Advice on bottling from a newbie!

[smartin1123]

Hi all,

I have my first batch on the go of coopers lager this has been fermenting for 4 days i checked the FG and this is just over 1006 - 1007 I will check this tomorrow and bottle with the carbonated drops if it is the same.

I have three questions!!!!

1. How many carbonating drops in each pint bottle I have read it is one and other places say two?

2. Should this be stored the same temp as the first fermentation in the barrel which was 22 - 24 degrees?

3. Most importantly when can I put them in the fridge to drink?

Thanks for all your help on this.

Steve

 

[klaus]

Four days ferment is quite quick - I would leave it a few more days.

1. Not familiar with the drops, but what do the instructions say? Avoid being side-tracked by board discussions....
2. Again, follow the instructions .... I normally put all bottled beers and lagers under the stairs which is about 18C, colder in Winter.
3. Sorry for being boring, but I would still follow the instructions... though I would let mature for a few weeks longer than recommended on the tin.

There is reward for patience ..... a nice glass of beer or wine!

 

[Eric_S]

If you can, give the lager at least a month in the bottle.

What Coopers lager was it? I did the Aussie lager and after about 6 weeks in the bottle it's great. I'm bottling a Coopers Euro lager next weekend and i'm told you need to leave it at least 3 months in the bottle if you can.

I found it much easier to batch prime - dissolve about 100-120g of sugar in a little of the fermented beer (I did it on the hob in a sterilised saucepan). Then rack the beer into another vessel (another FV bucket is ideal) and mix the dissolved suger in that. Then bottle away and no need to much about with each bottle. Also ideal if you are using bottles of differing sizes.

 

[smartin1123]

Thanks Klaus and Eric_S

The lager is the Austrailian Lager in the green tin!

According to the instructions I have it is all going well 4 days fermenting at 27 degrees and 6 days at 21 degrees 22 - 24 degrees should be between the two somewhere.

I will keep bottled for three weeks at least and see how it goes.

I will let you know how it turns out.

Steve

 

[Eric_S]

Luckily (!) I was away for a month so it kinda forced me to not drink it. But the Aussie lager is good.

Batch prime of you can - it really is a lot easier although the carb drops do seem quite simple to use (although probably a more expensive option).

Get your next batch on the go as soon as you have bottled up - then you can start building up stocks. Wilkos are doing the BrewBuddy starter kits (which now come with two kits plus the FV etc). If you use some beerkit enhancer instead of sugar you get a pretty decent beer (well lager I suppose).

 

[smartin1123]

Hi Eric,

Thanks, I am in town this week so I will pop in, it wont hurt to have a second one on the go.

Steve

 

[The Goatreich]

I also have the Aussie kit fermenting at the moment. It's on its 8th day today, and is still bubbling through the airlock every minute or two. Up until today I didn't have a hydrometer (typically I bought one, then no less than 20 minutes later someone gave one to me!), so haven't tested it yet, but will do tomorrow evening.

I was under the impression that if it's still bubbling it's not ready for bottling. I'd be very surprised if yours was ready after 4 days.

 

[Hollow Legs]

Hi mate - if it's the Coopers in the green tin then it's a Euro lager and the instructions say to brew it at 21degC - 24degC.

The Eurolager comes with proper lager yeast and I personally try to keep mine at around 18 - 20degC as the higher temps make the brew taste, shall I say not so eurolagery, I know that it's hard to keep the temps down in the summer but if you can Euro lager tastes better at these cooler temps.

As for carbonation drops, they recommend 1.5 for a 500ml bottle, but one will suffice - depends how fizzy you want it.

After bottling store at room temp (around 20degC) for at least 10 days, 14 is better, and then in a cool room for 4 days, then refrigerate them as you need them.

 

[smartin1123]

I have had no bubbles through the air lock for over half a day and this evening.

i checked a sample this afternoon with the hydrometer and it was between 1006 - 1007. The instructions say 4 days at 27 degrees and 6 days at 21.

Mine has sat at a steady 23 - 24 degrees so tomorrow afternoon will be 5 days.

hopfully i have not done something wrong!!!!!

 

[smartin1123]

Thanks Hollow Legs Utility room and garage it is then!!

 

[aneray]

I have my first batch on the go of coopers lager this has been fermenting for 4 days i checked the FG and this is just over 1006 - 1007 I will check this tomorrow and bottle with the carbonated drops if it is the same.

Coopers are a great middle of the road kit if fermented over a slightly longer period and given a few months conditioning time.

Even if your ferment has finished, leave it to settle and start to clear itself up for another week. By doing this you will have less yeast deposit when bottled and it will be virtually clear by the time it goes into the cold.

Once in the bottle, keep in the warm for 7 - 10 days and then transfer to a much cooler place for at least four weeks prior to tasting.

The Coopers kits are also a good one for short brewing and making slightly stronger. The European is a cracker if a Saflager yeast is used instead of the one supplied