Coopers

Another batch of what I’m regarding as an excellent standby, especially since it only takes 30 minutes or so to make, including cleaning, which is a bit quicker than yesterday’s almost 7 hours!  Since it should be drinkable in only a fortnight or so from now, it should tide me over while the Riggwelter is conditioning.

Made with 1kg of medium DME, and a mug full of dark demerera sugar.  My first measurement of the OG was a bit confusing, as I the trial jar from the tap read 1.072.  I sanitised my turkey baster (not a phrase one hears very often!) and took a sample from the top of the FV and read 1.012.  Clearly my stirring had been inadequate, so I sanised my brewers paddle and gave it a good mix.  This time the sample from the top read 1.042, which sound about right.

Two brews in one weekend.  My word!

• Length: 20 litres
• OG 1.042
• FG 1.012
• ABV 4.0%

2011-02-14: Down to 1.016.

2011-02-19: Racked to barrel.  Ready to drink by Wednesday?

• Length: 20 litres
• OG 1042
• FG 1013
• ABV 3.9%

This afternoon makes the fourth time I’ve made a Coopers Stout.  I came across it on Jim’s Beer Kit forum, where one of the regular posters, Ditch, is something of an advocate of the stuff (he even has a sticky posting where he describes his own variant of the kit).  I liked it immediately, it’s a rich, treacly tasting stout.  Lovely stuff, in fact, and a world away from Guinness (which I also like, but only drink in a pub if there isn’t any real ale).  My wife, V, still isn’t keen, but that’s the case with pretty much all dark beers.

This time I made it along Ditch’s lines:

• 1 Coopers Stout Kit
• 2 x 500g Muntons Medium Spray Malt
• 1 mug dark brown Muscovado Sugar (Waitrose brand)

Made up to 20 litres, with Campdem treated tap water.

OG is around 1042, so we should end up around 4% ABV.

The huge advantage of this kit is that it’s drinkable almost immediately.  I find that as long as I give it a few days after putting in the keg to allow it to build up a bit of pressure, it’s drinkable from then on.  The flavours don’t really improve with time, but they do change through the barrel, giving almost a different drink each week.

Update: racked into barrel on Saturday 21 August 2010 @ FG 1013, 3.9% ABV.

Started Tue 18 May 2010

A kit of Coopers with 1 Kg of Medium Spray Malt + 1/2 blue mug of light brown cane sugar, made up to 20l.

30l bin, very frothy before pitching dried yeast. Used whisk instead of paddle to mix in the DME.

OG 1042
FG 1012
ABV 4%

Barrelled 28 May 2010, 70g sugar in 250ml
Try to get the O-Ring right this time…

Still loving this kit – I think it will be a regular, even when I’m making more grain recipes, as it’s a) so easy, and b) so drinkable so quickly. Tastes good going into the barrel, and after 3 or 4 days has carbonated enough to push itself out of the barrel.

Started Sat 17 Apr 2010

A kit of Coopers with 1 Kg of Medium Spray Malt, made up to 20l.

30l bin, very frothy before pitching dried yeast. Used whisk instead of paddle to mix in the DME – no lumps this time.

OG 1038/1040
FG 1012 (bottled & kegged 27 Apr 2010)
ABV 3.7%

I realised I had another dodgy cap seal when I got to the end – only the 1 in the cap this time, but I overtightened it and it ended up misshappen. Need to keep an eye on this…  Ordered 6 more replacements from The Homebrew Shop.

Started Thu 03 Mar 2010

A kit of Coopers with 1 Kg of Medium Spray Malt, made up to 20l. Kind of along the line of the legendary Ditch’s recipe.

30l bin, very frothy before pitching dried yeast.
Probably some lumps of dme left in the bottom – need to add when it’s a bit cooler and had some cold water added. Stir & add the DME.
In bigger box of water with heater set @ 22C.

2 inch head over first 48 hours

FG at 1010 on Tue 09 Mar (5 days)
Kegged on Thu 11 Mar (7 days)
Started drinking on Sun 14 Mar, and haven’t stopped.