Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale (2006)

[goatherder]

I like goatherder's idea about using a Cooper's yeast for a Belgium Ale. Does anyone know where to buy (in Australia) the Belgium brewing sugar candi? It is reputed to aid head retention.

Chinese yellow rock sugar is a good substitute, readily available at asian grocers. You can also make your own. There's a bunch of info at oz.craftbrewer.org about doing it yourself. There's also plenty of good belgian style brews being made without the candy sugar - just use plain old table sugar. "Brew Like a Monk" by Stan Hieronymus is a great book if you are interested in making belgian brews.

 

[Weizguy]

I mentioned this is previous "Coopers Vintage" threads, but for completeness:

- on the Coopers forum, there was a post by one of the Cooper's brewers who advised that they change the recipe for each vintage.
The yeast may vary, too.

I still have some Batch 1, but it's well past it's prime.

BTW, I have stashed a case of Squire strong ale. Best at 18-24 months, IMHO.

Anyone care for a Cooper's Vertical epic?

Seth out

 

[mike_hillyer]

Cheers mate!

I'll be checking out both sources. I agree on your earlier comment, Vintage Ale is complexity central. I really do think, as Australians, we take Coopers for granted at times, well I certainly have in the past.

 

[Thunderlips]

G'day Sloth, where are they located ?

They are in Yarraville, Vic.
http://www.grainandgrape.com.au/index.html

 

[littlebrews]

CVA runs from $60 - ^& here in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. I'm trying to clone it.

 

[Trev]

Has anybody seen this latest vintage available in Sydney?

I've tried a few places with no success

Trev

 

[Ash in Perth]

If any one in perth is looking for some, i got a 6 pack at the international beer shop for $22 or something. $82 a case.

I dont think candy sugar will help head retention at all, it is basically a way of increasing the alcohol without making the beer really full bodied form 100% malt. also means you can push past the highest gravity possible with your brewhouse.

 

[tangent]

Anyone care for a Cooper's Vertical epic?

Testify!
Bring it on!
I've been trying to find enough different vintages to do just that.

 

[mike_hillyer]

Ash I must confess I don't know if candi would aid head retention either, I read it in Laurie Strachan's book "Great Beers of the World" and he is claiming that the Belgium brewers believe it. That is where my research end, perhaps if anyone is keen to go further they could e-mail Laurie, I know I found his website last time I searched.

I have not purchased my CESVA yet.