Coopers Bitter

[bossman187uk]

Hi im in the fermenting stage (4th day) of my coopers bitter,
the OG reading was 1040 and i took a reading yesterday (3rd day) and it read 1012 but there is practically no activity there anymore and the krauser has subsided.

As it goes im looking at a 4.25% ABV, is this ok for this kind of bitter or do you think my fermentation has stuck?

thanks

[tubby_shaw]

I do not know what the recommended start and finished gravities of that kit should be, but the figures that you have quoted sound reasonable for a bitter.
After only 3 days fermentation there is still scope for the gravity to drop a couple of points.
Do not rely on visual checks to judge fermentation, the only surefire way to know that it has stopped is by having a consistant gravity over 2 consecutive days.
4 to 4.5% abv is a good abv for bitter

[Hoppkins]

At least your coopers didnt drop to 1.000 like mine

[maxashton]

That's not so much dry as dessicated.

[Hoppkins]

After some expert guidance from Tubby Shaw i added some spray malt as i kegged it. Going to leave it for a while and see how it turns out.

It's certainly drinkable but a bit thin when i kegged it.

Ah well ill just see how it goes

[bossman187uk]

surely dropping to 1000 is good? must be like rocket fuel?

[sparky Paul]

surely dropping to 1000 is good? must be like rocket fuel?

There'll be plenty of alcohol, but a bit of residual sweetness from the malt is nice in a bitter - is also makes the beer feel nicer in the mouth.

[splitter]

you will probably find that the coopers bitter wont really compare to an english bitter. In australia i ordered a pint of victoria bitter in the first bar we went to. after the barman cleaned the cobwebs from the pint glasses (they dont drink proper measures over there!), he poured me a pint of what was most definately what i would call a lager, clear, fizzy and ice cold! Traveled there for a year and all of the aussie 'bitters' are basically well hopped, premium strength lagers. Nice and refreshing in the heat, but probably not what you would expect from an english bitter kit. i did end up drinking the coopers bottled beers over there and particularly enjoyed the 'sparkling ale' which was bottle conditioned (with sediment) and also their stout which was gorgeous . thinking of giving these kits a go to see if i can get anything close.
Cheers.

[Hoppkins]

Same in Canada. I Spent a month drinking their IPAs and "Bitters".

They were golden, fizzy and ice cold. Sure refreshing but lacking in body and wasn't what i would call "Bitter".

[splitter]

I may have to give the ipa a go then daab.
as i said i loved the ales that coopers produce but when an aussie says 'bitter' it just doesn't mean the same thing as over here.
Certainly doesn't mean it wont be a nice drop tho!