Help! Question about Extract

[hickaseer]

So I have this: Cooper's Dark Ale Hopped Kit - Premium Hopped Liquid - Malt Extract - Brewing Ingredients


Cooper's Dark Ale Hopped Kit. Do I need to buy additional Extract or is that everything I need for a 5 gallon fermentation? I believe it comes with yeast already. Anyone know?

Thanks!

 

[badbrew]

So I have this: Cooper's Dark Ale Hopped Kit - Premium Hopped Liquid - Malt Extract - Brewing Ingredients


Cooper's Dark Ale Hopped Kit. Do I need to buy additional Extract or is that everything I need for a 5 gallon fermentation? I believe it comes with yeast already. Anyone know?

Thanks!

Isn't it like 3 lbs? If so you need more.

edit: I see it's 4 lbs. I recall receipes with like 3 lbs of dark dme additional.

 

[DirtyDirty]

Well, that's 4lbs of extract. How much does your recipe call for?

 

[BamaRooster]

If you post your recipe we can help you more efficiently. Do you have a recipe? Did you buy a kit with yeast, extract etc. ? or just a can of coopers extract?

 

[hopsalot]

one can, 4 lbs, in 5 gallons will produce a low gravity wort.

 

[DirtyDirty]

To answer your question; no, you don't HAVE to buy more extract. & yes, that comes with dry yeast.

 

[BamaRooster]

one can, 4 lbs, in 5 gallons will produce a low gravity wort.

Yep starting gravity of 1.020 with a finished estimated abv of 2% using as a 5 gallon batch. I just plugged the numbers into hopville and using this can and nothing else you would need to reduce the total volume to a 2 gallon batch which would give you a SG of 1.050.

 

[hickaseer]

If you post your recipe we can help you more efficiently. Do you have a recipe? Did you buy a kit with yeast, extract etc. ? or just a can of coopers extract?

Whoa, okay bear w/ me because I haven't brewed before. I don't have the recipe (I'm guessing that's on the can?) with me because I'm at work rockin, but you guys think I should add some dry malt extract to make it better? What exactly will that do? Any suggestions on DME? I'm heading to Northern Brewer on Thursday

 

[badbrew]

Whoa, okay bear w/ me because I haven't brewed before. I don't have the recipe (I'm guessing that's on the can?) with me because I'm at work rockin, but you guys think I should add some dry malt extract to make it better? What exactly will that do? Any suggestions on DME? I'm heading to Northern Brewer on Thursday

If you want it to be good (imo) add dark dme to it. Check the can for what it calls for but don't use corn sugar on your first batch. 3 lbs dme and 4 lbs kit probably works o.k.

 

[hickaseer]

If you want it to be good (imo) add dark dme to it. Check the can for what it calls for but don't use corn sugar on your first batch. 3 lbs dme and 4 lbs kit probably works o.k.

Thanks, so grab 3 lbs of dark DME. Subsitute that for the corn sugar? It will taste better that way?

 

[birvine]

And, when the instructions say to ferment for 7 days then transfer to a secondary for x days ignore that. Ferment for 3-4 weeks in one container, then proceed to priming and bottling. Time=good.

B

 

[birvine]

Thanks, so grab 3 lbs of dark DME. Subsitute that for the corn sugar? It will taste better that way?

Yes - or even light DME. Beer making is flexible and somewhat forgiving.

B

 

[BamaRooster]

Whoa, okay bear w/ me because I haven't brewed before. I don't have the recipe (I'm guessing that's on the can?) with me because I'm at work rockin, but you guys think I should add some dry malt extract to make it better? What exactly will that do? Any suggestions on DME? I'm heading to Northern Brewer on Thursday

Yes I would agree that 3lbs of dark dry malt extract should do it.

It appears that the manufacturer suggests using something called
'brew enhancer 1" Fermentables and Carbon Drops for Coopers Beer Making Kits > Brew Enhancer 1

I have never used this but have been lead to believe there should be a recipe and instructions on the can. Of course it is also possible that I am very wrong!

 

[NavySur4]

You can use the Brew Enhancer but the Cooper kit I did came out better with DME. The Brew Enhancer is mostly corn sugar, the DME will give it more body and flavor.

 

[BamaRooster]

You can use the Brew Enhancer but the Cooper kit I did came out better with DME. The Brew Enhancer is mostly corn sugar, the DME will give it more body and flavor.

+1 one on the above

 

[hickaseer]

Yep starting gravity of 1.020 with a finished estimated abv of 2% using as a 5 gallon batch. I just plugged the numbers into hopville and using this can and nothing else you would need to reduce the total volume to a 2 gallon batch which would give you a SG of 1.050.

What if I make a 4 gallon batch...or smaller?

 

[NavySur4]

Use the can, add 3# light DME instead of Brew Enhancer, fill to 5.5 gallons (or 21 litres if using a Cooper fermentor) and you'll be good to go.

 

[ronclark]

What if I make a 4 gallon batch...or smaller?

You could do that, but I think you would be much better off adding some fermentables (1 kg. is probably enough) and brewing the five gallon batch. Using the brew enhancer suggested or dry malt extract should both be fine.

 

[hickaseer]

You could do that, but I think you would be much better off adding some fermentables (1 kg. is probably enough) and brewing the five gallon batch. Using the brew enhancer suggested or dry malt extract should both be fine.

Ok. I will take everyone's advice and get some DME. Substitute it for the sugar.

 

[hickaseer]

Use the can, add 3# light DME instead of Brew Enhancer, fill to 5.5 gallons (or 21 litres if using a Cooper fermentor) and you'll be good to go.

Sorry I'm new to brewing, what does 3# mean? I like the idea of using light DME instead of dark

 

[hickaseer]

Also, the DME will act the same as sugar when making alcohol? Sugar isn't necessary, eh? Gosh I'm a noob.

Why not LME instead of DME?

 

[NavySur4]

3# is 3 pounds. You can use LME or DME, whichever you prefer. The conversion is 1 pound of DME for 1.25 pounds of LME. DME/LME are fermentable like dextrose but provide better flavor/body for your beer than dextrose.

 

[NavySur4]

If you're going to Norther Brewer you could just get a 3.3 # jug of LME and add that to the can.

 

[badbrew]

Also, the DME will act the same as sugar when making alcohol? Sugar isn't necessary, eh? Gosh I'm a noob.

Why not LME instead of DME?

Corn sugar is not necessary not "malt extract sugar is not necessary". Corn sugar will give you more of the budweiser like texture.

 

[hickaseer]

If you're going to Norther Brewer you could just get a 3.3 # jug of LME and add that to the can.

Thanks man, I will pick that up ASAP when Im there. I appreciate the help.

 

[hickaseer]

3# is 3 pounds. You can use LME or DME, whichever you prefer. The conversion is 1 pound of DME for 1.25 pounds of LME. DME/LME are fermentable like dextrose but provide better flavor/body for your beer than dextrose.

Probably will pick this up, 3 lbs

Munton's DME Light - Dry Malt Extract - Malt Extract - Ingredients - Brewing : Northern Brewer

Going with a light DME as the Can mix is already Dark

 

[hickaseer]

And, when the instructions say to ferment for 7 days then transfer to a secondary for x days ignore that. Ferment for 3-4 weeks in one container, then proceed to priming and bottling. Time=good.

B

Ok last question; what will adding Light DME do to the tast of the Dark Ale in leiu of sugar? Will it make it stronger/more bitter? I like flavorful beers, but I'm not sure I want one that's crazy strong. Would it be better to add the can, then 1.5 lbs of L DME and 1.5 lbs of sugar? Or am I way off my rocker?

I'm brewing on Thursday so I still have another day to get squared away.

 

[windbreaker123]

Most cooper kits want you to add a booster pack. Google it and find out the specs for it. Adding more DME will make it stronger. But not more bitter. Check ahs add a pack for coopers. I would do it but

 

[rycov]

it will be fine. the sugar produces alcohol and not much else. so it drys out your beer. the malt will add more flavor as well as more alcohol. not bitterness. its more of the smooth, round, full flavor. the bitterness comes from the hops. the amount of extract suggested will not make the beer "crazy strong". it would take much more extract than that. good luck on your first brew!!

 

[badbrew]

Ok last question; what will adding Light DME do to the tast of the Dark Ale in leiu of sugar? Will it make it stronger/more bitter? I like flavorful beers, but I'm not sure I want one that's crazy strong. Would it be better to add the can, then 1.5 lbs of L DME and 1.5 lbs of sugar? Or am I way off my rocker?

I'm brewing on Thursday so I still have another day to get squared away.

Dude seriously: you are brewing your first batch so chill out and take some advice. The extract is just more gourmet than corn sugar. It used to be banned in German beer (corn sugar). Don't know if that still holds. What's that tell you?