Coopers Australian Pale Ale - Need to Tweak

[StLouBrew]

On a whim, I picked up a Coopers Australian Pale Ale. At the shop were I bought they told me I'd also need some additional DME and they sold me 1 lb of Muntons Plain Light.

The instructions from Coopers say that you should ideally have their Brew Enhancer 2, which is 500g of DME and 250g sugar/dextrose. Two questions:

1) My 1lb (454g) of DME is 46g short of the recommended 500g. Stores around here only sell this by the lb. Do I just buy another pound, or should I try to scoot by with what I've got?

2) I've come to understand that priming sugar = dextrose. Just want to confirm that this is a proper substitute. Other threads I've read suggest not adding this, and just going with more of the DME. As I'm very much a noob with all this, your suggestions are MUCH appreciated.

Thanks!!

 

[BigJack]

On a whim, I picked up a Coopers Australian Pale Ale. At the shop were I bought they told me I'd also need some additional DME and they sold me 1 lb of Muntons Plain Light.

The instructions from Coopers say that you should ideally have their Brew Enhancer 2, which is 500g of DME and 250g sugar/dextrose. Two questions:

1) My 1lb (454g) of DME is 46g short of the recommended 500g. Stores around here only sell this by the lb. Do I just buy another pound, or should I try to scoot by with what I've got?

2) I've come to understand that priming sugar = dextrose. Just want to confirm that this is a proper substitute. Other threads I've read suggest not adding this, and just going with more of the DME. As I'm very much a noob with all this, your suggestions are MUCH appreciated.

Thanks!!

OK- on 1, I'm not sure I'd worry over 46 grams, but you could add 46 grams of some other fermentable or you can just brew the can and the pound of dme and not worry about it.

In term of number 2, some homebrew stores sell fructose as priming sugar. Either way, 250 grams of any sugar will get you there- even table sugar or honey. For priming, I have used table sugar for a decade and never had a problem with it.

Of course, if you have a health food store near by, you might find a pound jar of Eden Malt Extract Syrup, which is just LME. You might also find some Lyle's Golden Syrup from England, which is invert sugar. A jar of either of those would be good additions or subs for dextrose. (Or, you can just by dextrose.)

 

[StLouBrew]

I just thought I'd come back and give an update on this. This beer turned out nice. Certainly not a "big beer," but then again that was never the intent. Color is a nice golden amber, clarity is excellent, and also has a nice snow-white head. I tried my first taste at 3 weeks in the bottle and it was a little... thin. But after 4-5+ weeks the full flavor profile developed and it's quite yummy.

This is by far the easiest beer I've ever made. I'll probably do another batch in the summer when a lighter beer like this will really fit the bill.

 

[BigJack]

Glad it turned out well.

 

[alzybob]

Hi I too just bought a Coopers Australian Pale Ale Kit (1.7kg tin) and the website suggested a Light Malt Extract in the bundle (1.5kg LME tin arrived with my APA kit. My only experience is with household sugar so Im not sure how to proceed as there are no instructions what so ever on the LME tin. Any help greatly appreciated on mix/ratio/instructions.

 

[StLouBrew]

Hi I too just bought a Coopers Australian Pale Ale Kit (1.7kg tin) and the website suggested a Light Malt Extract in the bundle (1.5kg LME tin arrived with my APA kit. My only experience is with household sugar so Im not sure how to proceed as there are no instructions what so ever on the LME tin. Any help greatly appreciated on mix/ratio/instructions.

There is some good information on these thread: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/substitute-brew-enhancer-410598/