Coopers lager kit

[paulbrrtt]

Well got my first coopers kit and cant wait to start it, also got some beer enhancer (spray malt) few bits and bobs finnings wine yeast etc. Cant get any beer/lager yeast the store dont sell much homebrew stuff so I will have to make do. Anytips most welcome as to how to get the best out of this.
Cheers
Paul

[Big Al]

You should have some yeast supplied with the kit.
This was by second batch and I always have some of it on the go, lovely stuff.
Just follow the basic instructions first time and then experiment from there on in

[paulbrrtt]

Cheers Al I thought there would be some with it but was looking for yeast anyway. Cant wait to get it going

[Big Al]

Its definately worth the wait
I think what helped me appreciate it more was the fact that my first kit was a youngs and it was ok but not much to shout about.
So it made me appreciate Coopers more

[paulbrrtt]

Hi guys well I bought 500gramsof demarara sugar today so I was thinking has anyone tried any of these kits with demarara in? cause I was thinking of half the beer enhancer which in itself is 50% spraymalt and 50% dextrose and I was then going to try the demarara as the other half or should I just stick with plain granulated as the other half. Any thoughts guys?

[Normski]

Hi Paul
the coopers yeast is plenty good enough. unless you can brew at a low temperature i'd stick to the coopers ale yeast as suplied with the lager kit. You dont say how much beer enhancer you have got, if its 500g as I suspect then i'd got another 500g Spray malt and maybe keep the demerera for priming when bottling.
Its a nice kit which if bottled turns out very drinkable.

[paulbrrtt]

Cheers Normski, it is the 500 grams one I got. So you suggest buying another 500 and put both in? I think I might do that cheers.
Paul

[Normski]

Hi Paul
If you already have a 500 beer enhancer, as you know it is 250 spray malt and 250 glucose.
Recommend that, plus another 500 spray malt. That'll work out as 25% glucose and 75% spray malt.
I wouldn't put in more than 25% sugar/glucose. In fact I use 100% spray malt and it turns out at 4.8% and tastes great. Think i'll go pour a cold one now. cheers.

[paulbrrtt]

well its been in just about a week now ended up using a kilo of beer enhancer (50/50 glucose,spraymalt) any ideas when it finishes fermenting?

[paulbrrtt]

scrap that last remark , just took a reading of it and its 998 so I am going to keg it, I am stll unsure how much sugar to put in the keg for 40 pints, also when i keg it do i leave it in a warm place for a week or so and then move it to a cold spot?
Cheers in advance
Paul

[paulbrrtt]

After reading other posts come to the conclusion that about 100grams should be about right so job done

[Normski]

Hi Paul
I use 85g, if you've already primed with 100g not to worry it'll be fine. Leave it in the warm for about a week, then somewhere cooler to condition if you can.

[paulbrrtt]

Cheers Norm, I was tempted with the 85 as someone said on another post it was the magic number but I know her indoors likes it fizzy so thats how I ended up with a 100 grams cheers for the reply though
Paul