Coopers Bav Can

[DKS]

Evening brewers,
I have one of the Coopers Bavarian Lager kits, in the red can, that were discontinued a few months ago. I would like to make something that would suit the style which it supposedly is meant for. I dont know what hop flavours are in the kit so Im looking for a recipe or info on what might be in the kit.

I can use steeped grains, a variety of hops, liquid and dry malts. Unfortunately I dont have any fancy yeasts to assist.

I dont really want to just put down a straight kit Im looking for something a bit better.

Best found reveiw / info so far posted by Boink on kit reveiws Thanks for that Boink all suggestions welcomed. :icon_cheers:
Daz

 

[parrja]

G'day Daz,

I used to quite like that kit when I was doing kit and kilo. Very good lawnmower beer after about 12 weeks in the bottle.

I've just done my first mini mash after doing steeping for quite a while.

I was contemplating using this tin as a quick brew for when I didn't have much time.

i.e.
Bavarian Lager
1kg of Pilsner in mini mash
made up to 19 litres to keg.

The lower volume would up the bitterness provided by the can to offset the malt (maybe). I'd only add the can at the last moment so that no flavour or aroma are boiled off.

Just an idea really as I haven't tried it yet, or put the figures into brewsmith to make sure it's all OK.

Cheers,

Jason

 

[DKS]

G'day Daz,

I used to quite like that kit when I was doing kit and kilo. Very good lawnmower beer after about 12 weeks in the bottle.

I've just done my first mini mash after doing steeping for quite a while.

I was contemplating using this tin as a quick brew for when I didn't have much time.

i.e.
Bavarian Lager
1kg of Pilsner in mini mash
made up to 19 litres to keg.

The lower volume would up the bitterness provided by the can to offset the malt (maybe). I'd only add the can at the last moment so that no flavour or aroma are boiled off.

Just an idea really as I haven't tried it yet, or put the figures into brewsmith to make sure it's all OK.

Cheers,

Jason

Thanks for reply Jason. I havent tried a mini mash only steeping. Ill have to read up on procedure. Any idea of hops to balance out the pils malt or none required?Would this be aiming at a Munich Helles style? (Just guessing) :icon_cheers:
Daz

 

[parrja]

If you were steeping using a grain bag then mini-mashing doesn't have to be much different (if you're doing less than a kilo). You just have to get the temperature correct (say 66 degrees) and hold it for maybe 90 minutes.

i.e. 1kg pilsner in grain bag and then in 3L water at 66 degrees. Maintain temp for 90 minutes - easy if you can put the pot in a pre heated oven. Pull out grain bag and put it in another pot of 3 L of water at same temp for 15 minutes. You then have 6 litres of wort to continue on with.

Use can use brewsmith to work out the proportions.

For 19 Litres:
1 Can Bavarian Lager
500g Malt Extract (or dextrose, depending what you've got in the cupboard)
1 kg Pilsner.
Hops for flavour/aroma probably not necessary but if you have any noble hops in the cupboard then I guess you'd be tempted.

If you're not tempted to minimash then go easy on the steeped grains - they'll probably give too much sweetness/colour.

Cheers,

Jason

 

[michaelcocks]

Evening brewers,
I have one of the Coopers Bavarian Lager kits, in the red can, that were discontinued a few months ago. I would like to make something that would suit the style which it supposedly is meant for. I dont know what hop flavours are in the kit so Im looking for a recipe or info on what might be in the kit.

I can use steeped grains, a variety of hops, liquid and dry malts. Unfortunately I dont have any fancy yeasts to assist.

I dont really want to just put down a straight kit Im looking for something a bit better.

Best found reveiw / info so far posted by Boink on kit reveiws Thanks for that Boink all suggestions welcomed. :icon_cheers:
Daz

G'day Daz - discontinued a few months ago

More like a year ago !! Whats the date on the can ? Watch out for darkening as they stale. Coppers kits usually have a date 2 years from when it cames out of the factory. This was a great kit and although the European Lager they replaced it with is good - it takes ages to really come through...

 

[michaelcocks]

G'day Daz - discontinued a few months ago

More like a year ago !! Whats the date on the can ? Watch out for darkening as they stale. Coppers kits usually have a date 2 years from when it cames out of the factory. This was a great kit and although the European Lager they replaced it with is good - it takes ages to really come through...

Edit: BTW the yeast that came with this kit was a true lager yeast and very good at the right temp (try to keep under 15c) I heard the yeast is the same strain as SafLager - not sure if that is true though?

 

[parrja]

I second that the yeast is good and most probably Saflager

You could still steep and make something with a bit more character similar to an octoberfest:

1.7 Kb Bavarian Lager
1.5 kg Malt Extract
15g German Tettnanger Hops, 5 minutes
200 g Crystal
70 g Chocolate

to 23 L

 

[The Big Burper]

Coopers Bavarian Lager.

This kit is one for bottling. I kegged a Bavarian, and of course, it did not have enough time to mature, my turnround time for a keg is 14 days.

The sulphur smell from the yeast really got up ya nose, but the flavour was OK, and I managed to drink the lot.

I would suggest bottling this one, and leaving for a good couple of months for it to mature properly.

cheers
Dave

 

[RobboMC]

I made up a big brew using 2 of these old cheap kits and some fermentables,
and it turned out with a really bad rubbery aftertaste.

Still don't know if it was the old kits or something I did,
but I did the same things as all my other brews which are fine.

I wouldn't put too much effort into such an old can,
make it up K&K with a can of malt extract and drink it for sure,
but if you want to make a 'special' brew get a fresh can to start with.

My bad taste is subsiding after 5 months in the bottles,
so don't despair, bottle it, taste it and drink it.

 

[manticle]

I made up a big brew using 2 of these old cheap kits and some fermentables,
and it turned out with a really bad rubbery aftertaste.

Still don't know if it was the old kits or something I did,
but I did the same things as all my other brews which are fine.

I wouldn't put too much effort into such an old can,
make it up K&K with a can of malt extract and drink it for sure,
but if you want to make a 'special' brew get a fresh can to start with.

My bad taste is subsiding after 5 months in the bottles,
so don't despair, bottle it, taste it and drink it.

As mentioned above the bavarian lager tin uses a true lager yeast so if you did the same thing as with other brews (I'm assuming all ales - brewed 18 deg or higher) it would throw out some horrible flavours. The temp would need to sit at around 12 deg for a week or two then preferably between 2 and 5 for another week or two with a rest at 18 in between the two ferments.

 

[manticle]

PS. sorry if you already knew that.

 

[Bribie G]

I understand that Coopers better range of lagers use the Australian Mauri Lager yeast (made in Toowoomba) which is also the same yeast in Morgans Lager sachets. I'm using one at the moment in an Aussie Lager (not a kit) and even though it's a true lager strain, it ferments quite nicely at 20 degrees with no off flavours or problems so far, be interesting to taste the result in a few weeks. There's more info on the Mauri website. If using an old kit it might pay to buy a fresh Morgans or Mauri to ferment it if you only want to spend a couple of bucks extra. I don't think I'd throw a six dollar saflager at it.

 

[corbs]

the coopers euro larger comes with a larger yeast and i had no problems with it on my first try at making beer , just lucky its cold in Melbourne so didnt have to worry about keeping the temps down .

Just my 2 cents worth

 

[DKS]

I understand that Coopers better range of lagers use the Australian Mauri Lager yeast (made in Toowoomba) which is also the same yeast in Morgans Lager sachets. I'm using one at the moment in an Aussie Lager (not a kit) and even though it's a true lager strain, it ferments quite nicely at 20 degrees with no off flavours or problems so far, be interesting to taste the result in a few weeks. There's more info on the Mauri website. If using an old kit it might pay to buy a fresh Morgans or Mauri to ferment it if you only want to spend a couple of bucks extra. I don't think I'd throw a six dollar saflager at it.

The last Bav kit I did was 6/08/08 and Ive rated it a 8 out of 10 It had dry enzyme in and was bottled for a few months so i reckon the kit yeast with this is Ok.What got me asking about it was Greg from Oasis (LHB store)mentioned he had left some cans for ages and from heating up and cooling down at room temps over many months the malts had released some different sugars and flavours, winning him some awards etcwhen brewed.
So aged cans may not neccessarily be a bad thing. My thinking was even if its aged and cooked somewhat in the can being so old, the hop flavours and aged malt flavours might be good for a beer that uses the same hop and yeast profile but in a more robust style. Hence my first equiry was for hop type in this kit. As always theres a thousand ways to make a beer and Im open to suggestions.
I sort of wanted to hang on to this one as now out of production but I might just keep the lable off the can for some stupid reason.If this makes sence
Thanks for input. I think Im starting to dribble on:icon_cheers:
Daz