( I think the guide range on the yeast I have is 11-16C)I use a min/max thermometer to monitor the ambient temp where I'm brewing/conditioning ales/lagers... Some of the otherguys use data loggers etc. but a min max therm will give you a good idea if its worth a go

Do for a few days in advance of your brew and compare the readings to ambient temp and any other factors that may effect the temp (ventilation/direct sun etc) before

Good luck!
keep us updated
Slainte!