"over cooked" Coopers Aussie Lager ??

[Manx Guy]

Hi,

My first brew was a Coopers Aussie Lager which I fermented at the 'recomended' 24C

I bottled the lager a month ago, when I came to try some the other day it was clear and on opening the bottle it was fizzy.... It held it head on standing too So I was pleased...
However the taste is slightly dissapointing as there is a slight sweetnes and cidery taste on the finish, which spoils an otherwise (IMO) good first effort...

Will this taste ease with age or is it simply beacause I fermented it far to warm?

My other brew (Coopers PAle Ale) is only 2 weeks old but is lovely! Clean and crisp! I'm sure it will continue to improve for another 4-6 weeks Assuming I can leave it alone...

Any suggestions would be welcome as I'd like to try another Lager soon (after my planned Sparkling Ale)

Slainte!

[crafty john]

Hi,

My first brew was a Coopers Aussie Lager which I fermented at the 'recomended' 24C

I bottled the lager a month ago, when I came to try some the other day it was clear and on opening the bottle it was fizzy.... It held it head on standing too So I was pleased...
However the taste is slightly dissapointing as there is a slight sweetnes and cidery taste on the finish, which spoils an otherwise (IMO) good first effort...

Will this taste ease with age or is it simply beacause I fermented it far to warm?

My other brew (Coopers PAle Ale) is only 2 weeks old but is lovely! Clean and crisp! I'm sure it will continue to improve for another 4-6 weeks Assuming I can leave it alone...

Any suggestions would be welcome as I'd like to try another Lager soon (after my planned Sparkling Ale)

Slainte!

Hi I don't like the taste you get from a lager kit, I much prefer bitter but if you prefer something more lagery try Coopers Draught.

[jonnyhop]

I personally feel that aging is the best medicine for beer, but flat disappointing beers can often come down to sterilisation and bottle choice. I personally feel knackered washing the 40th bottle and do not give it the same care and love I give the first bottle. I also lose this 40th bottle in the large 40 bottle stash. So don’t beat yourself up, just appreciate that the sterilising and washing plays a large part.

And know that the next brew may be a fizzy treat

[Manx Guy]

Hi!

Thanks guys!

I have bought a Coopers Draught on another forum members recomendation, he also sugested experimenting with the addition of some extra hops...

I have had more success with my Coopers Pale Ale and I suspect that (the dissapointing flavour) is due to the fact that the lager kit used ale yeast and I also possibly fermented it too high (althou in the middle of the recomended temp. range).

I was very thorough at cleaning & rinsing the mixture of PET and Glass ('pub issue' Grolsch swing tops) bottles used. I deceided on amixture to see what gave the best results...

I have located a nice (constantly) cool spot in which to further condition the Lager.
I will enjoy my Pale Ale whilst I brewing and conditioning my Coopers Sparkling Ale.

I plan to try another lager kit in october(more suitable ambient temp) using real lager yeast, in the hope that it will be drinkable by christmas!

Thanks again guys!
Slainte!

[verno]

I have brewed about 4 lagers, 3 of which were coopers, the lager, the brewmaster pilsner and the european lager. Each have had different tweaks to them although I think the pilsner may have been the best.

Having now brewed some ales, I think the issues comes down to the fact that its not cold fermented or cold conditioned and therefore will never be as crisp as the stuff you can buy. That said when friends taste it they are pretty impressed as it probably has more flavour than a commercial lager. Additionally I have always used a dried malt extract and brewing sugar mix which I don't think helps to give it body. In future I would go for full malt.

[Manx Guy]

Thanks,

This thought had occured to me too as I know (from visits to several) that micro breweries that produce lagers keep them at 0-1C for 14-21 day before filtering the yeast off.
It is the cold conditioning (albiet semi artifical ) compared with the 'traditional German/Czech method' that leaves you with a crisp taste.

I'm going to try the coopers draught on a recomendation, and some point after that I will try a 'true pilsner' kit using real lager yeast to see how that goes...

I'll be honest at this stage and say that the lager I made is quite drinkable but its the slightly cidery sweet aftertaste that is dissapointing- maybe i was expecting too much?


That said the Pale Ale I made as my second brew is a great drink and I'd certainly make more!!

I'm going to continue to experiment with lagers, but also have a Coopers Sparkling Ale (to be made with re-cultured yeast from the comercial brew) and a coopers dark (for winter, that'll be October then) in the pipeline...

Even if my experiments dont result in a crisp lager I'm confident that I can produce a drink that can be swilled whilst enjoying a BBQ or a poker evening...

In the meantime I'm on here to learn what I can from the more experirnced brewers... So don't be shy & feel free to stick your oars in!!
lol

Slainte!

[crafty john]

Thanks,

This thought had occured to me too as I know (from visits to several) that micro breweries that produce lagers keep them at 0-1C for 14-21 day before filtering the yeast off.
It is the cold conditioning (albiet semi artifical ) compared with the 'traditional German/Czech method' that leaves you with a crisp taste.

I'm going to try the coopers draught on a recomendation, and some point after that I will try a 'true pilsner' kit using real lager yeast to see how that goes...

I'll be honest at this stage and say that the lager I made is quite drinkable but its the slightly cidery sweet aftertaste that is dissapointing- maybe i was expecting too much?


That said the Pale Ale I made as my second brew is a great drink and I'd certainly make more!!


I'm going to continue to experiment with lagers, but also have a Coopers Sparkling Ale (to be made with re-cultured yeast from the comercial brew) and a coopers dark (for winter, that'll be October then) in the pipeline...

Even if my experiments dont result in a crisp lager I'm confident that I can produce a drink that can be swilled whilst enjoying a BBQ or a poker evening...

In the meantime I'm on here to learn what I can from the more experirnced brewers... So don't be shy & feel free to stick your oars in!!
lol

Slainte!

Hi Manx Guy
If you want a nice quick brew for hot summer days I reccomend doing a batch of TC, I don't like commercial cider but I love my TC, it's a piece of cake to make and works out reasonably cheap. Have a look around the forum for recepie ideas and tweak them to your own tastes.

Regards John

[Manx Guy]

Hi Crafty John

Thanks for your input, I have a batch of TC that should be ready for bottling this week!
I'm looking forward to trying it!
I've racked it off twice and added more AJ as I've gone along.. The fermentation is slowing right down now so I fairly sure its ready for bottling... Besides I thnk a nice sparkling cider would be refreshing!

Will secondary fermentation in the bottle take about the same time as with beer?
Slainte!

[crafty john]

Yeah I usualy leave it somewhere warm for a week.

[Manx Guy]

Hi,

by way of an update...
I moved the Lager somewhere cool, then put one in the fridge on friday night- on Sunday I have to say it was considerably better!
I also tried my TC (afterwards) and it was very pleasant indeed.. If a little on the strong side!

I will use a Coopers Draught to see if I can achaive something a little more lager-like... I may or may not add some Saaz hops for a hoppier aroma...
I will keep the thread updated...
Slainte!

[adchesney]

I noticed that someone used "Grolsch swing tops" are these any good?

I am going to start my first brew on Saturday. Cooper IPA with Honey and Light Spray Malt

Regards

ADC

[Manx Guy]

Hi!

Yes the Grolsch swing tops a good... The ones I have are the returnable ones you get from pubs... Any way a pub landlord i know had a bust up with the brewery and they refused to collect the empties.... 9 cases of 16 450ml bottles ended up coming my way instead of the glass skip!

You need ~48 bottles for a 23l/5Gal brew.

The bottles are tough and designed to be reused, the best thing about them in my opinion is their shape and size- they drop bright in 2-3 days!
The seals do last several use cycles and I wash and sanitize them seperately although this may not be entirely necassary.
Spare seals can be bought from some LHBS or online places... meaning you can replace them as needed

Your IPA sounds interesting- have you tried any? I'd like to hear how it goes....

I have an IPA (Coopers Brewmaster) in mind which I might make up with the directed 1kg DME & 500g Dextrose or experiment... I have a spare can of LME which i might use.... I also have some challenger and fuggles hops which may be added too...
lol