Recent content by GregTheBrewer

Sorry Mate, but your statement contravenes the first law of thermodynamics: Energy cannot be created nor destroyed. Higher than 100% efficiency means the system is creating energy. Not physically possible.

Just make sure your sanitising is spot on, and you'll be sweet. Definitely carbonate it.

Wish I could help Livo. I have only used the apple cider kits myself.

Naturally, naturally....I have been known to use molasses for aroma in mine! ;)

I hear you Livo! Bugger about the ants, but glad to hear that hand sanitiser is on the cards. I've been known to do something similar myself LOL!

It will be very interesting to hear how the old yeast goes Livo. I imagine you might get a bit of activity, it just won't be brisk! My apologies BTW: you have done all grain in the past, so please excuse if I have been trying to teach you to suck eggs! Clearly you have some expertise with yeast...

Nuffingk to do with the yeast mate.

Yes, you're right. The original series kits all use the proprietary Cooper's Ale yeast. I just wondered if you had done one of the others that did have an actual Lager yeast. I agree with your comments about what they supply! What neck of the woods are you in? Trust me, temperature control...

Which Coopers Lager kit did you use Livo?

Hi Livo. There's a lot to tackle here! Let's start with the easy bit first. I already replied to Westheimer, and you are absolutely correct: you do NOT need to boil extract when you are doing an extract brew: the manufacturer has already done that for you. I was, as you correctly assumed...

No, I was only referring to boiling the water that you add to the kit to make it up to volume. The concentrated wort in the tin has already been boiled and therefore is sterile, and does not need any more boiling.

Livo, just a little wary of you using the term "burned rubber autolysis flavour" when describing the lager. We still don't know that it is yeast autolysis causing it. Given that the two brews were done in virtually identical conditions I would be now suspicious of an infection. Replace your...

Westy, the one big difference between all grain and extract (well, there are lots actually!) is that you boil the wort. This makes sure that any rogue bacteria or yeasts are killed. With extract brewing, unless you also boil the water or your filtration system is spotlessly clean, you are open...

Livo...first of all Happy New Year! And don't be put off...your beers will just get better and better. Just something I wanted to ask about that Rhyan alluded to. You say "no chlorine" in your water...how do you know? What are you using...tank water? Whatever the case, how do you treat it? That...

Interesting thread this one Paul. I am forced to agree with many points raised here, but there are some I disagree with. Bird rehydrates with wort, but this is not recommended. The manufacturers recommend sterile tap water (DEFINITELY not distilled or RO water). The idea is to allow the cell...