Coopers Hop Gobbler Kit , Suggestions?

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GashRash

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Today I received in the post a gift that was the new Cooper Hop Gobbler kit. On first look I thought this going to be a humdinger 50g of hops to add etc.. but on reading their recipe I find it hard to see how just dry hopping alone is going add a hop wallop like described in the title 'Hop Gobbler' and as described on their web site. The recipe is below. I also find the adding of steeping grains to boiling water, even if only to begin with, a strange suggestion. Your thoughts and suggestions?

When making small volume batches, an extra handful of this or a pocketful of that can transform a brew from just okay to a sensational hit of aromas and flavours! In this recipe, we combine classic English Hops and specialty grains to supercharge the English Bitter kit, making 25 litres of intensely flavoured ale.

Hop Gobbler
STEP 1: MIX
As the name might suggest, this recipe takes inspiration from a popular commercial Ruby Beer, which lies at the hoppy end of BJCP Style; Northern English Brown Ale 11.C. Classic English hops (Fuggles and EKG) and Chocolate Malt combine to supercharge the English Bitter kit. The chocolate malt grain requires some extra preparation time but the final result makes it worth the effort. Most brewing specialist stores offer cracked grain or you can crack it yourself by placing in a plastic zip-lock sandwich bag and using a rolling pin.

Ingredients
1.7kg International Series English Bitter beer kit
1.5kg Thomas Coopers Amber Malt Extract
500g Coopers Light Dry Malt
300g Chocolate Malt grain
25g Fuggles Hop pellets
25g East Kent Goldings (EKG) Hop pellets
Coopers commercial ale yeast , English Ale yeast or yeast with the kit

Method
1. Crack the grain and stir into 2 litres of hot water on the boil.
2. Remove from the heat, let steep for about 30mins then sit in cold water to cool.
3. In a fermenting vessel dissolve the Light Dry Malt with 2 litres of water.
4. Add the strained, cooled Chocolate Malt liquid, the English Bitter beer kit and Amber Malt and mix thoroughly.
5. Top up to 25 litres with cool water, mix and add the yeast.

STEP 2: BREW
Try to ferment at 18C to 21C.
After a few days or fermentation, add the Fuggles and EKG hop pellets.
Fermentation has finished once the specific gravity is stable over 2 days.


STEP 3: BOTTLE

We recommend the use of PET bottles or reusable glass bottles designed for storing beer. For information about kegging see the FAQ section.

Priming
Bottle the brew with a priming rate of 8g per litre (2 carbonation drops per 750ml bottle).


STEP 4: ENJOY
Allow to condition for at least 2 weeks in the bottle. This brew will benefit from bottle age.

Expect the alcohol content to be around 5.2% ABV.
 
What was that? Ferment between 18 and 21?

**** me ... Have they finally turned the corner?

Hops and grains and the right temps certainly do help mate, fo shiz
 
What was that? Ferment between 18 and 21?

**** me ... Have they finally turned the corner?

Hops and grains and the right temps certainly do help mate, fo shiz

Yeah weird for them ?? I just thought that a hop boil of 5-10 mins would add a hell of a lot more hop flavour then just a dry hop??? Dry hop is mostly for aroma unless I've been wrong all these years??
 
I think this kit looks ok (said never having used the kit and not having made a kit for a good while).

I wouldn't add the grains to boiled/boiling/near boiling water - I'd aim for a temp quite a bit below and steep them there.

Just having a look at what you'll get...a fair aroma from 50g of dry hop with some bitterness from the kit.

If you want more bitterness - maybe boil up some hops in the liquor from the choc malt, or boil up the DME with some hops. But I wouldn't use the hops intended the dry hop - I'd use something else that in't going to come through the dry hop and keep those hops for their intended use.

If you have a good english yeast go with the temp range recommended. If you have S-04 go cool.

My 2c

Wasn't aware that Coopers were doing this style of kit - good move I think - keeps those ready to move to the next level as customers and can improve their beer.

Kev
 
yep wouldnt boil the choc grain, till after steeping and grains removed. I agree you'd get an aroma, but would love some hop flavour, thinking I'll boil maybe 10g of each in the choc grain tea for around 8mins to get some hop flavour into it then dry hop the rest. I just washed some US-05 so will probably use that. yeah its not English Ale yeast but it does ferment nice and clean.
 
Think these kits are only out once a month or so, or till sold out, then they change to another one.
 
Just for fun do exactly what Coopers suggest with some grain and measure the temperature.

If you pour a litre of water from your boiled jug into a COLD container, the temp drops.
Then add 300g of COLD grain and the temp drops again.

Two litres does seem a bit excessive, most mashing is done with around 3 litres/kg so around 1 litre of water should be enough, but the steeping temp will end up well below 100. Will it be 75, do the experiment and find out?

If you pour ONE litre of boiling water into a COLD pot thay weighs 0.6 kg and add 0.3 kg of COLD grain,
you will get something very close to 72 deg C depending on the ambinet temp your kitchen started at.
 
More importantly, they don't tell people to boil the drained steepings prior to adding to the fermenter. There's all sort of lacto nasties in choc grain that have just had a nice 70 degrees bath.

A good effort, Coopers, but could try harder...
 
It was a gift! usually I do go to Grain and Grape, but the fact they don't open sundays really sucks! If I miss the Saturday morning , I'm stuffed!!.

The water ratio isnt so important as it isnt mashing, just steeping. I couldnt help myself I boiled 5g (was gunna do 10 of each)of each hop in the choc malt tea. I did a small vid of it and will upload to youtube later today.
 
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