Coopers English Bitter mini mash

[twentyfootwilf]

Knocked this up this morning inspired by Craigtubes video on the Coopers English Bitter mini mash. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWISaKyMDg4
1 x Coopers English Bitter
1kg pale malt
300g Biscuit malt
150g aromatic malt
500g light DME
300G wheat DME (only because it needed using up to get it out the way)
12g sonnet hops - 25 min boil

I put the grains into muslin bags and mashed them at 66c for 90 mins in about 8 litres of water. After which I sparged the bags with water from the kettle at around 80c. Then brought it to a boil and added the hops in a muslin bag for 25 mins. I used Irish moss during the final 15 mins of boil.
Then cooled the wort by putting the pot into the kitchen sink containing cold water.

I had already dissolved the DME and the can of Coopers English Bitter in water in the FV. Then added the wort to the FV and topped up to 23 litres with cold water.
I pitched an 11g sachet of Gervin ale yeast at 24c.
The OG 1048 and should come out around 4.8% ABV
Fingers crossed I'm hoping it turns out OK

[lovelldr]

Did a simpler version of this (kind if) myself...

Steeped 200g Crystal malt and 10g holdings, 20g saaz. Added to a 1kg muntons beer enhancer. Brewed to 22l with an og of 1.043 and fg of 1.007. So came out approx 4.7%. Taste of sample when bottling was really nice, so looking forward to final result

[twentyfootwilf]

This is the first time I've done a mini mash with base malts and I found it really quite simple, just a bit time consuming that's why I used the kit to save about an hour or so of boiling hops. Next time I may have a go at doing the mini mash with the hop boil as well, but the English bitter is a good kit for messing about with due to it's really nice hop profile, I understand that Coopers late hop it with styrian goldings.

[lovelldr]

Got quite impatient with this, and fancied a different tipple to try. Now, I knew this had only been bottled at the weekend just gone, could do with longer conditioning and carbonating, but you know how it is when you get those urges. Plus, it was quite cloudy to begin with, and I could see in the sample bottles that there was a lot of sediment (about 2-3mm in bottom of bottles), so wanted to try one out!

Anyway, put one in the fridge for a couple of hours. Opened one up, and was well pleased at the carbonation level, especially after only a few days! Head wasn't the best I've had, but better than some beers after 3 months or so! But, the taste! Wowsers! I could not believe how good it was! Definitely the best I've brewed so far I think! would be most happy to buy it at a pub, and better than some bottles I bought too!

can't wait until closer to christmas to have a few more samples of this! Hope yours tastes as good! I do believe it is the crystal malt and hops that Mae this so good, so intend on getting another of these on soon. Was gonna do the coopers hop gobbler recipe, but don't think I'll bother since this was so good!!!

[twentyfootwilf]

I can recommend the hop gobbler I've got a keg in my kitchen been kegged 3 weeks and needs longer but tastes very good. I think I overdid the chocolate malt, I used 300g and half that would have been enough really but it will be okay given time to mature and let all the different malts and hops blend and mellow.
Go on give it a go You know it makes sense