What To Add?

[Lewie]

Hi all
I’m not a seasoned brewer and would like a bit of help.
I’ve bought a Coopers A ipa kit. (23L)
I also bought 500g of light spray malt.
Now i’ve got the kit it recommends 1.5kg of light spray malt.
Can I use the malt and add normal sugar.?
If so, how much.?
Also, I bought the carbonating drops which state 1 per 375ml bottle.
I’m going to use 330ml bottles.
Will they be ok or should I cut a bit off each drop to avoid over gassing?
Cheers me dears!

 

[davidabcd]

Don't worry about changing the drop size; they will be okay.
Yes, you can use DME (spray malt) and add sugar.
https://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/calculatorPlug in your numbers in the above calculator and you can hone in to what you want exactly.

 

[tracer bullet]

You could also consider lowering the overall amount of water.

There's an old saying - Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew. If you don't have any homebrew around, another beer will do. Point being - give it a try, do what you think seems best. Unless it spoils with bacteria, it'll be OK, and since you made it it'll taste pretty good.

 

[Lewie]

Hey both
Thanks for the replies.
David, I have no idea what all that stuff means re-the link.
Would I be okay adding my spray malt and 1 kg of sugar?
I’ve read perhaps the above and then adding just 20 L of water?
Was that what you was on about Tracer?I’ve read perhaps the above and then adding just 20 L of water?
Was that what you was on about Tracer?
Years ago when I was in my 20s I had a go at homebrew I’m trying to be clever I left out loads of water.
The result? A rubbish tasting brew that knocked your head off
I’m older and a tad wiser now and just want a nice beer with a light buzz!!

 

[tracer bullet]

I'm sure we or someone here can help. You'd need to provide more info though:

* Exactly what came with the kit or that you bought in addition - i.e. syrup, powdered malt, grains, and how much of each
* What the instructions say for water additions, how much and when
* Verify that the kit does or does not recommend any boiling (I think not but to be sure) which creates water loss

We can likely use those #'s to give you a little more specific guidance

 

[davidabcd]

David, I have no idea what all that stuff means re-the link.
Would I be okay adding my spray malt and 1 kg of sugar?

No, not weight-for-weight on the sugar. The problem with subbing sugar for DME is that they aren't close enough, character-wise. 2#s of sugar is going to dry out your beer where an additional kg of DME (spray malt) will add a decent amount of alcohol but also body to the beer. I suggested the calculator so that you could add just enough sugar to reach your ABV goal (which might not have been your motivation).
As far as beer guality, I'd get more DME.
I should have asked what your goal was--just hit the ABV with sugar replacement or if sugar could replace DME in general?
To answer both:
You can't replace DME with sugar but you can add some regular sugar to hit your desired alcohol by volume.

 

[Lewie]

It’s just a bog standard tin of malt extract with a sachet of yeast.
Made up to 23L in a fermenter.
No boiling.
I thought you could make the brew using just normal sugar.
I bought the dme as I thought it would enhance the brew.
It’s a tad more involved than I thought.
ABV wise, anywhere from 4-5% would be ok.
More interested in a nice ‘smooth’ drink though.
Would a kilo of beer enhancer along with the 500g of DME work or is the 1.5k of DME still best?

 

[Lewie]

Well, I've taken the advice
I added 500g of hopped (didn't realise there was a difference but hey, it will be interesting) DME and 1kg of standard.
The aroma and look of the stuff once mixed was awsome.
I wanted to drink it there and then.
Now for the damn wait!