Strength

[Stout Man]

I'm a complete novice so please bear with me..
I am quite partial to European lagers and I have found them to have a quite high ABV.
How, when using a kit, do you increase the strength? Is it just by adding more sugar/malt?
The first kit I used was a Coopers Australian to which I added a 1kg bag of spraymalt and I got a result of 4.5%. What would be the outcome if I added 2 1kg bags?
What I am looking to make is a lager around about the 5.5% mark.
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[PD]

Learn how to use a hydrometer during your brewing. With this you are able to decide what strength your beers wines from a given recipe will turn out. It allows you to decide how much extras ( in form of sugars ) you need to add to make a given target %abv. It helps to inform you when fermentation has stopped and you can proceed onto the next stage of bottling or whatever.
If making kits the kit contents are designed to make a specific variety of ale or beer or stout within a certain range, and to conform to our normal views of strengths of beers, they allow you a little leeway to increase its strength when you add your extra fermentables i.e.brewing sugars, a little stronger add a little more sugar, a little weaker add less.
Its possible to keep adding sugars and make a beer up in the the top teens percent of potential alcohol, but this is not normally required, desired or wanted.
( unless your a bored University Student )
However there is nothing wrong and indeed its part of the pleasures of home brewing in altering slightly the alcohol content of your brew to say give you a slightly stronger stout or bitter, or weaker to make a more pleasanter session drink.
Remember though that the taste of beers is not only governed by its strength, but by other none fermentables and if altering a kit these have to be altered and balanced.
Home brew beers do NOT need to be too strong. They need to be pleasant tasteful and drinkable....if you want more alcohol open another bottle !

 

[Pearlfisher]

If your just making kits the Breferm Gold maybe what your looking for -

http://www.brewferm.be/en/index.htm

 

[anthonyUK]

You could also add less water

 

[ish1349]

You could also add less water

That's the easiest way IMO.

 

[Aleman]

The Barons Premium beers kits hit about 5% alcohol which is pretty much what you are talking about for European Lagers. . . . and there is a good instruction sheet that tells you how to leave out some water to increase the strength WITHOUT screwing up the quality

 

[anthonyUK]

. . and there is a good instruction sheet that tells you how to leave out some water to increase the strength WITHOUT screwing up the quality

What do they say Aleman?
I wouldn't have though there could be much scope but am intrigued now.

 

[Stout Man]

Thanks for the tips.
I don't want strong lager just to get sozzled quickly, I'm not a Tenants Super and Buckfast candidate.
I have been drinking lagers like Tyskie, Lech and Zlaty Bazant and was hoping as a home brewer to make my own version. From doing a bit of research I think I will try adding a bit of extra spraymalt and experiment.
As Aleman suggests I think my choice of kit will be important.

Will keep you posted.