home brew beginners!!!!

joejobrien

Hi guys,
question for ye experts. I am newbie on this and just about to make my first batch. I got a can of Coopers IPA, and they recommended BREW ENCHANCER........suppose to give me a malty taste??? Heres the questions.
1. is dry malt extract the same as brew enhancer?
For which the can recommended 500g of light dry malt and then 300g of dextrose/sugar.
2. So is the sugar inclued in the brew enchancer (as it is called a different name) and also the fact the person who sold same told me I didnt require sugar.
3. Is the sugar ordinary table sugar or isit brewing sugar.
Thanks in advance:)

BeerNut

joejobrien wrote: »

they recommended BREW ENCHANCER

Of course they do. They make it. Never trust anything written on or near a kit. That's rule 1.

joejobrien wrote: »

1. is dry malt extract the same as brew enhancer?

No, it's superior. Enhancer usually has sugar mixed in and it's best not to use large amounts of sugar in a kit. Use a kilo of extract with a kit and no enhancer and no sugar.

joejobrien wrote: »

2. So is the sugar inclued in the brew enchancer

Yes, but don't use sugar, don't use enhancer. Because of the sugar.

joejobrien wrote: »

3. Is the sugar ordinary table sugar or isit brewing sugar.

Tends to be dextrose, aka glucose, aka "Brewing sugar", but it's still sugar. Use in small doses eg for priming, but not as a main fermentable. Or at least, if you do use it as a main fermentable, don't be surprised if your beer turns out thin and cidery.

Bogwoppit

Good answers there.

joejobrien

Thanks Beernut for that.
you live and learn!!!! Therefore better get dry malt extract instead and return the enhancer so.
No doubt I will be back again.
Should I follow whos instruction??????? any ideas.
Again thanks for the input

loyatemu

Presumably for kits designed to be augmented with sugar, using malt-extract instead will give the beer a maltier profile (particularly if you use LME). Obviously kit brewing is question of compromises anyway...

BeerNut

joejobrien wrote: »

Should I follow whos instruction??????? any ideas.

There are lots of kit brewing instructions on homebrew sites around the web. Google for them.

loyatemu

BeerNut wrote: »

There are lots of kit brewing instructions on homebrew sites around the web. Google for them.

or just use these ones

thelaoislad

my first kit was the same , Coopers IPA...I used LME ,1kg, supplied to me by the Homebrewcompany where i got all me gear to start with ..wasnt too sure if I was been given the right stuff ,as it was all new to me ..
But they did give me good advice!
Followed the instruction on the Homebrewcompany website , not the so much the kit instructions.
Long story short, popped the first bottle 2 nights ago , and it was V nice ..
I think it was better that some of the dodgy craft beer IPA bottles Ive sampled..not as good as the premium brands of ipa i know, but easy to drink all the same .
I was delighted with it .
Nice ruby colour, and very good head retention ..couldnt believe it ..

I rehydrated the yeast in 100ml water at ~~35oC
It was in FV for 2 days at steady 20 -21 oC , 2nd Fv for 2-3 days to settle stuff out , then I bottled it with about half T spoon ordinary table sugar .
Left the bottles in 20oC again for 2 weeks , based on loyatemu's advice( Tks by the way !) , then moved it to the garage at about 8-10oC for week and half before I sample one ..
I can only figure that it will improve some more over next few wks , if i can stay away from it !
So like Beernut said , follow some proper instructions , not so much the kit ..that worked for me ayway

BeerNut

thelaoislad wrote: »

It was in FV for 2 days at steady 20 -21 oC , 2nd Fv for 2-3 days to settle stuff out

Typo, or did you really finish it in five days?

thelaoislad

yep , ment 2 weeks in fv .. cant type at alll

joejobrien

thelaoislad wrote: »

my first kit was the same , Coopers IPA...I used LME ,1kg, supplied to me by the Homebrewcompany where i got all me gear to start with ..wasnt too sure if I was been given the right stuff ,as it was all new to me ..
But they did give me good advice!
Followed the instruction on the Homebrewcompany website , not the so much the kit instructions.
Long story short, popped the first bottle 2 nights ago , and it was V nice ..
I think it was better that some of the dodgy craft beer IPA bottles Ive sampled..not as good as the premium brands of ipa i know, but easy to drink all the same .
I was delighted with it .
Nice ruby colour, and very good head retention ..couldnt believe it ..

I rehydrated the yeast in 100ml water at ~~35oC
It was in FV for 2 days at steady 20 -21 oC , 2nd Fv for 2-3 days to settle stuff out , then I bottled it with about half T spoon ordinary table sugar .
Left the bottles in 20oC again for 2 weeks , based on loyatemu's advice( Tks by the way !) , then moved it to the garage at about 8-10oC for week and half before I sample one ..
I can only figure that it will improve some more over next few wks , if i can stay away from it !
So like Beernut said , follow some proper instructions , not so much the kit ..that worked for me ayway

Thats great. I have mine on here for the last 2 days , so heres hoping for the same results. enjoy

joejobrien

With regards leaving the fementer for a week, is there anything to be gained for extending the time for another few days or a week and then the same again for the next fementer?
Thanks

BeerNut

Two weeks in the same fermenter will do grand.

joejobrien

Just an update, The beer is in storagefor approxclose on 4 months. It has defintly improved with age. Early jan it wasnt really what i expected but has improved 100 %
So much so Im going to put on another batch.
Could ye guys recommend something like an irish red ale.
Afew neighbours have sampled my first batch and this spured me on for a quality no 2 beer
Thanks for your help in advance

poitinstill

Best red I've done is st Peters ruby red. As a straight kit it's superb ( let it age 6 weeks of so )

joejobrien

Thanks for that.
However there( the homebrew co.) are out of stock Any other recomendations please?

FlipperThePriest

Geterbrewed.ie: St. Peters Ruby Red