Coopers Stout - ABV?

[Elmwood]

Hi all,

I put my 2nd brew on 8 days ago (Ditch's recipe Coopers Stout) and believe the OG was around 1042. I have just checkd the SG and it is around 1010. Am I right in thinking that this means around 4.2% ABV?

The plan is to leave it be until the weekend (12 days in total)and bottle it with 1/2tsp raw cane sugar/bottle. I would love to go the "full Ditch" and keg it, but I have 40 spare bottles and haven't shelled out for a keg as yet. Xmas is on the horizon though I would welcome opinions if people think there is a better approach to bottling i.e. no priming, different sugar etc?

Looking like a good Xmas/New Year with 41 bottles Fixby Gold (bottled 8 days ago, left in the warm for 1 week and put into our cellar yesterday) and 40'ish bottles of Ditch's Stout

Next up - Brupaks Colne Valley Bitter. I think its fair to say I have caught the bug somewhat...

[mat69]

are you bottling straight out of the fv?
if you are you can just bulk prime the fv with say 80g of sugar mixed with 150ml of boiled water.
cool the priming sugar and gently mix in the fv so you don't disturb the yeast..then bottle

[Elmwood]

Yes Matt, bottling straight from the FV - I know it's not best practice, but don't have a BV yet either! Don't mind priming each bottle though - I have an assistant - my 10yr old son - who loves it! Is there any benefit to bulk priming other than ease? I'm a little nervous of rousing the yeast with my ham-fisted approach!

[EoinMag]

Yes Matt, bottling straight from the FV - I know it's not best practice, but don't have a BV yet either! Don't mind priming each bottle though - I have an assistant - my 10yr old son - who loves it! Is there any benefit to bulk priming other than ease? I'm a little nervous of rousing the yeast with my ham-fisted approach!

Bulk priming is more consistent as once you mix it all up together then theoretically every bottle gets the same priming. It also allows you to prime more accurately to style than the half a teaspoon method. Bulk is also more sanitary as you aren't touching the priming for each bottle seperately.

[mat69]

Don't mind priming each bottle though - I have an assistant - my 10yr old son - who loves it!

if you dont mind priming your bottles individualy,and you spend a bit of beer time with ya boy,who am i to tell you anything different..sounds like the best brew day to me..

[Elmwood]

Thanks guys!

[bungle666]

bottled ditches stout will come out at around 4.7% in the bottle!!

its also bloody good stuff too!!

B..

[Elmwood]

Sounding better all the time