Toucan Coopers Stout & Hops Question

[HoppingMad]

There's been mention of fuggles here, but you've said you like Coopers Best extra. Reckon that beer has Pride of Ringwood or Goldings Hops in it due to the strong bitterness (Coopers Pale and Sparkling are definately hopped to the max with Pride of Ringwood). Fuggles wouldn't be a big Coopers hop I would have thought as fuggles impart a real 'mown grass' flavour that's common in a lot of UK beers. The burnt taste would come from a grain like roast barley, but you like chocolate - so your recipe is looking good with those you've listed and you'll get some roasted flavour from the Stout kit for sure. You're right to take the black malt out as that's largely for colour I think and it will be dark enough already.

Careful on putting too much fuggles in your beer and you'll think you're drinking your front lawn. I think with the Dark Can and the Stout, the beer will be naturally bitter so you're right to go with a late hop for aroma. If it does turn out too bitter, stouts always improve with a little bit of cellaring, so you can always put them away and allow the hop bitterness to fall back a bit.

Coopers Stout would also use a coopers yeast - the best result would be to take some from a bottle or use their dry version, but IMHO they can be problematic so go with the S-04 and you'll get a cleaner result.

Hopper.

 

[benny_bjc]

Is the aroma hops even necessary in this particular brew?
I'm new to brewing on the darkside!

 

[sid]

I just done a 1/2 batch using 1 coopers stout kit and 200g dextrose and some grains.........got 6.5% reading. I think I used .350g rolled oats and 200g crystal /40g chocolate, bit of coffee and star anesse.

 

[RdeVjun]

I just done a 1/2 batch using 1 coopers stout kit and 200g dextrose and some grains.........got 6.5% reading. I think I used .350g rolled oats and 200g crystal /40g chocolate, bit of coffee and star anesse.

Hi sid, glad to see the star anise getting a run in someone else's brews (IIRC, you might've posted in a thread about stout yonks ago and I suggested star anise?).
So that's effectively a half toucan k&b with twist (sounds almost gymnastic!), and it seems close to the money IMO.
I've only tried a couple of stouts with oats, didn't really think it was worthwhile, but I used it about 1/3 of that rate. I prefer the anise in dry stouts, in sweet ones it is too much like sarsparilla lolly water.
Anyway, good luck! :icon_cheers:
RdeV.

 

[sid]

Hi sid, glad to see the star anise getting a run in someone else's brews (IIRC, you might've posted in a thread about stout yonks ago and I suggested star anise?).

Hey ya RdeV.

Yeh I probably got that idea from you.

Hopefully it should turn out alright, about a week away from tasting. Had a hell of a job sparging the oats mixed with grain, the oats get quite thick after a mash. Apart from that you have to watch those oats when you boil because they tended to burn on the bottom of my pot.......I've been pushing the amount of oats just to see what it does to my beer.
Star anise Is a good addition, but I don't add too many, quite a strong herb that, can over powering. I have tried 3 star anise and that was too much for me in a 23 litre brew.

Cheers, Sid.