Coopers Sparkling Ale

[phil48m]

:beer: Hi all, just made my second brew (Coopers Sparkling Ale), first being a Coopers Lager. I would assume there are some out there that have made the CSA. Just wanting to get their thoughts on how theirs went. With mine I just followed the instructions on the can. Got a starting SG of 1060. Seems to look fine and at the moment I have a Heat Belt around it to keep it around 24/25deg.
Cant wait to see how this one turns out. I love this game. :super:

 

[Tyred]

I'd drop the temperature down to around 20-21 personally. 24-25 degrees seems a bit 'hot' for brewing.

 

[0M39A]

step 1. throw out the instructions that come with your kit. not worth the paper they're printed on.

step 2. get the heat belt off it asap. get your temps down to 18c/20c and you will get a far far nicer tasting brew.

finally 1060 starting gravity sounds alright for a coopers sparkling ale clone. remember it is 5.8% commercially. feel like posting the recipe that you followed?

cheers

 

[phil48m]

I'd drop the temperature down to around 20-21 personally. 24-25 degrees seems a bit 'hot' for brewing.

Done, thanks :beer:

 

[Mr Bond]

Step 3. Don't expect it to resemble the commercial product in any way.

From distant memory it was an amber coloured ale that was far too sweet and cloying in a extracty kind of way.

 

[phil48m]

step 1. throw out the instructions that come with your kit. not worth the paper they're printed on.

step 2. get the heat belt off it asap. get your temps down to 18c/20c and you will get a far far nicer tasting brew.

finally 1060 starting gravity sounds alright for a coopers sparkling ale clone. remember it is 5.8% commercially. feel like posting the recipe that you followed?

cheers

Am now proceeding to let the Temp drop.

The way I went about the brew was to mix ingredients in new bucket ( scrwled "Dad's Brewing Bucket ONLY" on the side) sterilised of course.

First up, 2ltrs boiling water, tossed in 300gm Coopers Dextrose and stirred in well, then added the 500gm Coopers LDM, this went a bit chunky but gave that a good stir (maybe 5 mins) until I was confident all lumps were gone, poured in the kit gave that a good stir, added another 500ml hot water then poured in the Coopers Light Malt Extract, again stirred stirred stirred. I have found that by using the little bucket for the ingredient mixing gives me great control over the stirring spoon(go figure).
Anyhow finally poured mix into the frementer and added water to 23lt mark, pitched the yeast(kit) took SG fitted airlock. Then shoved in corner of bench to make MORE beer :super:

Thanks for Temp tips.

 

[RobboMC]

First up, 2ltrs boiling water, tossed in 300gm Coopers Dextrose and stirred in well, then added the 500gm Coopers LDM, this went a bit chunky but gave that a good stir


You will find if you add the LDM first in the dry fermenter, pour some boiling water in and pick up the whole fermenter and swing it around a lot that the LDM will dissolve more easily. I got this method off the Coopers web site.

LDM seems to only dissolve above about 80 deg C, which is pretty much almost boiling.

Now I simmer on a stovetop and add it once dissolved.

 

[Fatgodzilla]

Made a few Coopers PA pretty much same ingredients as you. Only one batch has turned out on the poor side, (drinkable but uninspiring) the rest were very drinkable. Unless you get a real good one, I found they needed to sit in bottles for several months before being at best. No idea why, just how it happened. Mine tasted nothing like the commercial brew but good nonetheless. Best of luck.

 

[phil48m]

First up, 2ltrs boiling water, tossed in 300gm Coopers Dextrose and stirred in well, then added the 500gm Coopers LDM, this went a bit chunky but gave that a good stir
You will find if you add the LDM first in the dry fermenter, pour some boiling water in and pick up the whole fermenter and swing it around a lot that the LDM will dissolve more easily. I got this method off the Coopers web site.

LDM seems to only dissolve above about 80 deg C, which is pretty much almost boiling.

Now I simmer on a stovetop and add it once dissolved.

Sounds like a good idea :super: Will try this way next brew with LDM. hic :chug:

 

[chris.taylor.98]

I really like this kit, and its the only one that I bother to do these days now that I have switched to all grain.

As others have said you need to let it age for some time before it really comes into its own. If it tastes a bit sharp and uninspiring (yes I brewed my last one in summer) leave it for up to 6 months.

Almost tastes like a different beer.

 

[phil48m]

SG day by day.

day 1 (1060) 24deg(last Sunday.)
day 2 (1040) 22deg
day 3 to today (1014) 20deg

It went a bit smelly day 3 to 5 but I persisted with keeping temp at lower degrees than pitching temp after some good advice. Sulphury smell appears to have gone,so I reckon I will bottle tomorrow if 1014 again.

thanks to those who offered advice to this novice. :beer: