IPA or English Bitter

[wbosher]

Hi guys,

I've now got two brews under my belt...although I haven't tasted either of them yet so don't know if they were successful or not. First one a Mangrove Jacks Pilsner, and the other a Coopers Lager (with the new DIY kit). I also added some Saaz hops to the lager as I've heard it's a little bland on it's own. I'm going to try to leave them for the summer, or at least spring

Next, I would like to do something quite bitter. I was thinking either an IPA or English Bitter and as this is an English forum who better to ask.

Was hoping someone could give me some suggestions of some good kits for either, and if they are good straight out of the can or if they need a little tweaking...nothing too complicated though just yet.



Cheers.

[sbond10]

Youngs Yorkshire harvest bitter worked well for with a kilo of spray malt drinkable within a few days tastes even better after 4 weeks

[jabbathehut]

coopers ipa is good

[twentyfootwilf]

The Coopers IPA is a very bitter beer as per the character of the ale. The Coopers English bitter is slightly less bitter than the IPA but is still a very robust ale especially if given some extra hop flavour by boiling say 20g of goldings type hops for 15 mins. Make the English bitter with either 1kg of medium/amber dried malt extract or better still 1.5kg tin of medium/amber liquid malt extract. This would be my preference, in fact I shall be doing an English Bitter kit myself in the near future to some recipe or other. This looks a promising recipe on the Coopers website http://www.coopers.com.au/the-brewers-g ... op-gobbler if you fancy being a little more adventurous and steeping a few grains to give your beer something extra

[lee1]

edme ipa is very nice that does tick the boxes

[wbosher]

I've also heard that the Coopers IPA is a very good drop, especially when adding hops (I've been recommended Styrian Goldings). I might try that one next with some brew enhancer 2 and see how it goes.

[Cully]

I made a John Bull IPA and a John Bull traditional english ale back to back. The IPa was fantastic, the ale awful. ( Though to be fair, I used BKE with the IPA and sugar with the ale).

[wbosher]

I think I've been swayed in the direction of the Coopers IPA with BE2, and EKG and/or Styrian hops.

Will probably steep or dry hop, from what I understand Coopers IPA is bitter enough on it's own so really just after the falovour/aroma.

Can't wait, just need to get myself a shitload more bottles. Already got 60 bottles spoken for. It's going to be a great summer.

[twentyfootwilf]

If your preference is for the IPA, I would recommend using more malt than is in the BE2 which is comprised 250g light dry malt, 250g malto dextrin and 500g dextrose. Coopers website recommends 500g light dried malt and 300g dex have a look at this link http://www.coopers.com.au/the-brewers-g ... rength/ipa Personally I would use a full kilo of Dry malt as the beer is somewhat bitter and will easily stand a big malt profile especially if you are going to add some late hops for extra flavour, should be a nicely balanced IPA that way. See what you think.

[Monkeybrew]

If your preference is for the IPA, I would recommend using more malt than is in the BE2 which is comprised 250g light dry malt, 250g malto dextrin and 500g dextrose. Coopers website recommends 500g light dried malt and 300g dex have a look at this link http://www.coopers.com.au/the-brewers-g ... rength/ipa Personally I would use a full kilo of Dry malt as the beer is somewhat bitter and will easily stand a big malt profile especially if you are going to add some late hops for extra flavour, should be a nicely balanced IPA that way. See what you think.

+1 to that.

I've brewed one Coopers IPA so far and ballsed it up if I'm honest!

I brewed it to 21L with 500g of DME and 400g of dextrose, and coincidentally steeped some styrians.

I ended up with a thin and astringent beer that ended up down the plughole

MB

[Mo06]

Back in April, I brewed a Cooper's IPA as follows:

1 can of Cooper's IPA.

500g of Hopped light DME.

500g of dextrose.

Brewed to 20L.

Very nice after a couple of months, I have just 3 bottles left, and I'd definitely brew it again.

[wbosher]

Personally I would use a full kilo of Dry malt as the beer is somewhat bitter and will easily stand a big malt profile especially if you are going to add some late hops for extra flavour, should be a nicely balanced IPA that way. See what you think.

I like the sound of that. 1kg of malt and some hops for flavour

[pcrofts27]

I've got a John Bull Best Bitter kit to do next. Was thinking of a similar thing using 900gm of malt extract (2 jars of H&B) and maybe steeping and dry hopping some Goldings. I was also considering adding 500gm of wheat extract as I've read it adds body and helps with head retention. Would that work or would it push it towards a wheat beer? Would it be better to add some dark muscovado sugar instead?
cheers
paul

[wbosher]

My LHBS doesn't stock Coopers!

Anyone tried the Mangrove Jacks IPA (the one in the pouch)?

[twentyfootwilf]

I've got a John Bull Best Bitter kit to do next. Was thinking of a similar thing using 900gm of malt extract (2 jars of H&B) and maybe steeping and dry hopping some Goldings. I was also considering adding 500gm of wheat extract as I've read it adds body and helps with head retention. Would that work or would it push it towards a wheat beer? Would it be better to add some dark muscovado sugar instead?
cheers
paul

I don't think using wheat extract will make it into a wheat beer. Several ale recipes use wheat extract or torrefied wheat as it is purported to add body and aid head retention. I would give it a go, I don't think you'll do any harm.