1st Brew

[Sponge]

Hello,

Got myself a Coopers DIY homebrew kit the other day and now have 23 litres of Cooper's Aussie lager sitting in the fermentor. As this was my first go I'm sure I've made a few mistakes but I followed the instructions so fingers crossed.

After sanitising all the stuff (fermentor, tin opener, spoon, trial jug and hydrometer) I mixed in the sugar as instructed added the tin of malt extract and filled it up to 20 litres. The temp was 22 degrees. I filled it up to 23 litres with hot water and the temp was about 23 degrees so I fired in the yeast put the lid on it. So now I guess I just sit and wait.

One question I do have though is when I tested the gravity it was 1036. I done some reading about brewing kits and 1040 seems to be the magic number. As mine was less than that will it be a problem?

 

[Peapodmaster]

Sounds good!, noo it'll just be weaker by about.. 0.5%. not much of a problem but apart from that it sounds good! :)

 

[YogiB]

Coopers are excellent kits; hope all goes well.

 

[Sponge]

Sounds good!, noo it'll just be weaker by about.. 0.5%. not much of a problem but apart from that it sounds good! :)

Thanks for that. Its put my mind at rest. I'll live with it not being as strong as it might have been. For a first try I'm just hoping its drinkable. I can see this being addictive I'm already thinking about what to try next.

 

[Sponge]

Coopers are excellent kits; hope all goes well.

Yes, I did a bit of research and they seemed to get good reviews. I'm interested to try their Wheat beer so might give that a shot next.

 

[craigite]

well done there. :thumb: :clap:

The gravity you stated is probably the gravity that kit is supposed to get.
Every confidence it will be great, as you sterilised everything first :thumb:

Any question just ask.

 

[Sponge]

I've been thinking about the gravity and decided to test the hydrometer in water. I actually have an old hydrometer I got from a mate but this kit came with one so I used it. When I put the old one in the water it floated at 1.000 exactly, the new one floated lower than this, so taking the difference into account the OG would have been 1040 .

So old hydrometer it is from now on.

 

[Sponge]

well done there. :thumb: :clap:

The gravity you stated is probably the gravity that kit is supposed to get.
Every confidence it will be great, as you sterilised everything first :thumb:

Any question just ask.

I do have a question but its about water this time. Do you use campden tablets? One of my pals has just made a batch too and he didnt bother, just used the water straight from the tap. As this was my first go I did but I'm wondering if I need to bother as the water here is pretty good.

Cheers

 

[guyb]

well done there. :thumb: :clap:

The gravity you stated is probably the gravity that kit is supposed to get.
Every confidence it will be great, as you sterilised everything first :thumb:

Any question just ask.

I do have a question but its about water this time. Do you use campden tablets? One of my pals has just made a batch too and he didnt bother, just used the water straight from the tap. As this was my first go I did but I'm wondering if I need to bother as the water here is pretty good.

Cheers

there's a lot of threads about water treatment on here - quick answer, I use 1/2 a tablet per 25L, depends on whether your water is chlorinated.
ask for a composition analysis from your water supplier - look in here viewforum.php?f=31

 

[craigite]

well done there. :thumb: :clap:

The gravity you stated is probably the gravity that kit is supposed to get.
Every confidence it will be great, as you sterilised everything first :thumb:

Any question just ask.

I do have a question but its about water this time. Do you use campden tablets? One of my pals has just made a batch too and he didnt bother, just used the water straight from the tap. As this was my first go I did but I'm wondering if I need to bother as the water here is pretty good.

Cheers

I get my water from Kirbister. We're lucky here as our water is not heavily chlorinated. Let's face it, our water is great but very soft.
I've brewed for years, well decades, and it only very recently I've bothered with water treatment.
I do treat the water with campden first but to be honest I'm not sure if it make any difference :wha:


Not sure what the effect will be when the water is treated with ammonia with the chlorine?

 

[blackrat]

Hi Sponge,
Just ran the temperature correction on your numbers and it works out to a corrected value of 1038, so near enough to not worry about.

 

[Sponge]

Hi Sponge,
Just ran the temperature correction on your numbers and it works out to a corrected value of 1038, so near enough to not worry about.

Thanks for that. I just had a look at those calculators. Very useful tools.

I notice from your signature that you are drinking Coopers Wheat beer. Whats it like? I'm was thinking about giving it a go next.

 

[Sponge]

Just a quick update. Had my Coopers lager in the bottles for nearly a week now and couldnt resist trying one. Got to say I'm presently surprised. As this was my first go I wasnt expecting much but it actually tastes quite good, had a good head when poured and was well carbonated. :thumb:

As this first go hasnt been a disaster I'm now looking at what to brew next. I think I'm getting hooked.

Also I'd like to say thanks to everyone who took the time to read this post and reply.

Cheers :

 

[andymat]

I did mexican cerveza after my first coopers oz lager and it was great and i used spray malt instead of enhancer.

Good luck

 

[geoffmartyn]

Hey Sponge,

Just found your thread here on the forum. I brewed my very first batch a couple of months ago now - Cooper's Lager, just the same as you.

I too tried mine after a week in the bottle and while it was good, it wasn't brilliant. I'm now on week 7 in the bottle and it's really getting there. They really mature with age (if you can stop yourself from drinking them before they get to that stage!)

I've since brewed a St. Peter's Ruby Red, which was first class after a week in the bottles and now gets better with each new bottle I open. Highly recommended.

I've also completed a St. Peter's IPA, which is 1 week in the bottles, but I'm leaving it until it's at least two before taking the plunge.

Brewing now is a Munton's Pilsner Lager and is going very well indeed.

Another thing - I didn't bother with gravity readings after the second brew. I just leave it as long as I can in the first fermentation (at least 10 days) and then bottle it! Anything else is a waste of good beer!

Cheers

Geoff

 

[Sponge]

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the list of stuff you've done, something to think about. I've been watching some videos on youtube by a guy called Craigtube and he did one of the St Peters kits and said they wer really good.

I noticed a thread about Raspberry Wheat beers on here and I'm keen to give one of them a try too. Decisions, decisions :wha:

I think I'm going to need more bottles or possibly a keg a or 2.

Cheers

Sponge

 

[geoffmartyn]

Hi Sponge,

I've watched quite a few of Craig's videos, and I must say they're what made me really want to give it a go. I just have memories of my Dad brewing stuff way back in the late 70's and early 80's and it all tasting terrible. For that reason I was on the fence until I saw Craig's videos.

I must say I'm really impressed with the quality I've been getting and will also be needing more bottles soon! I've been getting some really nice beer in brown glass bottles and re-using them with some tin caps and a capper and they've worked out really well. I've attempted to get the labels off, but some are better than others. In my mind, there's nothing finer than the grolsch style bottles which you'll get from most home-brew shops, although watch out on mail order as at least 1 has broken on delivery and since then I've just picked them up locally. There's something about popping the top on these bottles that's immensely satisfying! Especially if you get the little bit of white mist pouring over the top of the bottle-top when it's really cold.

The bottles i've been re-using are from the Black Isle Brewery (their beer is first class) and the bottles are really sturdy and well worth using again.

The Raspberry Wheat Beer sounds amazing - think I might give that a shot too.

I've got a big order coming tomorrow from http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/ with a St. Peter's Golden Ale kit, a Munton's Premium Gold Special Ale and another St. Peter's Ruby Red. All I need now are more bottles and a second fermenting kit and I will be officially unpopular with SWMBO... (She who must be obeyed!)

:)

Cheers

Geoff