Cloudy coopers dark ale

[THE TACKER]

Just moved my first brew from the warm into a cooler position and thought I'd just pull a sample off to see what was what only to find very cloudy coopers ,when I transfered it to the PB I also put sme into four half litre bottles to give me an idea how things were going,these four cleared loverly .
there's penty of pressure in the barrel which I would say that the secondary ferment was going fine .. Does any one have any ideas ,is it a matter of just leaving and being patient

[KevP]

When I used to brew Coopers Dark Ale is was nearly black and so to tell if it was cloudy or not would have been nearly impossible?

[Normski]

Hi Tacker
I think it just needs a longer time to clear. Bottles will clear earlier. Im sure it'll be ok in a week or two, them coopers are very reliable.

[Ditch]

When I used to brew Coopers Dark Ale .....

Any particular reason ye stopped, mate?

[guidomax]

I agree - my dark ale has been a good few weeks in the PB and gets clearer all the time. Be patient and it will clear

[Manx Guy]

Hi!

I dont mean to 'hijack' the thread... I have a Coopers Dark Ale lined up and have a few questions....

a) I want to know whether to use a PB or bottle the brew

b) How to make the kit up for best results...
option 1) 500g DArk DME + 500g suagr
option 2) 1kg Dark DME +100g sugar

I welcome comments and other suggestions!

Thanks in advance!

[RatboyOllie]

hey up,

im at exactly the same stage as you Tacker, ive just moved mine from the warm to a cool spot in the garage. I bottled the lot and couldnt resist a sample. Mine is very dark, not black like the stout, but very dark chocolate brown, very lightly carbonated, but yet to clear. I reckon it just needs a couple of months maturation and itll clear no probs, just sit back and wait - the hardest part of the brewing process !!!!

I made mine with a can of coopers dark malt extract, it went wild at the start as these Coopers kits tend too and fermented out in about 4 days. It smells delicious and the taste is already lovely, cant wait to try it once its matured a little, i think its going to be very rich in flavours. Just need to forget about it for a couple of months................

[guidomax]

Hi,
Just logged into the forum for the first time in yonks, so reading up on some old threads

a) I want to know whether to use a PB or bottle the brew

I did about a dozen bottles, and barrelled the rest (primed with a total of 80g granulated for the entire batch). To my tastes, I find the barrel isn't quite fizzy enough (even after extra pressurization with a CO2 cylinder), but gives a good head.
Very drinkable all the same, though.

The bottles are carbonated to just the right level; the head on the bottles is pretty much non-existant though, and it doesn't have as creamy a mouth-feel, but it seems to have a more-rounded flavour (although this could just be the extra 'bite' given by the carbonation).

BTW, I'm not usually someone who likes their beer fizzy, but finding the bottles much nicer (having to ration them though - next batch will be all bottled methinks!). Maybe it's that they're more refreshing, too, what with the hot weather.

I'd recommend bottling.

b) How to make the kit up for best results...
option 1) 500g DArk DME + 500g suagr
option 2) 1kg Dark DME +100g sugar

I did option 1) (using 'brewing sugar' / glucose as the sugar). It come out lovely.

Let us know how it goes!

[Ditch]

gives a good head.

You're just trying to get me to show my Gillian Taylforth photo again, aren't ye?!