Coopers Brew Kit

[airofu]

Hi all,

Just got doing my first home brew with the Coopers Kit and so far it seems ok been doin abit of reading and trying to following instructions as closely as possible... just a couple questions..

Coopers says an ideal fermentation temp for the lager is 21-27degrees. Reading up alot of recommendations says 18-20degrees? being summer and all it's sitting around 28 degrees, but so far taste and looks OK i am hoping ....should i be aiming for this 18-20 degree mark next time (which is quite a cold temp)?

Also it's been about 5 days and taking SG readings each day with my hydrometer - its been lowering steadily and today is nearly 1007. The book says ideal is 1008-1010 for bottling, but also to wait when SG has stopped and is stable...... I am wondering....will it stop on its own or keep getting lower?? and leaving in the fermenter a few more days after stable SG is best before bottling?

Can't wait to do the next batch already and this one isnt even done Thanks!

 

[roverfj1200]

Seems you know what to do.. Get the temps down close to 20 with kit yeasts and once the hyro reads are steady bottle.

I think you will find that the hydro's supplied with beer kits are not to accurate. but a steady reading is all you need to bottle..

Cheers.

 

[airofu]

Thanks, so 1008-1010 gravity is just an indication? really i would let it go until it stops on its down regardless of the gravity? How much is an accurate hydrometer, not too expensive...Refractometer?

 

[AussieJosh]

sounds like your doing the right things!
When i am brewing beer using an Ale yeast i leave it for 7 days then on day 8 i take a reading, making sure to not use the first bit of the brew that comes from that tap, cause that can have some thik chunky stuff that afects your reading. Run off about 50mls first then take a reading. Then i do the same on day 9 if there the same i bottle in glass. If you are botteling in plastic you dont really have to worry about exploding bottles!
Its hard in the summer to try to keep your temps down. Most kits including Coopers come with an ale yeast. As you have already said there best between 18 and 20c. The Coopers original lager also come with an ale yeast. Some Coopers kits that come with a Lager yeast are...Coopers european lager, Thomas Coopers Pilsner, Thomas Coopers Heritage Lager. You can get the Thomas Cooper range at your local home brew store but not at (Brewcraft) Lager yeast is best brewed in the low teens or even lower! Ezy to brew in winter and drink in summer! Yor local home brew store will advise you more about using diffrent yeasts other then the ones that come with your kit and temp controll.
Happy brewing! and merry christmass!

 

[glaab]

my Coopers hydrometer is so close to perfect I can't fault it. Put it in distilled/ demineralised water at 20C and it should read 1000. Shout yourself a 100ml pyrex hydro jar though, the Coopers one is not great.

 

[airofu]

Thanks for the reply guys and Merry Christmas