My first go! Coopers lager

[TonyH]

I've bought a micro brew kit from coopers as it seems an easy way to start off. Everything went smoothly until my hydrometer dropped through the bottom of the tube and smashed on the floor!

It's off and running now so hopefully in a week I'll have a good finished article to report on!

 

[stevander74]

Did you manage to get a SG reading before the hydrometer broke?
Coopers kits are good i had a lot of success with them although i never done the lager. Good luck with it. :thumb:

 

[Sean_Mc]

I found Coopers kits pretty good, best leaving them in the bottle for six weeks to get the best result :thumb:

 

[TonyH]

Yeah I got the SG reading, it broke when I emptied the sample out. Can you pick up replacements of the same one as it was very simple to read. If not which should I be looking for?

 

[abeyptfc]

if you added a standard 1kg of sugar and 23 litres of water it should be 1.040-1.045 ish. should ferment to around 1.008 ish

 

[keg9]

Hi,we run a shop and sell a lot of hydrometers !! be prepared to watch them ROLL off the worktop !!!.
paul keg9 homebrews :

I've bought a micro brew kit from coopers as it seems an easy way to start off. Everything went smoothly until my hydrometer dropped through the bottom of the tube and smashed on the floor!

It's off and running now so hopefully in a week I'll have a good finished article to report on!

 

[TonyH]

The SG reading was spot on. Not getting any bubbles yet though?????? I've got a bit of a foam coming on the top now though so i'm guessing the gas is heading elsewhere. My airlock bubbles are level, if you press the sides they shift but go straight back whilst im still pressing

 

[abeyptfc]

The SG reading was spot on. Not getting any bubbles yet though?????? I've got a bit of a foam coming on the top now though so i'm guessing the gas is heading elsewhere. My airlock bubbles are level, if you press the sides they shift but go straight back whilst im still pressing

yeah dont worry about it not bubbling,the air will be escaping elsewhere.aslong as there is foam on top your fine.

 

[golder247]

yeah good start that, don't worry too much hydrometers are not too expensive.

you will have no problem with the kit, piece of cake and pretty tasty.. heres to many more!

 

[TonyH]

Cheers everyone for the help. I'm just worrying it won't come out right! Opened the lid just to put my mind at rest today ( I know I should just leave it!) There is an orange crust developing and you can hear a bit of fizzing so it's looking good.

 

[golder247]

It's like having a baby, you want it to come out just right.. chances are it will so try not to panic!! just enjoy the soon to be enjoyed deliciousness

 

[TonyH]

Day 5

As per the instructions in the book I've taken a hydrometer reading today and it came out as 1.014 so it's getting there. The only worry i have now is that the crust has disappeared if the top. Should I give it a stir? Had a taste of the test specimen and it seems quite nice. Good colour as well.

 

[Sean_Mc]

No just leave it a few days now and let the yeasties clear up :thumb:

 

[golder247]

by stirring it you would lift all the sediment back up and have a cloudy old mess, that you would have to wait for longer as it would have to settle again. just let it do it's thing and try not to get too excited it is awesome isn't it!! :)

 

[plumpton]

Patience is a virtue I dont have lol

Im a fellow Wrexham guy too!! noticed that one one of ur replies

 

[TonyH]

Well that's my first beer brewed and bottled. Now it's on to waiting to drink it. While I'm waiting I'm starting the Mexican cerveza kit. Also looking at the coopers wheat beer kit for my next one. I think I'm hooked!!

 

[golder247]

I bottled my cerveza the other night and it was tasting pretty bloody lovely before priming and conditioning... it will be a struggle to wait for that to be ready...

 

[TonyH]

My first home brewed pint! I've used a fosters widget glass to get the bubbles really going. Tastes really good, better than I thought it would.

 

[plumpton]

Congratulations on a successful first Brew!!

Problem is now .... you are hooked, you will have brew number 2 under way in no time I guarantee!

:

 

[golder247]

atop the slippery slope...