Coopers Canned Brew Mix, tips.

[wakeboard1]

I am doing my second batch of beer tonight. The first batch I ran was a English brown ale that was a lot more of a traditional brew process.

My question is the directions on the can of Coopers is very simple, in fact it doesnt even require me to boil the wort. When I was purchasing the cans of Coopers (I got a Mexica Cerveza and a English Bitter) it was suggested to me that I get exra Malt for both. For the English Bitter I got a 1lb English Malt and for the Cerveza I got 1lb light Malt. So my question is has anyone ever brewed these Coopers BrewsBefore? At what point do I add the Malt? Finally I am going to be Carbinating this in this brew in the Bottle, I would assume I will need to get some finishing Sugar prior to Bottling? Any other tips would be fantastic.

 

[Brewmiser]

my 1st brew was the coppers IPA & I added some extract too. I think I just did a short boil (10min) then added both the kit & the extra extract. the only reason I would do a longer boil is if I was adding hops for bittering but these kits are prehopped. I did dry hop my IPA after 5 days for 1 week. & yes you will need priming sugar I think I used a heaping 1/2 cup (I boil a small amout of water to make sure this is disolved well chill & add to botlling bucket). I might also add a touch of lime zest to the Cerveza. good luck

 

[unionrdr]

The cooper's kits are pre-hopped,so boiling them destroys some of the flavor profile. Not to mention,LME's darken with boiling. The cooper's kits are no boil. You boil some water,take it off the heat,& add the can(s),stirring very well to get all the malt syrup mixed in,& off the bottom of the brew kettle. Using un-hopped malt (LME or DME) is better than using brewing sugar. It gives more color,flavor,& mouth fell,imo. Not to mention,good head when priming sugar is kept to style.
Put a lid on it,& let it steep 15mins or so while you sanitize the fermenter,etc. Then put BK in sink of ice water to cool it down to about 70F. Then,add the brew kettle to fermenter,top off to 23L (6.072G,normal amount for cooper's kit beers). Then shake or stir like crazy to aerate the wort.
Take an OG reading with a hydrometer before pitching yeast. Try to keep ferment temps to low end of yeast's temp range for cleaner tasting beer.

 

[wakeboard1]

unionrdr-

Thanks for the tips. At the risk of sounding more like a rookie than I am, what am I seeping???? Also, when I add the Can of Coopers then when do I malt? At the Same time? Thanks so much I am a complete newby to this, but have quickly fallen in love. I do have a wort chiller so I am good there to cool it down. Also I am using dry Light Malt for the Cerveza I think I bought Mutons Extra Light Malt 1lb.

 

[unionrdr]

unionrdr-

Thanks for the tips. At the risk of sounding more like a rookie than I am, what am I seeping???? Also, when I add the Can of Coopers then when do I malt? At the Same time? Thanks so much I am a complete newby to this, but have quickly fallen in love. I do have a wort chiller so I am good there to cool it down. Also I am using dry Light Malt for the Cerveza I think I bought Mutons Extra Light Malt 1lb.

You steep the wort (after adding malts,etc to boiled water) for 15mins or so to sterilize it a bit while sanitizing the fermenter,etc. That's if you're using the pre-hopped cooper's cans. I usually add the DME to the boiled water & stir that in before adding the cooper's LME. Then chill wort & add to fermenter with top off water. Cooper's can kits are usually 23L,or 6.072 gallons total. The Munton's plain extra light DME is good,I like that one myself.

 

[wakeboard1]

Dude you rule!

 

[unionrdr]

Thanx,I hoped I was helping a fellow extract addict. There are so many different extracts from several countries,both DME & LME. Lots to experiment with when you consider that there's so many yeasts to use as well,that there aren't many limits to what you can make with extracts when you really think about it.
I'll be drinking some of my Summer Pale ale later with my wife that is all extract. Change the yeast & hops,& I'll have a close clone of Salvator doppel bock. See my avatar pic. Who says extract has to be boring?!:rockin:

 

[wakeboard1]

I am just obessed with brewing now. I live in Minnesota and went to a Place Called Vine Park Brewing a few times. Basically they give you a brew master who walks you through the entire brew process, you get to use all thier commercail equitment. Any way, after that I got a kit from a brew store and now I am hooked I cannot stop!

Have you ever used a Turkey Deep Fryer as a BK? I just picked one up. The last batch I did on the stove top and it took forever for the H2O to boil. I hope this speeds the whole process up!

 

[wakeboard1]

One More Question!

I only bought a Cans of Coopers not Kits. ON the Coopers website they sell complete kits. They have them listed as such-

" Coopers English Bitter is a brown copper colour with red hues and a creamy head. It displays a pleasing floral aroma with a blend of toasty/sweet malt flavours finishing with a firm bitter finish. This package contains an English Bitter beer kit, Dry Malt Extract and Carbonation drops. A savings of $2.98 when purchased as a package."

What the heck are Carbonation Drops????

 

[unionrdr]

I am just obessed with brewing now. I live in Minnesota and went to a Place Called Vine Park Brewing a few times. Basically they give you a brew master who walks you through the entire brew process, you get to use all thier commercail equitment. Any way, after that I got a kit from a brew store and now I am hooked I cannot stop!

Have you ever used a Turkey Deep Fryer as a BK? I just picked one up. The last batch I did on the stove top and it took forever for the H2O to boil. I hope this speeds the whole process up!

We have one of those byo places,I think in Strongsville. I get my stuff at JW Dover over in Westlake,also home of Black Box Brewing. I've not got a turkey type frier yet,but many on here use them. I have an electric stove,& it takes about 3.5 hours to do a batch,waiting for water to boil To make a small starter,2-3 gallons in the brew kettle,steep while sanitizing FV,etc. But it's not like it's no fun. Quite the contrary! But I can just come into the computer/brewing room & talk with you guys while I wait. A watched pot never boils,so...
*PS-The cooper's cans are pre-hopped,just so you know. But it's not like you can't add a hop tea (1oz hop pellets in brew kettle water for 15 mins) before pulling off heat to add DME/LME's. Many do this in Australia,where cooper's comes from. I did it on my Summer pale,& it works pretty darn good. Carbonation drops look like sugar lozenges in a small bag. 1 drop for 11.2-16oz bottles,cooper's PET bottles (740ml,or 25.16oz) get 2 drops. They work very well indeed,just add the right number of drops to the bottle,& fill/cap.

 

[wakeboard1]

COOL Again Many Thanks!!!

 

[drunkwookiee]

I too have a new coopers kit, I'm moving in a few days and didn't want to start it and have to move the wort around. I'm really excited, I have 3 mr beer kits going and will have to move those but after I move I'm going to get a Midwest kit. I too have gotten hooked, I have the lager and wheat kit from Coopers, I've heard really good things bout the lager. Ahhhhhh I can't wait!

 

[MazdaMatt]

wakeboard1, I JUST started a Cooper's cerveza kit and I used 1lb of light DME.

You don't need to use your wort chiller. Just heat up some water with the can sitting in it to loosen it up, then when the can is pretty warm, dump the water and get fresh water about 3-4L. Get it nice and hot - it doens't even need to boil. Stir well while you add the dry extract slowly or else it clumps up, not a big deal, but it is easier not to clump it. Then dump in your can of Cerveza.

You don't even need to cool it, just put it in the fermentor. The reaso you don't need to cool it is because you're about to add another 18-19 litres of room-temp water to it.

Don't make the same mistake as me!!!! Don't add 23L of water! Add water till you reach 23L! I added 23L like an idiot and my starting gravity was too low so I had to add dextrose to bring it up.

There are a hundred little additional steps that people will say you should do, but if you're just starting out follow the Cooper's directions and you'll end up with beer. Adding complication like wort chilling your 3L of hot liquid is just not necessary and gives you a chance to screw up.

 

[wakeboard1]

Mazda Matt,

Thanks, are you planning on using a finishing sugar for carbinating the brew? These Coopers Kits sound so easy. I just wanted to make something simple after my first Nut Brown that took me like 4rs.

 

[unionrdr]

That's not entirely true. I did that twice,& even the second time,wort temp was like 78F. A little high to get good flavors,but I got it cooled down in a few hours after I pitched the starter. Turned down room heater & didn't put my fleece lined cover on the fermenter till it cooled down that night.
Then brought up room temp with cover to keep it at 20C (69F) for the duration in primary. Lesson learned. Use some kind of chilling method for the wort in the brew kettle. The wort is so hot in the BK,that room temp water isn't cold enough to get it down much past 80 or 90F. Chilling before topping off is the preferred method. Cleaner flavor that way,without extended aging to get rid of off flavors. The cooper's gold yeast sachet is ale yeast,best at 68-72F. Some have had good results down to 66F.

 

[Vuarra]

I started out with Cooper's cans as well. I still make them from time to time, and in general the instructions are okay. The only thing I would change is the amount of time to ferment, the instructions would have you bottling beer that is still fermenting.

+1 to you unionrdr for bringing up the fact that you do NOT boil the malt in a Cooper's kit.

 

[jjones17]

I am sooooo suprised nobody has suggested you read Palmer's "How To Brew". There is an online version that works just fnie, google it. Read it, all of it. You will learn everything you need to know about brewing with those kits.

I started on Coopers kits also, and if you do it right they can be decent beers. However, like you, when I started I asked questions on this forum before I read that book - and unfortunately got some bad advice and has several beers that were terrible. All part of the learning process, sure, but once I read that book it changed everything.

If you have already read it, well then good on you

 

[C-Rider]

From what I've seen Cooper's makes two kind of ingredent only kits.

1-has only the pre hopped can and the yeast

2-has the pre hopped can, DME, corn sugar, carbonation drops and yeast.

Sometimes you can get good deals on Amazon w/free shipping on the Cooper's Kits. Check it out.

 

[Dondlelinger]

Well Im sort of a noob kit maker but I do have a few tips, from my first brew/ research.

1) Never boil your kits is 100% correct, boiling will kill hop flavors.
2) If you fill to 23liter line a brew might taste a bit watered down.. fix this by filling to 20L mark.
3) Ferment between temperatures of 68-72 produces very good results.(Don't get it hot)
4) Ferment in primary for longer than the instructions (Upwards of 2 weeks)
5) Let it bottle condition longer than the instructions (upwards of 3/4 weeks)

5) Play with the kits, try adding 1kg+ of honey, some LME/DME, or even grab some hop pellets and make a "hop tea" then add that...kits can be some fun.and they dont' take 6 hours to make a batch!!!!.there are some great recipes on youtube using kits...

look up revolutionarybrewer, craigtube, peihomebrewer

They all use coopers kits alot, and show you exactly how to do it and some recipes.

Heres one of my favorite brews

Coopers Lauger recipe by revolutionarybrewer

Chears fellow kit brewers XD!!

 

[PT Ray]

Heres one of my favorite brews

Coopers Lauger recipe by revolutionarybrewer

He's actually a HBT member and I told him he needs to chime in more often. Last year I started watching all these Canadians like PEI going to town with Coopers kits and I decided to throw one together for the first time in over 15 years. It actually made a decent pint. Now I stock up when I find them on sale. These days I brew more Coopers then I do all grain.

 

[wakeboard1]

You guys are great this is really helping me out a lot!!!!

 

[Dondlelinger]

He's actually a HBT member and I told him he needs to chime in more often. Last year I started watching all these Canadians like PEI going to town with Coopers kits and I decided to throw one together for the first time in over 15 years. It actually made a decent pint. Now I stock up when I find them on sale. These days I brew more Coopers then I do all grain.

Nice yeah the problem is most people don't know how to fix the problems with the kits or follow the instructions and become disappionted. Its just a bit of trial and error , the more you know about brewing the better you can make these kits. I'm fairly new but my first batch turned out good, but I made a few errors (I added to much water (24-25 liters) so it was really mild watery flavor. and number 2) After bottling opened to early (1 week) as instructions said and the carbonation just sucked... I waited 2 extra weeks carb was much better but I could have even waited longer but I was thirsty.lol

Yah I watch all those guys like a religion and they are all from my end of the world so its kinda funny XD

You guys are great this is really helping me out a lot!!!!

Yah just watch a few videos from these guys ( i watched like ALL of them)
look up revolutionarybrewer, craigtube, peihomebrewer

They helped me out alot.

This is a must watch video series for all new kit brewers :

 

[wakeboard1]

Ran My Cerveza, worked out great. Going to run a IPA tonight!

 

[unionrdr]

I found Craig,PEI,etc on youtube when I was researching home brewing to see how it's done today. I couldn't believe how easy it had gotten. Then,after learning a few things pretty quick,& a little imagination,I'm getting some pretty good stuff. Even my wife prefers my beer.
Just use good water,the freshest ingredients you can,& a hydrometer with some sanitizer,& common sense,& you'll be fine.

 

[wakeboard1]

SO I just watched that Video by Craigtube. He adds 6 cups of Sugar. I didnt do this with either of my batches of Coopers. What is the Benifit/Pitfall of doing vs not doing this???


Also he appears to be using Striaght Tap water to cool the Wort in video two? I was under the impression that I should use pre-boiled then cooled tap water to get the Wort to 5 gallons? Can I just us tap water that seems way easier???

 

[Yooper]

SO I just watched that Video by Craigtube. He adds 6 cups of Sugar. I didnt do this with either of my batches of Coopers. What is the Benifit/Pitfall of doing vs not doing this???


Also he appears to be using Striaght Tap water to cool the Wort in video two? I was under the impression that I should use pre-boiled then cooled tap water to get the Wort to 5 gallons? Can I just us tap water that seems way easier???

Craig is enthusiastic, and I'm glad he's brought more homebrewers to the hobby, but his techniques are, well, not always what I'd do. (Remember the youtube video with the bird droppings and feathers?!?) Anyway, sugar is a cheap alcohol booster and not the way to make the best beer anyway so it's great to leave it out.

My tap water is very good, but much tap water has chlorine or chloramines in it. That's why you boil it first- to boil off the chlorine. chloramines don't boil off, though, so if your water company uses them, you should buy spring water.

I'm not a cooper's fan at all, and think you'd do better to buy a different kit if you want good beer.

 

[Yooper]

Watch out there Yoop. The Coopers shill will be all over you like stink on a monkey.

Thanks for the warning! I can't believe the abuse they heaped on me for speaking my opinion. It's slowed down quite a bit, but I better watch it!