Recommended 3rd Brew?

[buttersd70]

I normally say 'links in my sig', but there not there :lol: (I've pulled it down to change some of the links...will be back up in a day or so).
but heres the links: first and last being the most relevant.

If you're a noob, read this: Frequently Asked Questions For The New Brewer ; Airlock not bubbling?link: My airlock isn't bubbling! ;
New to kegging? link: Balancing A Draught System ; Pouring problems? link:A Beginner's Guide to Kegging
Want more consistant carbonation? link: Using a Bulk Priming Calculator ;Problems with head retention? link: Getting a head :Want to steep grain?link: Steeping Specialty Grain

 

[Aus_Rider_22]

I normally say 'links in my sig', but there not there :lol: (I've pulled it down to change some of the links...will be back up in a day or so).
but heres the links: first and last being the most relevant.

If you're a noob, read this: Frequently Asked Questions For The New Brewer ; Airlock not bubbling?link: My airlock isn't bubbling! ;
New to kegging? link: Balancing A Draught System ; Pouring problems? link:A Beginner's Guide to Kegging
Want more consistant carbonation? link: Using a Bulk Priming Calculator ;Problems with head retention? link: Getting a head :Want to steep grain?link: Steeping Specialty Grain

I didn't look hard enough because that last link is perfect!

Cheers.

 

[Macca17]

I read that one before doing my first extract brew, wish I had read the second link as well

 

[Aus_Rider_22]

Alright, I am going to make the step to extract this brew. The 2 previous brews are still conditioning in the shed so I will still have supplies if I manage to stuff up my first extract.

Please critique it and change amounts if you recommend. ( I have updated this after recommendations from this thread as well as others)

1.7kg Coopers Real Ale
500g Coopers Light Malt Extract
1kg Coopers Brew Enhancer 2
20g of Chinook/Pride of Ringwood/Amarillo/Hallertauer hops steeped for 60 minutes
20g of Hallertauer/Tettnang/Fuggles/Saaz/Crystal hops steeped for 5 minutes
US-05 or US-04 yeast.

Which would be the best high and low acid hops to use here? What yeast would you recommend?

Thanks for the help. I have time to do this 3rd brew so I am wanting to get the ingredients that you guys recommend. Cheers!

 

[buttersd70]

The first point of extract brewing is that the hopped kit beer (in this case the real ale), is replaced with unhopped extract and hops boiled for a 60min bittering addition, where the hops are boiled in the wort....

steeping hops in hot water for 60min will do absolutely sfa, and is just a waste of hops. If the hops are boiled, then you have 2 lots of bitterness: one from the tin, and one from the hops.

The second point of extract brewing is, because you are adding the hops yourself, to achieve the level of bitterness required, you can ditch the brew packs, brew enhancers, sugar blends etc, and make beer out of the ingredients that beer is normally made out of: malt, hops, water, yeast.

 

[Nick JD]

Wouldn't the old stocking contain bacteria? Will the boiling be sufficient to kill off any bad bacteria? By throw in some more do you mean add 15-20g each interval?

So I don't need a 1.7kg can of goop?

A few minutes > 100 degrees C will kill anything that eats beer.

By throwing in hops (and trust me, when you smell a few packs of hops you'll be throwing in as much as possible) at each interval (5-30g but it's a matter of the hops "power" and your taste) you get:

Between 30 and 60 minutes boiling time you get bitterness.
Between 10 and 25 minutes you get hop flavours.
Between 0 and 15 minutes you get hop aromas.

There's a graph somehere floating about that explains it better. By "0" minutes boiling time this is often the way people refer to "dry hopping", where hops are simply thrown in the fermenter. I almost never ferment without dry hopping in extracts. Where the Goop tins really suffer is in a lack of hop flavour and aroma.

Everyone has you sorted on Steeping grains. I strongly recommend Carapils - there's almost no flavour, but the beer's "feel" is much better, as is the head retention. Note that with a tablespoon or two of a super dark roasted malt in your steep, you can change your pale ale into something not very pale at all. The colour of your beers will be your decision.

Ditching that 1.7kg can of goop is a great way to have more control over your beer. That said, goop cans are good and cheap. 1.5kg cans of goop are generally unmalted - that's a good thing.

Have a look at this site's sponsor's range of hops and steepable grains - you'll go a bit nuts with the sheer amount of varieties - take note of the "AA" percentage, it's a "bitterness" level thing. Check out some of the extract recipes (there's not many but enough to get some inspiration).

 

[Nick JD]

Alright, I am going to make the step to extract this brew. The 2 previous brews are still conditioning in the shed so I will still have supplies if I manage to stuff up my first extract.

Please critique it and change amounts if you recommend. ( I have updated this after recommendations from this thread as well as others)

1.7kg Coopers Real Ale
500g Coopers Light Malt Extract
1kg Coopers Brew Enhancer 2
20g of Chinook/Pride of Ringwood/Amarillo/Hallertauer hops steeped for 60 minutes
20g of Hallertauer/Tettnang/Fuggles/Saaz/Crystal hops steeped for 5 minutes
US-05 or US-04 yeast.

Which would be the best high and low acid hops to use here? What yeast would you recommend?

Thanks for the help. I have time to do this 3rd brew so I am wanting to get the ingredients that you guys recommend. Cheers!

Here's how I would review your recipe (or for the next one). As always, just IMHO!

1.5kg Coopers Light Malt Can (unhopped)
1.5kg Light Dried Malt Extract (LDME)
High AA hops for 60 min
Low AA hops for < 20 min

Experimenting with new hops is the best part of extract brewing. May I suggest having a "standard" malt recipe (roughly 3kg of malt) and then throwing differing hops at it. This way you'll really "taste" the hops for what they are and get a good idea what you like and what they are capable of. Read up on the characteristics of the hops and hash together a recipe.

Your yeast choice is good. Try both of these and see which one you prefer. The temperature must not get above 24 degrees C! Better below 20.

 

[rackemup]

do a wheat beer, (if u like this style of course) easy to brew, ferments out pretty quick, can handle relatively high temps, matures very quick in the bottle too. just get some liquid/dry wheat malt and a good wheat beer yeast like wb-06 and a fairly neutral hops or none at all(wheat beers arent supposed to be hoppy but you can add some if u like) i have tried the e.s.b 1.7 kg kit and it turned out great

 

[Aus_Rider_22]

The first point of extract brewing is that the hopped kit beer (in this case the real ale), is replaced with unhopped extract and hops boiled for a 60min bittering addition, where the hops are boiled in the wort....

steeping hops in hot water for 60min will do absolutely sfa, and is just a waste of hops. If the hops are boiled, then you have 2 lots of bitterness: one from the tin, and one from the hops.

The second point of extract brewing is, because you are adding the hops yourself, to achieve the level of bitterness required, you can ditch the brew packs, brew enhancers, sugar blends etc, and make beer out of the ingredients that beer is normally made out of: malt, hops, water, yeast.

Sorry, I really did miss the point then.

So rather than experimenting with different cans from Coopers etc to change flavour and taste, extract brewing flavours are altered by different hops used?

Have a look at this site's sponsor's range of hops and steepable grains - you'll go a bit nuts with the sheer amount of varieties - take note of the "AA" percentage, it's a "bitterness" level thing. Check out some of the extract recipes (there's not many but enough to get some inspiration).

Wow I have been looking at craftbrewer's range of hops and there is heaps! I think I have a plan of attack now. I will go ahead and use the Real Ale with 500grams LDME, BE2 and the kit yeast.

Tonight I am going to place a decent sized order of a few assorted hops and yeasts from craftbrewer and stock up of malt extract for my next brew! This thread has be very informative and helped me make a learning transition to using hops. Will keep everyone updated.

Cheers!

 

[petesbrew]

Sorry, I really did miss the point then.

So rather than experimenting with different cans from Coopers etc to change flavour and taste, extract brewing flavours are altered by different hops used?



Wow I have been looking at craftbrewer's range of hops and there is heaps! I think I have a plan of attack now. I will go ahead and use the Real Ale with 500grams LDME, BE2 and the kit yeast.

Tonight I am going to place a decent sized order of a few assorted hops and yeasts from craftbrewer and stock up of malt extract for my next brew! This thread has be very informative and helped me make a learning transition to using hops. Will keep everyone updated.

Cheers!

The learning curve has begun.
Joining this site is one of the best things for your brewing.... addictive as hell though!

 

[BjornJ]

Useful graph to play with boiling times for hops:

 

[Aus_Rider_22]

Thanks for the graph. Have it saved for reference when steeping.

I went ahead and ordered the following from craftbrewer.com.au

2 x Fermentis Safale US-05 (11.5gm)
2 x Fermentis Safale S-04 (11.5gm)
1 x Amarillo Hops (pellets 90gms)
1 x Hallertau Hops (pellets 90gms)
1 x Galaxy Hops (pellets 90gms)

After I bottle the Coopers Real Ale I will begin on my extract journey!