First time lager-kit form

[Manxnorton]

Hi guys,
Been a few months of illness again...but I bounce back!! The grim reaper had the marching orders again! Lol
After 30 odd years of homebrewing making a kit lager it my first!!
It's the coopers Australian lager kit.
Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.
I'll prob exchange yeast to other lager yeast, the sugar is in question..but I'll wait for your advice..
Felt great to get back home and get into the man cave...
Thx for viewing
ATB
Bri

 

[Fil]

Hey good to hear

cant offer help with the brew, but ive read positive comments on the kit.

one thought though, if you substitute a lager yeast for the kit yeast wont you need to consider a lagering period too?? (tbh i dont know.. )

 

[Oneflewover]

I know nothing about brewing lager kits at all, but just wanted to post to say well done on sending the grim reaper packing!

Good luck with your brew.

 

[MyQul]

Glad to see the grim reaper's been a knockin' but your still rockin'

As far as the kit goes, swap out the yeast and either swap it for a true lager yeast or a clean ale yeast like US-05 or Nottingham (Wilko ale) and ferment it as cool as you can. If you haven't got a brew fridge. If you have a brew fridge ferment at 12C if your using lager yeast or 15C if your using ale yeast

 

[Manxnorton]

Hey good to hear

cant offer help with the brew, but ive read positive comments on the kit.

one thought though, if you substitute a lager yeast for the kit yeast wont you need to consider a lagering period too?? (tbh i dont know.. )

Hi fil
I saw our old AG kit for the first time at the weekend at my friends garage.
And straight away the memories and what the kit can do was theropy at its best!!! Took time getting the names back into my old battered brain coz of the strokes but there no stopping me now!!!
Got my pal into AG now so going to teach him...lol
I just don't know why I haven't done a lager before, but it's going to more challenging (well for me anyways lol)
Hope things your end is sweet?
Atb
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

I know nothing about brewing lager kits at all, but just wanted to post to say well done on sending the grim reaper packing!

Good luck with your brew.

Thx pal...
The so n so tried 4 times this was the 5th...obviously I'm not ready to go up to the homebrew garden just yet lol
Mind I'm sick of hospital food and getting a new set of PJ's slippers and a dressing gown hahaha!!
Anyways like always I'll take my time get advice and then get onto it!!
Atb
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

Glad to see the grim reaper's been a knockin' but your still rockin'

As far as the kit goes, swap out the yeast and either swap it for a true lager yeast or a clean ale yeast like US-05 or Nottingham (Wilko ale) and ferment it as cool as you can. If you haven't got a brew fridge. If you have a brew fridge ferment at 12C if your using lager yeast or 15C if your using ale yeast

Hello my m8,
Hmmmm!! Good choice of the yeast! And I've looked up the lager temps etc..but some of temps are confusing sometimes..I know lagering it properly..but thinking 18c! Didn't know low as 12...seen the yeast starter is important and been told more yeast coz of the temp slow..
All this is just needs clarify TBH lol
Saflager s-23 lager yeast I looked at..any thoughts?
What about extra yeast nueteunts (spelt wrong lol)?
Right now I'm messing up my thoughts and spelling its time for bed
Nite nite all
Atb
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

Ohhhhh forgot I've no enhance thingybob in the kit!! Just the malt kit n the yeast that comes with..
Atb
Bri

 

[Slayer]

Hello my m8,
Hmmmm!! Good choice of the yeast! And I've looked up the lager temps etc..but some of temps are confusing sometimes..I know lagering it properly..but thinking 18c! Didn't know low as 12...seen the yeast starter is important and been told more yeast coz of the temp slow..
All this is just needs clarify TBH lol
Saflager s-23 lager yeast I looked at..any thoughts?
What about extra yeast nueteunts (spelt wrong lol)?
Right now I'm messing up my thoughts and spelling its time for bed
Nite nite all
Atb
Bri

Hi,

You'll see from the Coopers European Lager thread that I've just kicked off my first lager too. I used Saflager s-23 lager yeast and its performing well at an average of 15C.

Just need to get my around post bottling conditions!!

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Been a few months of illness again...but I bounce back!! The grim reaper had the marching orders again! Lol
Atb
Bri

Hi Brian, i just checked your PM's and see it was January 2015 when he first tried, he is a persistent so and so, glad to hear you have won the latest round, keep us posted on your lager experiment. :thumb:

 

[Manxnorton]

Hi,

You'll see from the Coopers European Lager thread that I've just kicked off my first lager too. I used Saflager s-23 lager yeast and its performing well at an average of 15C.

Just need to get my around post bottling conditions!!

Thx slayer,
Great to see it!
I can get the temp to 15C, even though the out house has bad temps, so I'll use my man cave..and no radiators open the windows...trial the windows over a few days.. checking every few hrs during the day..
And taking into consideration the temp in the FV when the ferm hits in!!
Aye the saflager 23 should do the trick.
What about extra nutrients for the yeast starter? And using the kits yeast for back up or extra yeast?
Not into mixing yeasts TBH..but not research if it could be done..
Going to a long hike to get my wort chiller and a few bits from my AG kit stored, but worth it! Especially time needed to get the pitching temp right!!
Tested the cold water upstairs due to mobility (man cave upstairs) 12.1C and at the mo the room temp is 15.9C so adjusting needed..
Of course there a chance that the temp will drop or get hotter due to the better weather lol both difference temps I'll be looking at...got a water bath just incase underneath..cold tea towel etc..and if the temp gets out of control colder...either trial the radiator or a heater belt with the stc 1000..
Your probly thinking why not use a ferm box etc..heat belt and the fans system to make the temp spot on!!
In hindsight I might do this.
The difference between a spot on final brew and a crap one is just a little bit of work...
TBH not confident over the weeks that the temp will be spot on using just the leave it and see lol.
Experience going kits and AG at lot of pre planning and make sure it's right goes a long way!!
Anyways I'm woffling on as per!
Not probs for lagering temps once the brew is finished (if it's successful..) up to bottling and aging it!
But I've got them priming drop thingys I've never use them...500ml bottles..what u think of them?
I usly use half t spoon.
Anyways need to hit the road!
Atb
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

Hi Brian, i just checked your PM's and see it was January 2015 when he first tried, he is a persistent so and so, glad to hear you have won the latest round, keep us posted on your lager experiment. :thumb:

Aye I know it well!! Been a few stress related weeks back in hospital but it doesn't count hahaha!!! Feel like Jason X come back to life...humour is ace..

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Keep us posted. :thumb:

 

[Manxnorton]

just beed to my stored up Scotland, and couldn't believe my eyes how much kit I have...about 4 separate kits..
blummin 2 wort chillers aswell....:smile: 3 STD 1000 setups....OMG.
just got chiller for the lager when start it...but hose fitting isn't my best point! as some remember over the years lol
ATB
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

Got some beer enhancer for the kit, so just waiting on the yeast and my hose attachment for the wort chiller to get here...cant wait.
ATB
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

Hi,

You'll see from the Coopers European Lager thread that I've just kicked off my first lager too. I used Saflager s-23 lager yeast and its performing well at an average of 15C.

Just need to get my around post bottling conditions!!

Hello again m8,
Just confirm the saflager says 2 x 11.5g packets in up to 30L 15C..on the packet.?
Nearly there! Just need to get my wort chiller sorted..ok I can use the old method of cooling it! But it's nice to the proper kit incase I go over the temps..
Atb
Bri

 

[Slayer]

Hello again m8,
Just confirm the saflager says 2 x 11.5g packets in up to 30L 15C..on the packet.?
Nearly there! Just need to get my wort chiller sorted..ok I can use the old method of cooling it! But it's nice to the proper kit incase I go over the temps..
Atb
Bri

I just used one packet on the advice of my LHBS owner.
Stopped bubbling one week in. Temperature in my garage is hovering around 13C.

 

[Slayer]

Thx slayer,
Great to see it!
I can get the temp to 15C, even though the out house has bad temps, so I'll use my man cave..and no radiators open the windows...trial the windows over a few days.. checking every few hrs during the day..
And taking into consideration the temp in the FV when the ferm hits in!!
Aye the saflager 23 should do the trick.
What about extra nutrients for the yeast starter? And using the kits yeast for back up or extra yeast?
Not into mixing yeasts TBH..but not research if it could be done..
Going to a long hike to get my wort chiller and a few bits from my AG kit stored, but worth it! Especially time needed to get the pitching temp right!!
Tested the cold water upstairs due to mobility (man cave upstairs) 12.1C and at the mo the room temp is 15.9C so adjusting needed..
Of course there a chance that the temp will drop or get hotter due to the better weather lol both difference temps I'll be looking at...got a water bath just incase underneath..cold tea towel etc..and if the temp gets out of control colder...either trial the radiator or a heater belt with the stc 1000..
Your probly thinking why not use a ferm box etc..heat belt and the fans system to make the temp spot on!!
In hindsight I might do this.
The difference between a spot on final brew and a crap one is just a little bit of work...
TBH not confident over the weeks that the temp will be spot on using just the leave it and see lol.
Experience going kits and AG at lot of pre planning and make sure it's right goes a long way!!
Anyways I'm woffling on as per!
Not probs for lagering temps once the brew is finished (if it's successful..) up to bottling and aging it!
But I've got them priming drop thingys I've never use them...500ml bottles..what u think of them?
I usly use half t spoon.
Anyways need to hit the road!
Atb
Bri

I've never used the carbonation drops. I did read that the Coopers ones are designed for 600-700ml bottles they use in Oz. So for a 500ml bottle you need 1.5 per bottle...bit of a pain in the @rse me thinks!

I've batched primed using a PB, but have screwed up when I realised that there was undissolved sugar at the bottom of the barrel once I'd filled all my bottles.
Think I'll try your method with half a teaspoon next time.

 

[Manxnorton]

I've never used the carbonation drops. I did read that the Coopers ones are designed for 600-700ml bottles they use in Oz. So for a 500ml bottle you need 1.5 per bottle...bit of a pain in the @rse me thinks!

I've batched primed using a PB, but have screwed up when I realised that there was undissolved sugar at the bottom of the barrel once I'd filled all my bottles.
Think I'll try your method with half a teaspoon next time.

Hello m8,
aye the half t spoon worked every time with the 500ml bootles and full t spoon with 1L bottles.
But like ive not used the drobs...so instead of crushin a drop of the 1.5 ill just use one....trial and error.:lol:
ive got 3 packets of them given to me...might use them lol
ATB
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

hello guys,
Just when I could start the lager kit, another hose connection I bought work great!!
Only problem is I need a bigger hose.......aghhhhhhhh!!!
too big for my green hose....
So ordered a few metres of 16mm hose...
nitemare.
I only need the one inlet on my wort chiller,the other is spot on.
oh well another day wasted..things are sent to try me!!!! I could take my time and try n get the temp to 15C.....but if ive got the kit why do all that messing on:smile:
patience is a fertue
ATB
Bri