Coopers Micro Brew Set

SteeveeDee

Hey,
Just wondering if any of you guys have used or heard anything about this Coopers brew kit http://homebrewwest.ie/coopers-micro-brew-beer-starter-kit-next-generation-now-with-ox-bar-bottles-with-brewbelt-965-p.asp

Im just starting out and was thinking of going for it. Just wondered would it be useful for other kits that are not coopers etc. or would I have to stick to the coopers stuff.

Any help on this would be good as I am a complete beginner.;)

Brian CivilEng

It would be a good way to start out and you would in no way be restricted to using Coopers kits, any kit would work. In my opinion it is a bit expensive though, I'd look at the list of contents and see if it is cheaper to buy them individually.

SteeveeDee

Thanks for the speedy reply there. I may indeed buy individual and cheers for the financial heads up!

guildofevil

I think TheHomeBrewComapany.ie starter kit is the way to go. It has all the bits and pieces I recommend for kit brewing.

You need to get yourself some empty beer bottles and buy a beer kit separately, but you get two brewing vessels instead of one with the coopers kit and a proper glass thermometer instead of the adhesive one.

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guildofevil wrote: »

I think TheHomeBrewComapany.ie starter kit is the way to go. It has all the bits and pieces I recommend for kit brewing.

You need to get yourself some empty beer bottles and buy a beer kit separately, but you get two brewing vessels instead of one with the coopers kit and a proper glass thermometer instead of the adhesive one.

That website is a godsend, I just took delivery of some stuff today. A 25 Litre Vessel with a tap fitted at the bottom, some yeast, two extracts (a lager and an ale). Two of us went halves on the stuff, and going to start the lager this evening.

Ordered it last Thursday, which is a 3 day turnaround (Friday, Tuesday, today)

That kit looks brilliant for the amount of stuff that comes with it too, and if I was starting again, it's what I'd get

SteeveeDee

Cheers the info guys. Checked out TheHomeBrewComapany.ie and reckon I'm gonna order the starter kit in the next few days.

Anyone have any suggestions as to my first brew? I'd be an ale man meself but open to suggestions but don't want anything to difficult if that makes any sense!

SteeveeDee

Sorry, meant to ask guildofevil, what's the benefit of the two vessels over the one that coopers use? Sorry to ask but I'm a complete novice and in the blind for all intensive purposes. I'm thinking the 2 vessels thing is better and probably more traditional?

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SteeveeDee wrote: »

Cheers the info guys. Checked out TheHomeBrewComapany.ie and reckon I'm gonna order the starter kit in the next few days.

Anyone have any suggestions as to my first brew? I'd be an ale man meself but open to suggestions but don't want anything to difficult if that makes any sense!

I got something called "Geordie Mild" from that same site, you should also order 1kg Spray Malt if getting that (it replaces the sugar that it tells you to add), but it suggests what else you should consider ordering when buying whichever one you pick.

I think the second vessel is for batch priming. When bottling it's recommended that you "prime" the bottles with a teaspoon of sugar, which creates the "fizz". If you have a second vessel you can add X amount of sugar to it, then add the fermented beer to it, then bottle it.

SteeveeDee

Des,
I'll look into the Geordie Mild. Sounds about right for me at the mo. I get the idea behind the 2nd container now,makes sense,thanks for that.

Any advice on bottling? I see brown glass being mentioned a lot for bottling but also noticed some talk on those PET bottles..just wondering what folks thoughts were on these.they seem pretty handy but that maybe a bad thing!

oblivious

Des wrote: »

I

I think the second vessel is for batch priming. When bottling it's recommended that you "prime" the bottles with a teaspoon of sugar, which creates the "fizz". If you have a second vessel you can add X amount of sugar to it, then add the fermented beer to it, then bottle it.

Batch priming is a much better method, as you can boil up your sugar (a then cool) which will reduce infection rates and it will allow for more consistent priming rate through put the bottles.

Also that fizz is cause by the sugar provide nucleation sites for the CO2 dissolved in the beer to come out

guildofevil

In addition to the advantages already mentioned, syphoning to a second vessel before bottling means that you leave all of the yeast cake at the bottom of the first fermentor. Otherwise the last few bottles you fill can end up a bit yeasty.

The process of batch priming is discussed in this handy guide. Bottling Beer: An Illustrated Guide

Sonovagun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx1nzweBCMU

useful vid!