Tough pimp? I'd think so

[Arcs]

So now my Cooper's dark ale is done and bottled. Tasting this baby makes me wonder how or even why you would want to pimp this into something else? I think this as an extract beer is perfect - although I did 500g medium DME and 1kg BS. Ended at 6.9 % abv. I don't know about anyone else but I think this is an example of nailed it. Should be left alone. Thoughts on this?

 

[Gerryjo]

If it should be left alone why would one pump it in the first place unless you had brewed it before and thought it needed pimping...
Personally I've never tried it so can't give an honest opinion...

 

[Arcs]

I was actually looking for opinions on how you could change it - if you would. I just did that out of pure spite after the rather disappointing Irish stout I used last which was quite simply, fail. And I don't think that was my fault neither. It was drinkable but I guess my expectations were far greater than I should have been realistic about getting from that beer.

However, the deep rich dark ale does not fail to disappoint - especially given going to the pub and finding every beer with citrus of some sort in it. You want citrus then eat some fruit or drink fruit juice imo - far healthier.

I am on the other hand, open to ideas on how or what to do with the dark ale and how you would pimp it.

 

[Gerryjo]

My question is why did you pimp it in the first place and after you did why are you asking opinion on something that enjoy and by the sounds of it doesn't need pimping at all as it's what makes you happy as you are brewing, drinking and main critic who likes it anyway?

It's home-brewing and looks like you're enjoying it...

 

[Arcs]

You are correct. I was enjoying it I don't think that I pimped it in that or any sense really. I may have pushed it to see what was possible within reason.

It does make me happy. But as I said, I was seeking an opinion on those who have tried it which you rightly admitted you had not and how they have perhaps tweaked it differently to their tastes.

Don't get me wrong, it's a damned fine beer as I have done it. But like I said, it would be hard to make a difference to it without losing most of the quality it already has

 

[Pirate_Pete]

I've got one of these in the FV at the moment. I haven't brewed one before. I thought I had but looking through my notes now it appears I was mistaken.

I decided to brew this after reading some glowing reports on the Coopers site.
I had a bit of grain left over from some other stuff, so I steeped 120 grams of carapils & 130 grams of light crystal.
I tend to only use Light Dry Malt Extract as I buy it in 20kg bags. So I chucked a kilo of that in.
From memory expected 5.6 ABV
This one is to replenish stocks. I'll probably drink half and "lose" half in the back of the garage to find this time next year.
Next up it'll be an English Bitter to do the same with.
I'm currently drinking a Coopers Amber Ale from October 2017 I found at the back of the garage.

 

[Pirate_Pete]

I was actually looking for opinions on how you could change it - if you would. I just did that out of pure spite after the rather disappointing Irish stout I used last which was quite simply, fail. And I don't think that was my fault neither. It was drinkable but I guess my expectations were far greater than I should have been realistic about getting from that beer.

However, the deep rich dark ale does not fail to disappoint - especially given going to the pub and finding every beer with citrus of some sort in it. You want citrus then eat some fruit or drink fruit juice imo - far healthier.

I am on the other hand, open to ideas on how or what to do with the dark ale and how you would pimp it.

Citrus you say?
Soon I'll be making a Coopers Cerveza, bought very cheap at the local supermarket.
Chucking in five or six grapefruit. Zest and juice. And three or four litres of fresh grapefruit juice.
I made the same for last summer, but ended up with a bit too many bits in it.
This year I'll be straining it better. It's a beauty.

 

[Arcs]

Good Stuff Pete! It is a delicious brew on its own. Nice to see that you are trying to pimp it. I am interested to see what you get out of this pimp

 

[Pirate_Pete]

Good Stuff Pete! It is a delicious brew on its own. Nice to see that you are trying to pimp it. I am interested to see what you get out of this pimp

I steep a bit of grain in all my beers these days. Maybe it's psychological but I think it just makes it a bit better.
Carapils is suppose to aid getting a head on the beer.
I love a good head on my beer. And then the lacing down the glass as you drink it. Just adds something I reckon.
Oh, and I had some s 04 yeast that I'd used on an IPA a few weeks ago, so I used that instead of the kit yeast.

 

[Arcs]

I just used the kit yeast and it was fine. Given the weather if I were to buy again then I'd prolly try some kveik strand. Took 12 hours to cool down even in the fridge lol. But yea, surprising I got 6.83 % abv from the kit yeast. I've not gotten into partials yet as I am still working or rather burping my way through alot of kits as I've not been brewing too long - alot still left to try. I plan on partials after xmas though ;@)