Hi all, first post here, have been reading for a little while now though.
Firstly, I did do a search, but didn't find much of any use. So as the title puts it, how do I increase the alcohol percentage of a brew? I started to get into home brewing about 3 years ago, put down my first brew (kit), a ginger beer, came out nice, then I think the next I did was an apple cider, which did not taste good at all, maybe I didn't sanitise properly or something. But anyway, I have decided to get back into things again after a break of close to 3 years.
Have decided to go with a kit again to start off with, and take things slowly from there, and again I will start with a ginger beer. got a coopers brew, have read a few of the recipes people here have used, so am going to add a bit of extra ginger, and a chilli to it, but the kit states 3.5% alcohol. Would like to raise that a bit, to maybe 5%. What are the best ways to do this, using a kit? Would I be better off dropping the amount of water added, or using extra kit, or increasing the sugar content? The can states to use raw sugar, will using dextrose cause it to be better? I used the calculator to do a quick calculation, but at this early stage I figure I should go to the experts with the first brew to make sure I get it halfway right, and start experimenting out on my own further on later.
Also, what would the 'best' temp be to brew ginger beer at? Any different to regular beer? Obviously the reading I have done indicates the 21 to 27 degrees on the can is stupid, but how low do you go before it is too cold?
Firstly, I did do a search, but didn't find much of any use. So as the title puts it, how do I increase the alcohol percentage of a brew? I started to get into home brewing about 3 years ago, put down my first brew (kit), a ginger beer, came out nice, then I think the next I did was an apple cider, which did not taste good at all, maybe I didn't sanitise properly or something. But anyway, I have decided to get back into things again after a break of close to 3 years.
Have decided to go with a kit again to start off with, and take things slowly from there, and again I will start with a ginger beer. got a coopers brew, have read a few of the recipes people here have used, so am going to add a bit of extra ginger, and a chilli to it, but the kit states 3.5% alcohol. Would like to raise that a bit, to maybe 5%. What are the best ways to do this, using a kit? Would I be better off dropping the amount of water added, or using extra kit, or increasing the sugar content? The can states to use raw sugar, will using dextrose cause it to be better? I used the calculator to do a quick calculation, but at this early stage I figure I should go to the experts with the first brew to make sure I get it halfway right, and start experimenting out on my own further on later.
Also, what would the 'best' temp be to brew ginger beer at? Any different to regular beer? Obviously the reading I have done indicates the 21 to 27 degrees on the can is stupid, but how low do you go before it is too cold?