Question Re New Coopers Kit

[glenwal]

I wouldn't worry about changing the yeast, just use the one in the kit.

Using a different/better yeast is one of the eaisest ways to improve your beer. The problems with the ones that come with the kit are

a) Not enough yeast
b ) How long have they been under the lid
c) The conditions they have been kept in

So its not that there is anything wrong with the actual yeast strain, its just about pitching the correct amount of viable yeast, and picking up a pack of US-05 is a simple way to help improve that.


Though moving to a lager yeast probably wouldn't be my first pick, though if you really want to use one make sure you pitch 2 packs.

 

[JakeSm]

A lot of people really like that kit but few say it is the same as CPA. It was nothing like it when I brewed it - that might be me though.

This kit will not be like the coopers australian pale ale as coopers have not yet figured out how to dry their commercial yeast for homebrewing as their commercial yeast is much different. You can reculture the bottle yeast but that gets pretty complex for the newer brewers.

Just make it as an australian pale ale and try not to think of it as a coopers clone.

 

[glenwal]

coopers have not yet figured out how to dry their commercial yeast for homebrewing as their commercial yeast is much different

So we'll just have to wait until liquid yeasts become available for home brewing, then maybe they can package it for us? <_<

 

[bum]

We'll also have to wait for them to actually produce their own homebrew yeasts...

 

[soundawake]

So we'll just have to wait until liquid yeasts become available for home brewing, then maybe they can package it for us? <_<

Already have. The Whitelabs WLP009 liquid yeast is the Coopers yeast.

Unfortunately its only available two months of the year - March and April.

 

[fletcher]

is that the yeast for all their beers or specific ones?

EDIT: nevermind...found the answer!

 

[ash2]

Hi Everyone,

First post here, and what better way to celebrate this moment than by asking a silly newbie question

I've got one of the new Coopers DIY kits (the one without an airlock). Watching through the DVD it comes with it is suggested that once the "foam" on top has subsided it's wise to remove the Krausen collar and then replace the lid. Now I would have thought that removing the collar and then putting the lid back on would cause the CO2 to escape, is it wise to do this??

P.S. I won't be putting the brew down till Sunday (I promised my kids I wouldn't touch the kit other than watching the DVD until Father's Day ). For starters I'll simply be using the supplied can of Coopers Lager and carbonation drops, but will substitute the yeast for a lager yeast and will swap the supplied Brew Enhancer 1 for a kilo of something similar, both of which I've already picked up from my LHBS. I also have a thermostat-controlled fridge so I can ferment at around 10-12 degrees.

Thanks for reading and congrats on running such a knowledge-rich forum.


Cheers,

Ben.

I was at a loss when i brought a DIY KIT like you,i have 2 old school FV'S which i only use gladwrap on,so when i bought the Coops Diy i sent Paul at Coops an email to see what his response would be about the collar.Don't have to use it unless you are brewing something that has a lot of head{i don't get much head these days so i don't use it.

 

[yum beer]

Hey Blazar,

This be my suggestion for a new brewer given the two kits you have there:

Lager, kit yeast plus your lager yeast from LHBS, ferment at 14-16c, dont add the Hallertau, the coopers lager is an Aussie lager with POR
and IMO the european hop will not work. The lager kit with 1kg Coopers Brew Enhancer 2 plus 500gm Light Dry Malt at above temps, 3 months in bottle,
very drinkable smooth lager...ish.
APA with 1.5kg LDM with kit yeast at 21c, will push some fruity banana but will be good drinking for early attempts.

Get some Coopers Euro lager, 1kg LDM, your hallertau steeped for 10 mins,kit yeast at 12c...yummo.

 

[Blazar]

Hi guys, just thought I'd update by saying I've just put the brew down. I used the Coopers Lager can, the lager yeast from the LHBS and instead of using the Coopers Brew Enhancer 1 I used a substitute once again from the LHBS (which is the equivalent to Brew Enhancer 2 do it will be interesting). OG reading was 1050 and yeast was pitched at approx. 21 degrees. Ferment temp will be more towards 12 degrees once the grudge chills it down.

Thanks once again!!

Edit: I just had a quick look and is it normal for "sludge" to be forming along the bottom already?

 

[JakeSm]

Yeah thats normal, its mostly just the sugars falling to the bottom, most yeasts are bottom feeding yeasts so this is a good thing. As the fermentation progresses the "sludge" will reduce.

 

[Blazar]

Cheers mate, was starting think I hadn't stirred it properly!!

 

[bum]

1050 for a kit & kilo? You probably haven't. No big deal though, the yeasties will find it all.

Bear in mind that as the yeast flocs out you will get more sludge at the bottom of the fermenter, not less. Nothing to worry about.

 

[Blazar]

Yeah I thought 1050 seemed rather high. Oh well its my first so I've gotta screw something up haha.

 

[bum]

It's not really a huge issue, it only effects you alc calculations. Nothing to worry about really.

 

[Blazar]

Just over 24hrs and the SG has dropped to 1040. Another interesting point is the strip thermometer on the fermenter has stayed a constant 10 degrees, whereas my thermostat is set to 13 degrees!!

 

[wbosher]

Just over 24hrs and the SG has dropped to 1040. Another interesting point is the strip thermometer on the fermenter has stayed a constant 10 degrees, whereas my thermostat is set to 13 degrees!!

I've noticed it too. The stick on ones seem to be ok within a couple of degrees, which is fine by me.

I keep to around the middle of the temp range I'm after (or a little lower) and it should be good.

 

[Blitzer]

I've picked myself up one of the coopers DIY kits, I'm not brewing until this weekend but now I'm a bit worried about the fermenter after reading all this.

Everyone says to ditch it but I don't understand how one tub can be different from another it's just a plastic barrel, what makes the new coopers design so different & terrible?

 

[wbosher]

I've just done a brew with it and it works great. Just make sure you fill it up past the tap first (with water), to make sure it seals well before filling it with beer. :lol:

If you're doing the lager kit that came with it, you won't need to use the Krausen sleeve. You can if you want though, won't make any difference.

No airlock to worry/complain about either.

 

[MelbourneDave]

I've picked myself up one of the coopers DIY kits, I'm not brewing until this weekend but now I'm a bit worried about the fermenter after reading all this.

Everyone says to ditch it but I don't understand how one tub can be different from another it's just a plastic barrel, what makes the new coopers design so different & terrible?

Don't worry about it, the new coopers fermenters are good. I've never had a problem with it and I love that it's clear so you can see everything swirling round in the wort. Only thing to watch is only remove the tap when it's wet. I found that pulling it out or putting it in when it's dry causes it to drip. I've done about thirty brews on the new coopers design and had no problems. Taps are easy to clean as well, I've never had to replace the tap. I can always clean it properly. I think that alone slowly makes up for the price difference compared to a Bunnings job and when you add in the clear plastic, that puts coopers on top in my opinion.

 

[Blazar]

Just a friendly update: this first batch has been bottled for two weeks, I tried one at one week and it was sickly sweet to me, now after another week its well gassed and has dropped a lot of sweetness. Beautiful colour and surprisingly good head retention as well. Biggest lesson leatnf is PATIENCE!!