Trying To Clarify

[sniff wilson]

G'day guys, I'm just about to start my first brew (coopers lager) and just wanted to clarify a few things.

I have been given a kit by someone who has brewed in it three times.
I'm happy with the cleaning process and have done this.
I was told that when initially mixing the brew to use a kg of the most refined sugar I could find, but am reading to the contrary on here....?

Would be great to get some feedback ...

Thanks!!!

 

[theredone]

for starters unless your in a realy cold climate i wouldnt try the lager just yet. im in bris and my LHBS guy assured me that lagers go fine up here, but it didnt. taisted like apple cider. secondly get away from the sugar(if u must use sugar use dextrose), and use some brew enhancer or make your own mix of malt/dex. 3rdly your gunna want to give the kit yeast the flick(in my opinion) and go with a better yeast, depending on what you brew determines what yeast u need. and lastly, if your in a hotter climate like i am, u have to try and keep it below 20-22max while it ferments, this again depends on what yeast you buy.

if you want something realy easy and cheap to do just grab a coopers pale and 1kg of brew enhancer #2 to get you off to a crackin start, ive found the kit yeast for this actually does a fair job but you could clean it up a little more with s05 or even reculture some coopers yeast from a bottle if your looking for the imitation flavour

good luck

edit: if you realy want it cleaned up even moreso try s04. but this yeast needs alot lower fermenting temp and takes longer to do its job. realy its just up to you and what you want from your beer

 

[JestersDarts]

G'day guys, I'm just about to start my first brew (coopers lager) and just wanted to clarify a few things.

I have been given a kit by someone who has brewed in it three times.
I'm happy with the cleaning process and have done this.
I was told that when initially mixing the brew to use a kg of the most refined sugar I could find, but am reading to the contrary on here....?

Would be great to get some feedback ...

Thanks!!!

G'Day Wilson



Youll be right using the Coopers Lager tin but to start out with, you wont get a lager. The yeast supplied is usually an ale yeast, which ferments at your 18-27 degree range. But treat it right, and you may get a beer that is drinkable.



Can I make a few suggestions, that being really simple, and without needing an elaborate setup, will improve your beer over throwing in a kilo of table sugar-

- Substitute the table sugar for a home brew shop supplied brew enhancer. These contain different mixes of light dry malt, dextrose and maltodextrine all which do different things within your beer. Youll more than likely be able to get a coopers brew enhancer box from your supermarket.

- Look into using some hops there are many ways you can use them in your brew to balance out flavours

- Ferment at close to 18-20 degrees as possible. The yeast supplied will throw off less un-desirable flavours at these temps

- If you have a hydrometer take an initial reading before you sit the fermenter away to do its work

- Search the crap out of this forum using google.



There are plenty more things, but I think this should improve your brew over a kilo of table sugar,



And probably want to make you try again to further improve your brews



Good luck JD