Kegging Coopers

[stevemac]

Hi guys. Another newbie here (12 months bottling experience). I've just acquired a kegging system and having hugely enjoyed a Cooper's Real Ale which surpassed expectations, have now found that a Cooper's Lager is extremely cloudy. Both purchased from Cole's, along with Cooper's brewing sugar. I contacted my local HBS (who, I have also patronised) and was told "oh, well that's what you'll get with Cooper's crap", despite my having a brilliant 1st result. I left the 2nd brew for longer in the fermenter yet that was the brew that was cloudy. He said you don't need a hydrometer if you give it plenty of time (it won't go off) and that you'll be able to judge when to keg it by the clarity even looking through the opaque fermenter. (you get used to it)????

Now first of all, I understand that they have competition from the supermarkets and also have a point in that there are better kits around than Coopers, but my experiences are mixed anyway.

Is Cooper's unsuitable for kegging, as they suggested?

I put my latest brew in a Jerrycan (at mid-day Friday), with finings and put it in the fridge. As it will already be cold after 3 days before kegging how long and how much pressure will I need.

 

[sluggerdog]

I've had way too much to drink tonight to make too many comments HOWEVER your HBS guy is full or crap.

Coopers make good kits and yes they can be kegged as can any kit.

If your worried about the cloudy-ness of a brew and your already using cubes/jerrycans, do a seach on gelatine, this will fix that problem.

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!

 

[Fingerlickin_B]

a: Leave it in the keg for around a week before chilling.
b: If you prime your kegs with sugar trim 10mm off the end of your dip tubes.
c: I don't prime mine, but trimmed them anyway.
d: If you are using nothing but a Cooper's kit and a kilo of sugar (or another Cooper's kit) finnings are not needed.

Welcome

PZ.

 

[Barramundi]

you do tend to find a lot of HBS owners canning coopers products because if thats all people used they would buy the at woolies or coles and not go to the HBS so its in their best interests to ward you off them , i have made some more than acceptle beers using a coopers tin as a base ...

apart from that follow what the other guys have said and it should all work out great
although i disagree slighty with FLG on the no need for finings on a k&k brew , might not be totally necessary but it still helps regardless...

cheers !!!

 

[stevemac]

Thanks for the replies guys. Have looked thru the search facility and some excellent stuff there. Great site with lots of good experience to tap into.

One more thing, having put finings in my current lot, and CC'd it in the fridge for 2 days so far, how long and at what pressure should I gas it for, as it's already cold? I'm being told 24 hrs @ 350 or 48 hrs @ 220.

cheers

Steevo

 

[normell]

If you want to know about forced carbonation, go here
http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...ced+carbonation

Normell

 

[Jye]

One more thing, having put finings in my current lot, and CC'd it in the fridge for 2 days so far, how long and at what pressure should I gas it for, as it's already cold? I'm being told 24 hrs @ 350 or 48 hrs @ 220.

cheers

Steevo

Hey Steevo,

What you are describing is 'force carbonating', its a very quick way to carbonate a keg but also very easy to over carbonate if you are a new kegger. If you over carbonate all you will get is foam when you pour a pint. The safest way is to set your regulator to the correct carbonating pressure (start with 80kpa) hook up your keg and leave it for a week to slowly carbonate. If you want to speed to process up you can shake the keg for 5 mins and hear the gas bubbling in. Either way it is impossible to over carbonate a keg if you use the correct pressure from the beginning.

Cheers
Jye

 

[stevemac]

I thought forced carbonating was rocking the (cold) keg around and having a drink in your hand there & then.

Isn't 48 hrs normal carbonating? Our local bloke reckons 350 for 24 hrs does the job providing the beer is chilled.