Kia Ora from New Zealand

[Lazarusnz]

Hi everyone from Southland, NZ. I'm brand new to brewing after getting a Coopers DIY kit from my lovely wife for my birthday. Just started my first brew a couple of nights ago and it's fermenting nicely in the garage. I look forward to learning a lot on here and hopefully being able to contribute myself in due course.

 

[brisboy]

G'day and welcome from the other (better?) side of the Tasman Sea.

You live in a beautiful part of the world.

 

[unionrdr]

I hope your garage doesn't get too warm or even hot? keeping temps around 18-20C would be better. I started with a Cooper's Micro Brew kit. Still use the fermenter, have a dry stout in it now. Lots of helpful folks & recipes around here. I've got some recipes using Cooper's cans in "recipes" under my avatar. You can click on this for any member & see the recipes they've posted, rather than searching for them...

 

[ol-hazza]

Gidday, glad you found us and welcome to the hobby.
There is a thread for kiwi brewers here which we use sporadically to let everyone know whats up n ask for local advice.

 

[Cyclman]

Welcome to the hobby, and the group, from Colorado

 

[1977Brewer]

Hello from the correct hemisphere, underlander.

 

[Lazarusnz]

Cheers everyone. No need to worry about heat until summer. Its 10 degrees in my garage at the moment! Had to steal a blanket from my dog to wrap the fermenter lol

 

[unionrdr]

I keep forgetting that y'all have winter down under when we're getting into summer up over here. I for one am glad winter's over, as it was unusually harsh this year. With bbq season on again, I've got some brewing to do! So get those lagers, or lager-like beers going now while it's cooler for later on!...

 

[JGF]

Kia Ora. I'd pick up and move to NZ in a heartbeat if I could. Been there twice, it's like home...only better.

 

[podz]

Cheers everyone. No need to worry about heat until summer. Its 10 degrees in my garage at the moment! Had to steal a blanket from my dog to wrap the fermenter lol

This is just one of the many, many posts by new members from all around the world. But you will see some people here saying "this is murica, we can do whatever the hell we want". This is actually the entire planet earth ;-)

Regarding Cooper's yeasts: I use them pretty often and I have not been able to get them to ferment when the room temp is below 22-23 celcius. I think they are intentionally created to have a temperature range which is found inside of most people's houses or apartments. I've got a batch of Cooper's wheat beer going at the moment and after two and a half days of no-start, I finally had to point two big halogen lamps at the fermenter for 3 hours to get it going. I should have picked up the Danstar Muenchener yeast from the homebrew store - it could work in my 18c fermentation room.

Anyhow, welcome and here's hoping that your first batch turns out well

 

[unionrdr]

Something has to be changing the situation a bit if the Cooper's yeast won't ferment below 22C or so? I've gotten it down to 18C with no problems. But I do rehydrate it first & pitch within 10 degrees of wort temp.

 

[Lazarusnz]

Mine fermented fine at 18-20c

 

[unionrdr]

That's what I'm sayin' too. Odd that podz has that kind of problem with it? In my experiences with life, it's usually something simple...

 

[SnakeRidge]

New Zealand is top of my list of places to visit. Welcome to the board!