First timer, advice needed!

[davros]

Hi all. I have been lurking for a while doing a bit of research before I ordered some kit to give my first brew a go.

I ordered a starter kit from wineworks that comes with a Coopers Original Bitter kit. I am a little bit confused as to what I add in to the mix. I have looked on their website and I see people suggesting all sorts of different things. I know on the pack it suggest the brew enhancer but I don't have that. I like the look of the Extra Smooth Bitter recipe on the coopers site. Which is as follows:

•1.7kg Coopers English Bitter
•1kg Coopers Brew Enhancer 1
•200g Molasses

As I said I don't have the Brew Enhancer so I was hoping to do the following:

•1.7kg Coopers Original Bitter
•500g Brewing Sugar (glucose powder)
•500g Muntons Spray Malt Medium
•200g Molasses

Would this work out ok?

How can recipes vary so widely from say 500g of sugar to over 1kg of sugar and equivalents?

Sorry for the long post but I'm a bit nervous. I'm sure you all remember your first brews..........have pity!

Thanks in advance

 

[graysalchemy]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I would ditch the sugar in favour of more spraymalt it will add more body and will be a better pint, so ad 1kg of spraymalt. :thumb: :thumb:

 

[dennisking]

Hi and welcome.

 

[fermentall]

hi D & Welcome

 

[bobsbeer]

Welcome. : You need slightly more spraymalt if you ditch the glucose. I've made it with beer enhancer which is a mix of glucose and spraymalt and it came out fine.

 

[eggman]

Welcome to the forum.
It all comes down to how much you want to spend really. It will be fine doing it as you have suggested, I do some Coopers kits pretty much the same way and they are a nice pint or you can spend a few quid more and add 1kg of spraymalt (As suggested by GA) and have an even better pint :thumb:
If you do just go with 50/50 brewing sugar and spraymalt it might be a good idea to brew it slightly short ie to 36 pints instead
:

 

[davros]

Thanks for the advice! The only reason I was going 50/50 on sugar malt was because the Coopers BE1 which was recommended, only contained a mixture of sugars from my research as opposed to the BE2 which is mainly malt. I did not know if I may make it too bitter and overwhelming.

Should I keep the molasses in??

Thanks

 

[alawlor66430]

Spray malt is definitely the way to go if you've got it or can get it, but don't be scared to use just sugar if that's what you've got the first couple of kits I did I put in the kilo and a half of sugar or just kilo depending on the kit and I still produced some lovely beers, so don't be shy, give it a try:-)

 

[eggman]

don't be scared to use just sugar if that's what you've got the first couple of kits I did I put in the kilo and a half of sugar or just kilo depending on the kit and I still produced some lovely beers, so don't be shy, give it a try:-)

Have tried all sugar and if you're on a budget it will do but it will result in a very thin beer with not much body to it

The only reason I was going 50/50 on sugar malt was because the Coopers BE1 which was recommended, only contained a mixture of sugars from my research as opposed to the BE2 which is mainly malt. I did not know if I may make it too bitter and overwhelming.
Should I keep the molasses in??

I might be mistaken but I thought brew enhancer 1 was about a 50/50 mix of sugar and malt anyway so what you're proposing to add will be pretty much the same. I just buy the sugar and malt and mix it to whatever ratio the brew needs as it's cheaper that way lol
Not sure about the molasses as not tried it myself but have tried a few different darker sugars and liked the results so as you're doing a bitter I would say go for it :thumb:
:

 

[alawlor66430]

Spray malts defo the way ahead with s kit, your right but some session beers get away with a bag of sugar, I wouldn't spoil a dearer kit by using it though, but some cheaper kits I don't mind