No head on coopers english bitter

[ryanshelton]

My first brew, coopers english bitter was brewed exactly to the instructions. Only thing I did wrong was over prime the bottles(1tsp sugar per 500ml instead of 1/2 tsp per 500ml)
It was fermenting for 10 days, then conditioned warm for 10 days then out in the shed.

Onto my last few bottles now and these have no head at all. Very fizzy(as I expected) though. Ive attached a picture in the hope someone can tell me what I did wrong???

 

[Ceejay]

Not much wrong; probably just needs more time to develop a "proper" head. 4 weeks or so is a often quoted conditioning time (after carbonation) for an average best bitter.

 

[mattrickl06]

I would argue that 14 days in the warm for secondary is a must - i have done 10 days before and it definately benefits from the extra few days.

Also needs at least 3-4 weeks in the cold to condition and absorb the CO2 properly.

 

[Kinleycat]

What sugar did you use? That could have a baring on it.
I've got a kit in the shed that I plan to use for my dads birthday, I planned to rely heavily on medium spray malt for body and head.

 

[ryanshelton]

Its had around 4 weeks in the cold now. Just normal normal sugar In this one as it was my first kit

 

[Kinleycat]

Its had around 4 weeks in the cold now. Just normal normal sugar In this one as it was my first kit

Ideally you would use brew enhancer or half spray malt to give a better head and body.
It's more expensive than standard granulated (as is brewing sugar (dextrose)) but you get a better result. Stick with it, it may improve but next time you brew use BE or a combination of spray malt and brewing sugar, for a better result. :thumb:

 

[ryanshelton]

Its had around 4 weeks in the cold now. Just normal normal sugar In this one as it was my first kit

Ideally you would use brew enhancer or half spray malt to give a better head and body.
It's more expensive than standard granulated (as is brewing sugar (dextrose)) but you get a better result. Stick with it, it may improve but next time you brew use BE or a combination of spray malt and brewing sugar, for a better result. :thumb:

Only got 2 bottles left so will leave 1 hidden away in the shed to see if it improves. Thanks for the advice :grin: just bottled my wherry so will see how that turns out but in the meantime, another brew :lol::lol:

 

[mmaguy41]

the english bitter suggests just using 500g of dme to make a low abv beer, replacing that with sugar will not have helped but the other points will be a big part of it too.