Need Guidance To A Decent Kit

[pist]

Gday all

Done a few kits now (Just been buying the regular supermarket varieties), in the search for one that I like and would be happy making it a regular brew.

To date, I have been able to sample the first ones that I have done, those being coopers kits that I got from the supermarket. Ive since done some tooheys kits, but still waiting on those to age a bit to see what they are like.

To say the least, I was quite dissapointed with the coopers kits - I just find them not at all my type of beer (those ones being the mexican cerveza and original series lager that came with the kit i bought). Being a bit cooler now, I have brewed these between 18-20 C (pitched yeast at 24c and let drop off as the kits recommended).

I suppose, what I am asking for, is a pointer in the right direction to kits which I may find appealing.

I enjoy a lighter style beer such as aussie lagers (my regular when I go to the pub is tooheys new if thats any indication!), also quite a fan of cascade lager and corona, however dont mind some pale ales (fat yak and little creatures would be favorites here). Not at all a fan of darker ales/stouts. I should also mention, that I have limited access to temperature control (dont have room for a brewing fridge), so using a lager yeast would be out of the question for me I am guessing.

 

[The Giant]

What yeast do u use?
Have u tried adding hops?
What fermentables do u use? ie Sugar? Dextrose? Dry Malt? Liquid Malt?

All these things will cause big differences in your beer.

If you like Fat Yak, look at doing a Coopers IPA Can add Coopers Light Malt Extract Can.
Use a US05 yeast.
Nelson Sauvin and Cascade Hops 10g of each, add to boil at 20,10 and 0. Dry hop the same amount after day7. That will get you something close to a Fat Yak, well it did for me.

 

[TmC]

I have only used Coopers kits but maybe try Morgans range, i am going out now to try their pils as i have run out of grain. If you dont have temp control try using a tub filled with water and then ice bricks to try and cool it down, if you can ferment at 18-20 i would guess US-05 would be your best yeast.

 

[Pennywise]

Assuming you're doing straight k&k, I'd suggest using a specialty yeast, a small amount of hops for flavor/aroma & some dme/lme in place of most (or all) of the dextrose. Your ferment temp is good, but I'd try to pitch closer to 20c than 24c.
Some people just don't like the Coopers kits, just like some people don't like Fat Yak (wierdo's I know ). But basically if you're following the kit's instruction it most certainly wont get you the best reults possible. This recipe has a kit version in the notes, it's simple & I don't think I've heard anyone say it wasn't freaking awesome

 

[yum beer]

hey pist,
you really need to play around with fermentables, grains and hops to tweak your kits to a good level.

Just a small addition of some grains, steeped in hot water with a mix of LDM and dex can make a big diff.

The coopers lager brewed with a box of BE2 plus an extra 250gm LDM brewed at around 18c brews a beer I find similar to a Boags lager...light,dirty and easy to drink.

keep looking for suggestions and try stuff...its all part of the experience. :icon_chickcheers:

 

[pist]

Thanks for your help fellas, much appreciated.

I have just been using the kit yeast, which it seems, just doesn't cut it when trying to turn out a decent beer.

I guess its time to start experimenting a bit more rather than relying on the kit and it's instructions.

If anyone has any more suggestions, that would be great, have a lot to learn yet and any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[TmC]

I would second Pennywise' with DrSmurto's Golden Ale, ripper of a beer. I have only heard good things about Coopers Sparkling Ale even if you follow the recipe on the can. Let us know how you go :icon_cheers:

 

[glaab]

I found the main prob with kits was lack of bitterness, especially with the coopers pale, and made worse when using LLME instead of BE1 etc. The guys are right about Smurtos golden ale but if you want to keep it simple and work your way towards extract maybe you wanna try just adding some bitterness first. Boil some wort for 15 mins and add some hops, amarillo like in the golden ale is pretty popular. Boil 1 : 10 ratio of sugar [eg dex, be2, DME] in water, 250g in 2.5L is enough and throw in say 30g amarillo for 15 mins, that'll get you an extra 6-8 IBU bitterness. Just pour the hot wort straight into the fermenter on top of a kit can and a can of LLME. The hops will settle out, Pitch US05 at 18- 20 , add clean ice if you need to. Try to keep it at 20ish. Here's a list of coopers kits bitterness in case thats any help, notice the cerveza you mentioned is real low on bittering. The list mightnt be perfectly accurate but it's a good guide. The real ale with the above treatment turns out very drinkable around 37IBU. Cheers :icon_cheers:

use formulae
IBU[on can]*1.7/23 *0.725=
eg , for DELETED aust bitter; 620*1.7/23*0.725= 33.2 IBU
or ; IBU on can * 0.0536,
eg , for DELETED aust bitter; 620*0.0536 = 33.2 IBU

........this seems correct if using dex/ BE , if using 1.5kg LLME increase bitterness
by approx ? 2 - 5 ? IBU to compensate for residual sweetness
due to low attenuability of LLME

ORIGINAL SERIES
coopers lager; 20.9 IBU
coopers draught; 22.5 IBU
coopers real ale; 30.0 IBU
coopers dark ale; 31.6 IBU
coopers stout; 38 IBU
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
coopers pale ale; 18.2 IBU
coopers european lager; 18.2 IBU
coopers mexican cerveza 14.5 IBU
PREMIUM SELECTION
premium selection aust bitter; 26.5 IBU
premium selection traditional draught; 22.5 IBU
premium selection sparkling ale; 26.3 IBU
BREWMASTER SELECTION
brewmaster selection pils; 22.5 IBU
brewmaster selection IPA; 38.0 IBU
brewmaster selection Wheat Beer; 16.1 IBU

 

[Mclovin]

My Favourite Kits

Morgans Blue mountain lager with BE2 and kit yeast @18'C for 2 weeks.

ESB 3 kg American pale ale with White Labs WLP 001 yeast @18'C for 2 weeks.

B&B bitter with 500g Dex and 500g LLME with US05 yeast @18'C for 2 weeks.

enjoy :icon_cheers:

 

[Impy]

I enjoy a lighter style beer such as aussie lagers (my regular when I go to the pub is tooheys new if thats any indication!), also quite a fan of cascade lager and corona, however dont mind some pale ales (fat yak and little creatures would be favorites here). Not at all a fan of darker ales/stouts. I should also mention, that I have limited access to temperature control (dont have room for a brewing fridge), so using a lager yeast would be out of the question for me I am guessing.

Definitely steer clear of the generic coopers and tooheys kits you find in supermarkets. Find your local homebrew store and get kits from there instead.

You'll be able to get a much better range of kits. The coopers kits are actually pretty good, once you see their full range. Your homebrew store might even have clones for little creatures etc (i've done this one which was AWESOME http://www.thebrewshop.com.au/ezybrew-litt...ale-p-424.html)

The trick with most kits is to enhance the features you know you like. This can involve adding some steeping grains (crystal malt, wheat, caramalt etc) and/or adding some hops for either a long boil or just as finishing hops (you can buy special little finishing hops bags)

The best bet is to get to a homebrew store and start asking questions. There are so many details to go into that a forum post will probably just raise more questions that your homebrew store guy will be able to answer straight away.

good luck!