K & K Brewing Notes @ Hyperfox.Info
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1. Coopers Lager
Started 01.10.05 Bottled 07.10.05
1 can Coopers
Lager
1kg Coopers Brewing Sugar
Brewing Notes Followed instructions per Coopers Starter Kit. Brewed with Michael P. / RB.
Tasting Notes After two weeks in the bottles beer is still yeasty and tastes a little bit like cider. After a month in bottles was a very easy drinking beer. Even Memo liked this one.
2. Coopers Dark Ale
Started 08.10.05 Bottled 14.10.05
1 can Coopers Dark Ale
1kg Coopers Brew Enhancer #2 (500g Dextrose, 250g Light dry malt, 250g Maltodextrin)
200g Raw Sugar
200g Honey
2 tspn
Ground Cinnamon
Brewing Notes Dissolved raw sugar, honey and cinnamon in boiling water. Added this mixture and other ingredients to fermenter. Brewed with MB.
Tasting Notes After two weeks in the bottles the beer was surprisingly nice. With a pleasant honey taste. Beer is also exceptionally strong with a high SG and low FG. After 1 month beer begins to taste different – noticeable cinnamon after taste. After 2 months beer is better very light tasting and refreshing, honey not noticeable. (note to self: never use cinnamon again). 01.03.06 Opened one of these by mistake – very sweet – honey + cinnamon back with a vengeance. Not my cup of tea or beer! 14.04.06 I take back everything I said about this one! Had the 3rd last bottle and the beer was brilliant - it had it all! Six months of maturing was a bit much though.
3. Coopers Pale Ale
Started 18.10.05 Bottled 24.10.05
1 can Coopers Pale Ale
1kg Coopers Brew Enhancer #2
350g Honey
Brewing Notes All ingredients into fermenter. Brewed with Cinq / RB.
Tasting Notes After two weeks in the bottles the beer was great. With only a slight honey taste. This beer was quickly consumed and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Will make this one again maybe with some hops / more LDM. 04.08.06 Drinkable, a touch sour, needs more hops.
4. Coopers Canadian Blonde
Started 28.10.05 Bottled 03.11.05
1 can Coopers Canadian Blonde
1kg Coopers Brew Enhancer #1 (600g Dextrose, 400g Maltodextrin)
400g Honey
Brewing Notes All ingredients into fermenter. Brewed with RB.
Tasting Notes After
two weeks in the bottles the beer was still yeasty nowhere near ready. After a
month this beer was quite good, very drinkable – a little light for my liking
could stand to be hopier. Great head on this one. 30.11.06 Had a bottle of this
while not exceptional it isn't too bad - honey is subtle but present.
5. Morgans Australian Old
Started 28.11.05 Bottled 4.12.05
1 can Morgans Australian Old
1kg Stout Mix (500g Dark dried malt extract, 250g Light dried malt extract,
250g Maltodextrin)
Old
infusion pack (220g grain -
Brewing Notes Steep grains in 70 degree water for 20mins (wonderful chocolate smell) add hops for last 7-8mins. Strain mixture into fermenter. Add other ingredients. Brewed with Carlo B. / RB. Very slow fermentation due to cold snap little or no bubbling – possible leak in fermenter. FG 1014.
Tasting Notes This one came out pretty good, nice and bitter. Not very close to Tooheys Old but dark and yummy, probably my best attempt to date. 28/02/06 Just gets better – brilliant drop. 02.12.06 This one hasn't changed much at all - still good.
6. Brewcraft Mexican Cerveza
Started 04.12.05 Bottled 10.12.05
1 can Brewcraft Mexican Cerveza (1.5kg)
1kg Dextrose
Brewing Notes Dissolve dextrose and can contents in 2L of water, boiled for 15mins. Added to fermenter to 22.5L. Brewed with RB. There was a heat wave and I wasn't at home to move the fermenter to a cooler room - this may have some adverse effects on the beer - the yeast may have been killed with 38 degree temperatures - will have to wait and see how it turns outs - hopefully it stayed cool enough in the laundry).
Tasting Notes This beer has been a disaster – I think I bottled too early at least 10 bottles have exploded. And the beer tastes like crap – I hope it mellows. 20/02/06 When beer is opened its contents spews out for about 5 mins – the beer has mellowed marginally and is almost drinkable – time seems to procrastinating in sorting this beer out. Considering tossing it. 19.0306 This beer has been tossed - opening the unexploded bottles was a real treat - scared the hell out of me. Tops would fly maybe 10-20 metres in the air and the beer would spew out about 0.5-1.0 metres in the air. Note to anyone who has made hand grenades like I did - put the bottles in the fridge first - they aren't as explosive that way. 19.06.06 Found a bottle of this tucked away in the back of the fridge and the beer is ok. Yuckness has mellowed only slightly noticeable. Probably as good as most common commercial beers.
7. Coopers Sparkling Ale
Started 13.12.05 Bottled 19.12.05
1 can Coopers Sparkling Ale
1 can Morgan's Extra Pale Liquid Malt Extract (1.5kg)
500g Light Dried Malt Extract
300g Dextrose
Brewing Notes Dissolve LDM, dextrose, liquid malt extract and beer kit in 2L of water, boiled for 15mins. Added to fermenter - 23L. Brewed with RB.
Tasting Notes This
tastes simular to the real thing but its is a little sweet and ideally needs
some bittering hops. 19.03.06 Beer way too sweet - may have to do with boiling
the kit and all the malt. Will make again but with hops to bitter it up.
8. Coopers Real Ale
Started 05.02.06 Bottled 11.02.06
1 can Coopers Real Ale
1kg Light Dried Malt Extract
150g Dextrose
100g Maltodextrin
12g Pride of Ringwood hops
200g Carapils grain
Brewing Notes Steep grains in 70 degree water for 30 mins. Add strained water to pot with malt, dextrose, maltodextrin and kit. Add hops and boil for 60 mins. Added to fermenter - 23L. High temps when pitching yeast - approx 32 degrees. Unable to reduce temp to satisfactory levels - will look at possible water cooling or fridge. After 1st day of high brewing temps put fermenter in large pot full of water, draped sheet over fermenter and into water. Also put in 4 frozen cola bottles morning and night – was able to reduce temp to 20-22 degrees. Hopefully this will save the beer. Have since purchased thermostat from Adloheat to rig up brewing fridge. Smelt great when bottling.
Tasting Notes Two
weeks in bottle and beer is nice and bitter. Very smooth and excellent head –
I’m thinking due to Carapils grains. This one is only gonna get better with
age. 02/03/06 I am digging this beer – very bitter / very smooth – yummy!
9. Coopers India
Started 11.02.06 Bottled 21.02.06
1 can Coopers India Pale Ale
500g Light Dried Malt Extract
300g Dextrose
100g Maltodextrin
Brewing Notes All ingredients into pot for boiling for 30mins. Into fermenter – 23L. Into new brew fridge setup have maintained temp @ 20-22 degrees. Brewed with MP very late. Appears the airlock has a minute crack from cleaning process – hopefully no issues will result. Water in airlock still moves when bubbling – so would expect that no nasties can enter. Kept in primary for 10 days - had lowered temp to approx 16 degrees toward end of fermentation. Beer super clear when bottling - will follow same process moving forward. Also considering ditching fermentor lid and air lock and using Glad wrap only - with rubber seal from existing lid - will investigate.
Tasting Notes 07.03.06
Beer was very clear, not too bitter - very little aroma and taste. A little
disappointing. Very easy drinking though. No head at all. Maybe age will
improve this one. 15.03.06 Have had a couple of these lately and the beer is
getting better. Very easy drinking and fairly bitter.
10. Coopers Canadian Blonde # 2
Started 22.02.06 Bottled 04.03.06
1 can Coopers Canadian Blonde
1kg Coopers Brew Enhancer #2 (500g Dextrose, 250g Light dried malt, 250g Maltodextrin)
300g Honey
250g Light Dried Malt
12g Pride of Ringwood hops
100g Carapils grain
Brewing Notes Brewed solo - with disinterested onlookers in the kitchen. Steep grains in 70 degree water for 30 mins (with new thermometer!). Strain water into large pot. Add all ingredients to water and boiled for 60 mins. Cooled pot in sink - added to fermentor along with water and some ice (unable to reduce to appropriate temp to pitch yeast). Have discarded fermentor lid and airlock. Using instead glad wrap with "O" ring from lid, hole punched in middle of glad wrap and "O" ring over the top. Second piece of glad wrap over first piece and "O" ring. Set temp in fridge to approx 20-21 degrees. Next morning glad wrap domed up and fermentation process is clearly visible. Krausen dropped after 3-4 days. Have purchased vessel to do secondary in - 25L container with lid and tap from Bunnings. As well as racking hose. Will rack after 5 days in primary. And will be using glad wrap method again on secondary. Bulk primed this one - approx 170g white sugar.
Tasting Notes
16.03.06 Tried
one - really sweet probably close to Beez Neez - Low carbonation, Ok head, very
much tastes like honey. A very nice beer - maybe a little green still. 22.03.06
This beer is the bomb! Definitely make this one again.
11. Morgans Blue
Mountain
Started 04.03.06 Bottled 26.03.06
1 can Morgans Blue Mountain Lager
500g Dextrose
350g Light dried malt
250g Maltodextrin
12g Hersbrucker hops
Brewing Notes Brewed with Marc and Andrew. Boil ingredients 30 mins - hops for last 10 mins. Tea bag tore open - shouldn't matter. Pre-chilled water for brew - 22.5L. Pitched the yeast at 23-24 degrees. Set fridge temp to 15 degrees. Rack after 1 week in primary @ 1020. 17.03.06 @ 1016 - was considering starting cold conditioning but will hold off another week. After reading http://homebrewandbeer.com/forum/ I am considering no longer boiling kits and only boiling fermentables (10-15mins) + hops (per hops schedule). Have dropped fridge temp to ~ 6 degrees for final week in secondary. FG was a little high for my liking when bottling - hopefully dodgy hydrometer or extra malt or boiled kit.
Tasting Notes 08.04.06 Patience isn't one of my virtues. Beer still green - high carbonation. 10.04.06 Had 2 more bottles of this one and this is a really nice beer - very smooth, great head, only gonna get better with age - if it gets to. 02.05.06 Beer has a bit of a bite. From experience this'll change given a bit of time. 11.06.06 Strong hop taste has finally subsided and this has turned out to be fairly good. Pretty close to the commercial Hahn Premium I was aiming for - only better. I should be able to convert a few people with this one. 26/06/06 This one has a lot of bite still but you only notice it on the first one. 02.08.06 The beer has come along nicely. Good session beer. 04.10.06 Nice beer - still has a distinct hop taste. 26.11.06 Exceptionally nice beer. Shame I didn't let this one mature further before drinking.
12. Brewcraft Newcastle Brown Ale
Started 27.03.06 Bottled 08.04.06
1 can Brewcraft Newcastle Brown Ale
1.5kg Liquid Amber Malt
250g Chocolate Malt
200g Rolled Oats
300g Coopers Brew Enhancer # 1
12g Fuggles hops
Brewing Notes Steep chocolate malt 30 mins @ 70 degrees and strain into second pot. Boil rolled oats for 15 mins and strained into second pot (not sure this worked properly as the grains retained a significant amount of liquid meaning that not much ended up in the brew - may have to research this moving forward). Add BE#1 and liquid malt. Boil for 15 mins, adding hops with 10 mins to go (left in tea bag and tea bag is now in the fermentor too). Instructions called for yeast to be rehydrated. Basically dissolved yeast in 40 degree cooled boiled water left to stand for 15 mins and pitched when everything else was done. Added boiled ingredients and un-boiled kit to fermentor. Added pre-chilled 15 litres of water and also 2 pint glasses of crushed ice to cool wort to temp where I could pitch yeast. Made up to 23 litres. After 7 hours krausen has already formed! Fridge @ 21 degrees. Racked after 4 days - lots of crud in this one. 9 days in I’ve dropped the temp to 5 degrees. Smelt delicious at bottling.
Tasting Notes 03.05.06 Wow... while this beer may not be altogether ready it is scrumptious! Roasted chocolate flavours. Well on the way! 10.06.06 Sensational beer! A lot smoother now. 04.08.06 Very chocolate tasting, I don't mind it but some have taken offence. 25.08.06 Will make this one again - with less chocolate malt.
13. Coopers Stout / Coopers Dark Ale
Started 08.04.06 Bottled 19.04.06
1 can Coopers Stout
1 can Coopers Dark Ale
150g Chocolate Malt
200g Rolled Oats
Brewing Notes Crush grain with a rolling pin. Steep both chocolate and rolled oats @ 70 degrees for 30 mins in separate pots. This time was able to extract liquid from the oats easily (passed extra water through the grains to get more of the oats). Boiled strained fluid for 15 mins. Added 2 kits to boiled ingredients, added to fermentor with chilled water. Only pitched 1 packet of yeast. Extreme frothing and fermentation - even with fridge at 20 degrees (small amount of overflow). Rack @ 4 days - lots of gunk.
Tasting Notes 08.05.06 Nice and bitter and great head, one of my better efforts - delicious! 14.05.06 One word... 'Bitter!' 12.06.06 Good news! The bitterness is gone to reveal a really nice caramel taste. Some non dark drinkers have been surprised by this one. 24.09.06 This beer gets better and better. Already planning mark 2.
14. E.S.B. Czech Pilsner
Started 08.05.06 Bottled 04.06.06
1 can Czech Pilsner 3kg
Saflager Yeast W-34/70 11.5g
300g Dextrose
200g Maltodextrin
Brewing Notes Brewed with K. Mixed all
ingredients with 2 litres of boiling water. 22.5L. Set to 15 degrees. After 10
hours no real foam - however yeast cake has formed at bottom. Dropped temp to 10
degrees. It has taken a while to start - 3 days to get fully going and at
18.05.06 still has krausen - have not racked yet. 22.05.06 Racked beer (2 weeks)
- fermentation still going. 29.05.06 Have put fridge up to 20 degrees for 3 days
(have read that this is good to do to remove toffee flavour from cold
fermentation) SG 1018. Then back down to 5 degrees for 3 days. Refer
Diacetyl
Rest. Beer extremely clear when bottling - probably clearest to date.
Tasting Notes 19.06.06 I know it's young but I am really surprised with this one - very nice. 28.06.06 Really nice with a creamy mouth feel. Probably due to the saflager - must start using better quality yeasts. Probably give culturing a go. 27.07.06 Beer is very nice - only downfall is overly frothy head. It does collapse leaving a nice creamy head - this may be a function of glass or pouring technique (which I thought I had down pat). 14.09.06 Beer is over carbonated - needs time to breath before drinking - lovely beer though. 26.11.06 The bottle I had was nothing special - amount of foam is quite annoying.
15. Little Do They Know That I Am Really Superdog!
Started 10.06.06 Bottled 26.06.06
1 can BMBS Old
500g Light Dried Malt Extract
500g Dextrose
250g Maltodextrin
120g Chocolate Malt
250g Rolled Oats
10g Fuggles (30mins)
10g Fuggles (5mins)
Brewing Notes Steep grains and oats for 30 mins. Boil with sugar for 30 mins. Add hops 30 mins to go and 5 mins to go. Add kit at flame out. Needed ice to cool down. 22 Litres. Rack at 6 days, this beer had very little activity - fermenting at 18 degrees. Beer has not gone above 17.5 since racking. Considering no longer using oats - they leave a lot of gunk at the bottom and I can't really see any benefit based on #12 + #13, it all seems to drop out of suspension, may just stick with crystal or carapils. 26.06.06 Due to leaking tap and butter fingers syndrome had a minor crisis, rather a messy crisis! Final volume was 20 litres. Beer tasted and smelt delicious! Looking at swapping brew fridge for a wine fridge and shifting brewing operations across the road. Bulk primed with 165g of raw sugar. FG 1014.
Tasting Notes 26.07.06 This beer is really good - not very bitter at all, very smooth. Highly recommended with maybe some more hops to increase bitterness.
16. Hobgoblin at Hanging Rock
Started 03.07.06 Bottled 26.07.06
1 can Coopers Draught
1kg Light Dried Malt
300g Dextrose
100g Crystal Malt
50g Chocolate Malt
20g Cascade Hops (30 mins)
12g Fuggle Hops (5 mins)
Brewing Notes Steep cracked grains for 30
mins. Throw in hops per schedule. 22.5L. Fridge set to 18 degrees. Bulk priming with 180g raw sugar (split some
dissolved sugar on the trip downstairs hopefully enough left to carbonate sufficiently).
Recipe from here.
Tasting Notes
13.08.06 This beer is yummy!
17. A Real Pale Ale
Started 15.08.06 Bottled 18.09.06
1 can Coopers Pale Ale
1 can Coopers Real Ale
100g Carapils
10g Fuggles (Flameout)
1 x 11g packet SafAle S-04
Brewing Notes Crack grains. Steep 30 mins - 2 litres. Boil 10 mins. Hops at flameout. Two cans and water from grains into fermenter. 22 litres. Pitched yeast. Set temp @ 18 degrees. 21.08.06 Rack beer - heaps of gunk. Have also harvested yeast slurry from fermenter. Basically mixed up yeast cake with remaining beer (the yeast cake was incredibly tight). Then poured out the slurry into 4 x brown glass stubbies (approx half full). Covered each stubby with gladwrap and put into normal beer fridge. 28.08.06 Cap bottles - release pressure weekly. 4.09.06 Dropped temp for a week then brought temp back up to 18 degrees. 18.09.06 Fermenter leaked a little not much - but has resulted in mold in the fridge. Botteled brew with 150g white sugar - brew does not smell off - so hopefully it is ok.
Tasting Notes 26.10.06 Beer is not amazing but nice all the same. Had a random stubby explode, not sure why, possibly dirty bottle. Other bottles have low carbonation. We will see what time brings. 22.11.06 Bitter. It is much like an India Pale Ale. Delicious. 09.12.06 Needs time. Touch and go with this one. 06.01.07 I wouldn't recommend this combination.
18. Golden "Wheat" Axe
Started 28.09.06 Bottled 01.11.06
1 can Morgans Golden Sheaf Wheat
1 can Coopers Wheat Malt (1.5kg - Liquid)
300g Dextrose
120g Maltodextrin
100g Carapils
12g Pride of Ringwood Hops (60 mins)
7.5g Cascade Hops (10 mins)
7.5g Cascade Hops (Dry-hop)
Brewing Notes Dissolve dextrose + maltodextrin in 1 litre of water. Throw in POR. Boil. Crack grain. Steep 30 mins @ 65 degrees in 1.5 litres. Combine steeped water + boiled hops at 25 mins. Boil. Throw in Cascade at 10 mins. Tip 2 cans into fermenter. Tip in boil contents. Fill 1/2 way then add Cascade. Top up to 22L. Should have used harvested yeast - but I didn't realise that Morgans kit came with normal ale yeast and not a special wheat yeast. 29.09.06 @ 8.15am Brew progressing nicely. 05.10.06 Rack beer. 01.11.06 Bottle with 150g white sugar.
Tasting Notes 10.12.06 This beer is really nice. I can highly recommend it. 05.01.07 I don't like this beer. Sometimes it's passable, other times it has a strange flavour. It must be severed über cold.
19. Meggsie's Ginger
Started 04.11.06 Bottled 25.11.06
1 can Coopers Ginger Beer
1kg Raw Sugar
200g Light Dry Malt Extract
100g Carapils
300g Honey
1 Lemon + Zest
20g Ground Ginger Powder
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
4 Cloves
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
Re-cultured Yeast - SafAle S-04
Yeast Nutrient - Can Yeast
Brewing Notes 01.11.06 Made yeast starter (see batch 17). Boiled 1 litre of water with 100g white sugar, cooled to 25-30 degrees C, added room temperature yeast dregs. 02.11.06 Yeast starter going along nicely. 04.11.06 Crack grains - steeps 30mins @ 65-70 C. Strain. Boil with all ingredients 20mins (almost boiled over!). Boil can yeast for SafAle yeast nutrient. Add to fermenter with can. Add yeast. Top up to 22L @ 22 degrees. Later in afternoon yeast very active, I assume due to large starter. Drop temp to 20 C. 11.11.06 Rack beer. Concerned that might not be gingery enough. Might add more ginger when priming. 25.11.06 Decided against more ginger. Beer tasted great when bottling - 140g white sugar.
Tasting Notes 09.12.06 The beer while young is quite nice. It has a good ginger bite. Appreciable honey flavour and cinnamon hints. Carbonation good. When I make it again I'll not use the kit but start from scratch. 21.01.07 Beer is quite pleasant and refreshing. Adequate ginger notes. One bystander noted - that it smells and tastes like Christmas.
20. Sweet Little Mexican Cerveza
Started 26.11.06 Bottled 18.12.06
1 can Coopers Mexican Cerveza
200g Dextrose
500g Candy Sugar
250g Maltodextrin
250g Light Dried Malt Extract
100g Carapils
10g Cascade Hops (15mins)
10g Cascade Hops (Flameout)
Brewing Notes 25.11.06 Made candy (invert) sugar per instructions here with new candy thermometer. Measure 500g white sugar and add water to make thick syrup. Start boiling. Took about 10 mins to get between 127 - 135 degrees. Held at this temp for 10 mins. Sugar turned a yellow colour. Let the sugar go up to 150 degrees (hard crack). Turn off heat. Cool down and pour onto grease proof paper. 26.11.06 Steep grains 30 mins. Add all sugars. Bring to boil. Throw hops in per schedule. Add can at flameout. Into fermentor. Set fridge to 15 degrees. Apparently Coopers Mexican Cerveza yeast is a Lager / Ale blend. 27.11.06 Fermentation has started. 07.12.06 Rack beer. 18.12.06 Bottle 140g white sugar.
Tasting Notes This beer while not extremely close to Corona, it is simular to many Australian lagers. Fairly pleasant, non-offensive. Non homebrew drinkers will appreciate this beer. No cidery notes from the candy sugar. Minimal body, but more so that Corona (which isn't a bad thing). Must try with a lemon. Definite cascade flowery / citrus notes. I would drop out the dextrose in future.
21. Heart of the Sun - (Shovel & Pale)
Started 18.12.06 Bottled 07.01.07
2 x Malt Shovel Pale Ale Tins
100g Crystal
20g Cascade - 30 mins
15g Fuggles - 10 mins
21 Litres
Brewing Notes Normal brew. I was going to re-culture some of the S-04 yeast in the fridge but when I opened the bottle it was stored in, there was a distinct vegimite smell. Decided to use the kit yeast. The wort is alot darker in the fermenter than I would have expected for a pale ale - and the steeped crystal was very dark too. We shall call it a dark ale! 19.12.06 Fermentation appears to have started but there is no krausen to speak of. Sediment has formed at the bottom. It may be a function of the Malt Shovel yeast. Not sure. 26.12.06 Rack beer. 07.01.07 Bottle with 140g white sugar.
Tasting Notes
31.01.07 Nothing special. Beer a deep amber
xx. Please Mr. Gravedigger - (With His Little Shovel)
Started xx.xx.xx Bottled xx.xx.xx
2 x Malt Shovel Oatmeal Stout Tins
500g LDME
50g Chocolate Malt
100g Crystal
12g POR - 60mins (just to use it up and bitter the beer up)
15g Cascade - 30mins
10g Fuggles - 5mins
20 Litres
Brewing Notes Yet to brew...
Tasting Notes Yet to
taste…
xx. Karma Police Arrest
This Bavarian!
Started xx.xx.xx Bottled xx.xx.xx
2 cans Coopers Bavarian Lager
500g Light Dry Malt
500g Candy Sugar
Hops?? Saaz?
Brewing Notes Yet to brew... 23 L Both packets of yeast. Start @ 21, Drop to 15. Leave for at least 3 weeks. Suggested FG 1016 - 7.6% expected.
Tasting Notes Yet to taste…
xx. See You At The Bitter End
Started xx.xx.xx Bottled xx.xx.xx
1 can Coopers Bitter
500g Dextrose
500g Light Dried Malt Extract
300g Coopers Brew Enhancer #1
200g Crystal Malt
100g Carapils
20g Cascade Hops (30mins)
10g Cascade Hops (10mins)
Brewing Notes Yet to brew...
Tasting Notes Yet to
taste…
