Was given a Coopers Irish Stout Extract Kit

[guitarguy6]

Hey guys, I'm usually an all grain brewer but a friend gifted me a Coopers Irish Stout kit. Other than adding some DME and dextrose is there anything I can do to make this kit taste better?

 

[jbsg02]

You could do a mini-mash, but that would defeat the easiness of the extract brew. You could sub the Cooper's yeast for the Irish ale strain. Nail fermentation and it will be drinkable.

 

[guitarguy6]

You could do a mini-mash, but that would defeat the easiness of the extract brew. You could sub the Cooper's yeast for the Irish ale strain. Nail fermentation and it will be drinkable.

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking of using wyeast 1084 yeast and fermenting at 20C. What would you suggest as a mini mash? I don't mind taking some extra time to try and make this kit as good as possible. I usually brew 10 gallon all grain batches that take 4 hours or more so adding some extra time to an "easy" kit doesn't bother me.

 

[jbsg02]

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking of using wyeast 1084 yeast and fermenting at 20C. What would you suggest as a mini mash? I don't mind taking some extra time to try and make this kit as good as possible. I usually brew 10 gallon all grain batches that take 4 hours or more so adding some extra time to an "easy" kit doesn't bother me.

You could mash pale malt, but in reality, using DME would be just as good. You'll be stuck to 20 liters because that's what the cans are designed for as far as hopping.

 

[guitarguy6]

I'll add DME and dextrose and use the wyeast. Thanks for your input.

 

[WoodlandBrew]

There are some good ideas over here:
http://www.ratebeerkits.com/items/view/coopers-irish-stout

The only thing I might suggest is not to boil it for 60 minutes because it has already been boiled when they made the extract. (It probably doesn't need any more caramelizing) If you were interested in Americanizing it you could add an oz of centennial at flame out.

 

[DaNewf]

Like chocolate stout? You might like to give this a try:

Cooper's Choc-Liqueur Stout

http://www.coopers.com.au/#/diy-beer/beer-recipes/stout/detail/chocliqueur-stout/

I made a slightly modified version of this a couple of years ago and IIRC it was pretty good.

 

[augiedoggy]

That was the the first beer I ever made.... didnt think it was all that bad honestly considering it was bottled and carbed instead of served through a nitro tap on beer gas like I prefer ....

 

[JustLooking]

Other than adding some DME and dextrose is there anything I can do to make this kit taste better?

Better is relative. Re-gift it to someone who doesn't brew.

 

[guitarguy6]

There are some good ideas over here:
http://www.ratebeerkits.com/items/view/coopers-irish-stout

The only thing I might suggest is not to boil it for 60 minutes because it has already been boiled when they made the extract. (It probably doesn't need any more caramelizing) If you were interested in Americanizing it you could add an oz of centennial at flame out.

I was going to boil the kit and the DME for 10min. Does that sound like a good plan?

 

[Psylocide]

I was going to boil the kit and the DME for 10min. Does that sound like a good plan?

Don't boil the liquid extract... you can add that at flame out.

 

[WoodlandBrew]

Don't boil the liquid extract... you can add that at flame out.

Either boiling for 10 minutes or adding at flame out sound fine.

 

[unionrdr]

Never boil pre-hopped extracts! You'll turn any flavor hopping into bittering. Use some plain DME for any hop additions, dark in this case I think. Or do a partial mash with some 2-row, chocolate malt & a touch of roasted barley.

 

[DoD_Ales]

I made this a couple of years ago from a can I had forgotten about. Just added DME and some maltodextrine. I used 2 cups of espresso to make the priming solution. It turned out just fine.