Good Lager for beginer

[hamish]

Hi, i'm just away to try my first ever homebrew and was looking for some advice on which one to try first, im looking for something that will quite forgiving.
I like Fosters and Carling types of lager so something close to that would be good (although i know not going to get exactly same taste).
Any advice is very welcome.
Thanks,

Hamish

 

[tubby_shaw]

This apparently comes close to Fosters according to the review :thumb:
LINKY
I would use brewing sugar or golden syrup to replace the household sugar though :

 

[Bribie]

Indeed, Coopers kits contain a fair amount of 'isohop' from the same Australian Pride of Ringwood hops that go into Australian Fosters Lager amongst others. The yeast however is an ale yeast, not bad if you keep the temperature low but you would be better off chucking the kit yeast and get a s-23, ferment at about 15 degrees or lower, and you will get a cleaner taste. Also instead of the kilo of sugar, a half and half mixture of light spray malt and dextrose (glucose) will give you a fuller, less cidery tasting beer. Also about 15 g of a 'lager' hop such as Saaz will give it a nice boost. (make some hop 'tea' and put it into primary fermentation).

The photo in my avatar is actually a Coopers Lager made up as a 'partial' with a mini mash of a kilo of light malt grain, plus some extra dextrose and a touch of Saaz. Turned out not unlike Fosters, more like Melbourne Bitter which is a slightly more bitter and darker stablemate of Fosters in Australia.

 

[hamish]

Thanks guys, i've just ordered Coopers kit with S-23 Yeast i'll let you know how i get on.

Thanks for your help :

 

[commsbiff]

Nice one Hamish - what kind of sugar are you going to add?

 

[hamish]

I'm going to try brewing sugar for the first batch couldn't get dextrose from the site. I will see how it turns out and maybe try dextrose mix next time.

How much hop tea do i add into primary fermentation with the 15g of saaz?

 

[tubby_shaw]

Replace 500ml of the water for the kit with 500ml of hop tea :thumb:

 

[hamish]

Is the hop tea made by adding 15g into 500ml of boiling water. when i pour it into the fermintation do i add the hops aswell or do i strain it and just add the water?

 

[tubby_shaw]

Sorry mate, should have made it clearer
Boil 500ml of dechlorinated water, take it off of the boil, stir in the hops and allow to cool, strain out the hops and add the hop tea to the fermenter.

 

[hamish]

excellent, thanks for your help. :thumb: