Coopers Lager Kit

NewbieMan5000 · 11-29-2011, 02:10 PM

I'm getting ready to brew this kit but I'm already getting board thinking about just brewing a lager from the kit. I'm thinking of maybe adding sage and juniper to it. Not sure though I'm still thinking what to add to it. maybe something festive for Christmas/New years.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?.
Or does anyone feel the same way with brewing with a brew kit and adding other things to it?

and from what I understand, adding sage makes your brew a little stronger due to a chemical that's also found in wormwood.

Happy brewing
Dan

PT Ray · 11-29-2011, 04:23 PM

I've brewed with sage a couple times last year, it wasn't bad. One was a wheat that I added .4 oz of fresh chopped leaves at flameout. It would definitely be a nice change for the cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla theme. Haven't used juniper but I'm feeling it.

**unionrdr** · 11-30-2011, 06:17 PM

Is it the OS lager can,or one of the "actual" lager cans? Juniper berries might give it a flavor reminiscent of gin. You know it'll always win...

NewbieMan5000 · 12-04-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unionrdr

Is it the OS lager can,or one of the "actual" lager cans? Juniper berries might give it a flavor reminiscent of gin. You know it'll always win...

Yeah I guess it is the OS (original series?) I just picked up 2 ounces of juniper yesterday.

Do yall think I should dry hop it? or maybe add it 15 min before flame out.
What about the sage? I think I might add the sage gradually from beginning to end.

But I should get it started after work hopefully.

Thanks
Happy brewing
Dan

PT Ray · 12-04-2011, 03:33 PM

If you're going to add sage/juniper your safest bet is to leave out any additional hops.

**unionrdr** · 12-04-2011, 10:01 PM

The cooper's OS lager comes with ale yeast,so it's actually a light pale ale. But yeah,herbs & juniper berries are more of a gruit ale from the time before hops came into use as a bittering agent.

NewbieMan5000 · 12-06-2011, 01:50 AM

Ok so we put together the "Gruit Ale" last night over an open fire. It taste pretty good I'm having a good feeling about this brew.

Thanks yall
Dan

NewbieMan5000 · 12-11-2011, 07:25 PM

Ok so now I'm having an issue. It seems that fermentation is at a halt for some reason. I understand that sometimes your lock may not show signs of fermentation. I have seen it bubble through once and that was it.

I decided to taste it last night, I didn't taste any sugar and also didn't taste any fermentation.

I thought that maybe I could of cooked out that sugar when I was boiling my wort.

I threw in 5lbs of sugar and pitched another pack of yeast....Still nothing is happening as far as showing signs...

Any thoughts?

when I open the top of my fermenter I smell the Co2. And see a nice head of beer foam. But yea It didn't taste like anything at all was happening. and it still seems like nothing is happening.

So much for having a good feeling about this brew. I hope I can fix what ever it is that's happening.

Thanks

**unionrdr** · 12-11-2011, 08:40 PM

What was the temp when you pitched the yeast? What was the temp when you re-pitched. What exactly did you add to the OS lager kit? Did you ever take a hydrometer reading?

NewbieMan5000 · 12-11-2011, 09:23 PM

I waited the next day to pitch the yeast so it was around 70 degrees. and its about 60 now.

I added sage and juniper.

Never took a hydrometer reading, I attempted to but didn't have anything to take a reading from like a flask of some sort I put it in the brew kettle but it hit the bottom.