First taste of my first ever brew! What next?

[Rento]

My brother is over tomorrow night for dinner, so I thought I'd take a couple of bottles of my first brew out to sample. It's a Coopers Lager, was bottled 3 weeks ago and has been in my garage for the last week.

I deliberately didn't sneak a taste earlier, but I am quite impressed! Surprised it doesn't have a huge head as I primed with two drops in the 500ml bottle, but its clear, tastes like a (cheepish) lager and has a very slight hop flavour in the finish, but not not real middle as yet. Two bottles down already so out to the garage for a few more as I can see me having that again in sharp time!

My question though, is that the bottles (Coopers PET) were very firm when I put them on the garage a week ago and now they are far less so, is this simply the CO2 being absorbed by the beer? I would prefer a bit more 'fizz' but surely 2 carb drops is plenty in 500ml, or will it improve over time?

I've just bottled a Coopers Dark Ale, have a Coopers Real Ale in the FV and am thinking a Traditional Draught next. I'm not into IPA's or hoppy beers, my preference is on the malty side, I'm usually a 70/80 Shillings (Heavy), Belhaven Best, Sam Adams, Coors light (if thirsty) sort of guy, but also drink the odd Stout, Porter and dark ale so what are the recommendations out there? I have a week to go before the Real Ale goes in the bottle and I put the next batch on so give me your recommendations!

Thanks

R

 

[Zedilly]

Your bottles losing their firmness will possibly be down to the contents contracting now they are in the cold. :thumb:

 

[springtime]

CO2 is absorbed at a much higher rate if the beer is chilled. I am assuming that this is what has happened so hopefully your lager should have a bit more fizz.
I've brewed Coopers European & Canadian Blonde in the past- however in both cases I used light dme instead of sugar - both turned out better than expected. I can't comment too much on the fizz as both were kegged in cornies and pressured to 30psi in a cool garage for 4 days so the resultant beer was quite gassy.

 

[winelight]

Two recommendations for you, Coopers Stout and Woodforde's Admiral's Reserve.

 

[Rento]

Two recommendations for you, Coopers Stout and Woodforde's Admiral's Reserve.

I took your advice and got an Admirals Reserve kit along with a Coopers Traditional Draught and a can of Coopers LME.

I also have a Coopers Lager kit, so I got a can of Coopers Amber ME as I thought it may make the lager more intereting - has anyone done this before?

The decision I have now is what to brew first! I'm thinking the Draught then the Admirals - thoughts?

R

 

[calumscott]

Admirals is a really nice beer, bitter and the hop extract to finish it really gives it some punch.

What's the Coopers LME - is it light? If it is I'd use that for the lager and the Amber for the Trad Draught... :thumb:

 

[Rento]

Admirals is a really nice beer, bitter and the hop extract to finish it really gives it some punch.

What's the Coopers LME - is it light? If it is I'd use that for the lager and the Amber for the Trad Draught... :thumb:

Yes, LME is Light Malt Extract, I like the idea of doing the Draught as it says on the tin to taste it the way they recommend first. The Current Coopers Lager I am drinking (per the tin) is a bit light on flavour, perfectly pleasant but I was thinking the amber malt may give it a bit extra oomph?

R

 

[Andyhull]

I have the Admirals in bottles now, it's very good but the Nelsons Revenge is the best pint i've "ever" had :thumb:

 

[ScottM]

Admirals is a really nice beer, bitter and the hop extract to finish it really gives it some punch.

What's the Coopers LME - is it light? If it is I'd use that for the lager and the Amber for the Trad Draught... :thumb:

Yes, LME is Light Malt Extract, I like the idea of doing the Draught as it says on the tin to taste it the way they recommend first. The Current Coopers Lager I am drinking (per the tin) is a bit light on flavour, perfectly pleasant but I was thinking the amber malt may give it a bit extra oomph?

R

LME is liquid malt extract.
DME is dry malt extract.

They both come in varieties of "shade". Just in case there is any confusion over what you have bought.


The pint won't have much of a head if you have followed the instructions and used sugar along with brewing to 23L. All of these kits require far more malt, than the instructions would have you believe, in order to brew to a proper full bodied pint. Using 1kg of DME and a couple of hundred grams of brewing sugar would make all the difference to strength, body, mouth feel and taste when brewing to the full length. Pulling the brew length back to 20L can have a very positive effect also, but I would always recommend using either a beer enhancer or making up your own ratio faviouring DME/LME.

 

[Rento]

LME is liquid malt extract.
DME is dry malt extract.

They both come in varieties of "shade". Just in case there is any confusion over what you have bought.


The pint won't have much of a head if you have followed the instructions and used sugar along with brewing to 23L. All of these kits require far more malt, than the instructions would have you believe, in order to brew to a proper full bodied pint. Using 1kg of DME and a couple of hundred grams of brewing sugar would make all the difference to strength, body, mouth feel and taste when brewing to the full length. Pulling the brew length back to 20L can have a very positive effect also, but I would always recommend using either a beer enhancer or making up your own ratio faviouring DME/LME.

[/quote]

Oops newby error not used to the terminology yet!

I used Coopers Brew Enhancer in my lager with 2 carb drops per 500ml bottle so I recon its just a bit young. It's far from flat and has a good mouth feel, I just expected a better head.

 

[ScottM]

LME is liquid malt extract.
DME is dry malt extract.

They both come in varieties of "shade". Just in case there is any confusion over what you have bought.


The pint won't have much of a head if you have followed the instructions and used sugar along with brewing to 23L. All of these kits require far more malt, than the instructions would have you believe, in order to brew to a proper full bodied pint. Using 1kg of DME and a couple of hundred grams of brewing sugar would make all the difference to strength, body, mouth feel and taste when brewing to the full length. Pulling the brew length back to 20L can have a very positive effect also, but I would always recommend using either a beer enhancer or making up your own ratio faviouring DME/LME.

Oops newby error not used to the terminology yet!

I used Coopers Brew Enhancer in my lager with 2 carb drops per 500ml bottle so I recon its just a bit young. It's far from flat and has a good mouth feel, I just expected a better head.

That sounds OK so should have a bit of a head at least. Last year I brewed a mexican cerveza to the instructions and it was very down in body/mouthfeel. This was due to me using 1kg of brewing sugar. Nowadays I brew with at least 500g of DME and 1kg of brewing sugar to get the ABV up to around 5% and bring loads more body and flavour.

Don't get me wrong, the mexican cerveza was lovely it just needed a bit more body to make it top notch. It looked like cider in the glass, that's how little head there was lol.

Next time I would try brewing it exactly like you did, only to 20L rather than 23 :)