Drinking my first ever brew.....

[neilos]

I know this is a bit soon to be drinking, but I couldn't resist trying a bottle!!! After 10 days in the FV, 7 days warm conditioning in the bottle, then just 2 days out in the cold shed, I've just opened my first bottle of Coopers European lager! I know that it needs the best part of 12 weeks, but I just wanted to make sure that 'Things were OK!'. I really can't explain how pleased I am with the results! The pint is cold, clean and clear! There is a decent amount of fizz to the pint, although it hasn't held a head. Any tips on this? I wasn't aiming for an 'over gassed pub pint', so I can't complain really! The yeast has stuck solid to the bottom of the bottle, and we have one very happy first -time home brewer!

[neilos]

OOps! Wrong section, meant to post in Kit brewing section. Can the Mods move it please?

[6470zzy]

Congratulations.....hopefully there will be many more successes to come.

Cheers

[mysterio]

I wouldn't worry too much about the head mate, it's really one of those hit or miss things, even those of us who brew all grain it's a bit of a dark art.

The euro lager was my first kit too, I reckon it's a nice drink. Did you supplement it with malt extract ? That will help with the foam. So will age.

Glad you're happy with your results, you're set down the path now - no turning back!

[sonicated]

You need to let it condition a bit longer for the head to develop. With lager I prime with 160 grams of sugar and serve in a glass with etchings at the bottom so I get good head.

<insert joke about getting froth on top of my beer too>

[gordong]

I am very pleased you like the result neilos. I am pretty much in the same position as you - except I am not sure about mine.

Mine was bottled 5 days ago and has since been in warm room. Like you, I could not resist trying one of mine last night to see what it was like. Especially as it tasted so good before I bottled it. However, it was very flat and did not taste as good as it did. It also seems darker in colour. I filled a plastic pop bottle as well to check if they were carbonating, and that has firmed up.

Mine was in fermentation for 16 days (14 deg C for 11 days then 18-10 for 5 days)

I used 500g brew sugar and 500g light spraymalt. Oh, and 175g granulated sugar for priming.

I intended to move to cold shed for a good few weeks, but am wondering if there is any chance of it becoming livelier and tasting better? Maybe it has not finished 2ndary ferm. yet?

Appreciate any thoughts on this one as I was highly encouraged until last night.

[gordong]

"Mine was in fermentation for 16 days (14 deg C for 11 days then 18-10 for 5 days)"

Sorry - I meant "18-20 for 5 days"

[neilos]

I only used 85g of priming sugar, so next time I will increase to about 120g for my lager. I've got some Carling 'Spot On' etched glasses that I will try next time. I'll probably try another pint next week to see the difference. I'm guessing that yours would taste much better if it was left in the cold for a day or so?

[gordong]

Cheers. I will try that and keep you posted!

[Manx Guy]

Hi!

I have some Coopers lager in the FV atm...
from what I'm lead to understand (by posting on various parts of this forum) Cooper Euro lager uses genuine Lager yeastand as such will continue to ferment (albeit slowly)
at 9C so even in a cool room it will continue to graduly eat up all the dextrins remaining in the brew and the priming sugars adding to the carbonation.

Lager also benefits from a long cool conditioning period so the yeast can also get rid of any sulphurous smells or esters which can result from fermenting at cool tempratures... The yeast should stay active for many weeks after bottling enabling it to 'clean up' the flavour of the beer...

There are some useful tips on using lager yeasts and the lagering process in the following link:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=28536

Hope this helps!

Good work, in a few more weeks you can enjoy the fruits of your labour!

Slainte!!

[chopperswookie]

keep going neilos! best feeling in the world -"I AM MAN, I MAKE BEER!"

[Deneeve]

Nice one mate, i did exactly the same.... the feeling you've made your own beer is second to none!!!!

[neilos]

I've just bottled my Muntons Traditional bitter and I felt pretty thirsty after seeing all that alcohol, so I thought that it wouldn't hurt just to have another cheeky bottle of my Coopers Lager Anyway, This time I poured into one of my Carling 'SpotOn' glasses (etched bottom). This time it formed a reasonable head which stayed for about half the pint, but the pint generally has more fizz to it, so I'm much happier now! I need to sit on my hands for a few more weeks now!

[sonicated]

This time it formed a reasonable head which stayed for about half the pint, but the pint generally has more fizz to it, so I'm much happier now! I need to sit on my hands for a few more weeks now!

That's good to hear! As it conditions in the cold even more CO2 will be absorbed into the beer so it should get a little more fizzy over time.