wilkos brewing sugar

[Bert]

Hi,

On my first brew I used 1kg of granulated white sugar, today I bought some wilkos brewing sugar. How much should I use? Same, 1kg? I am doing a coopers euro lager kit.

Cheers!

[woblylegs]

yes the same

[rootsbrew]

I hope you won't be upset by this suggestion: try to avoid using pure forms of glucose, dextrose or any other simple sugar.

The reason is that these ingredients don't add any flavour - just acidity and alcohol because they can be metabolised completely by the yeast. To add flavour, you need to add/use ingredients with a decent proportion of which will not be consumed during fermentation, such as Dry Malt Extract (DME). Alas, single-can kits have rubbish instructions and say use sugar.

Brewing sugar can be useful for priming bottles/kegs and for letting down overly concetrated worts, whilst preserving expected alcohol content of beer.

The following works well for lager...
1.7 kg Lager kit
0.5 kg Pale (Light) DME (or extra pale)
0.9kg Golden syrup (1 large tin)
22 litres bottled water
20g Saaz leaf hops - not necessary but really good for lager aroma.

Prime with 0.2 kg Wheat DME (or Pale DME).

Method:
Empty sachet of Lager yeast into a sterilised jug.
Add a splash of water to disolve yeast.
Add 2 large spoons of sugar and just enough water to disolve.
You can do that as early as the day before the actual brew-day.
While yeast is rehydrating, mix up wort, as per kit instructions.
When wort is at desired volume and 20°C - 25°C, stir in yeast.
Leave wort, to initiate fermentation for 12 hr, in a warm-ish place.
Place FV somewhere cool, so wort can continue to ferment at approx 13°C (or lower).
Add the hops on day 5 or 6.
Extect Final SG reading to be approx 1.008 for lager - this will probably take 2 or 3 weeks.
Ideally, then cool the FV further to 5°C for 1 - 6 months to "lager" the beer, before bottling.

To make a golden ale, use same ingredients but ale yeast (e.g. wilko gervin) instead of the lager kit yeast. And, keep the FV at approx 22°C for 2 weeks, instead of all the chilling stuff.

[Bert]

Not at all, thanks for the info. I have only down two kits so thought I would start simple, I will try your suggestion on the next lager I do.
Also planning to ditch's stout.

Cheers

[Bert]

I was wondering, this brew is 1 day old can I put spray malt in it now? Or is it too late?

Thanks

[rootsbrew]

I was wondering, this brew is 1 day old can I put spray malt in it now? Or is it too late?

Thanks

Apologies. What's in the brew so far? I want to know whether to suggest hoiking out a little wort to disolve the DME in, doing so in some extra water or if you should do something else...

[Bert]

Currently it's just a coopers euro kit with 1kg of wilkos brewing sugar and will be 2 days old this evening.

If I can put some spray malt or anything else in at this stage, I should be able to get my hands on some tonight

Thanks for your help

[vacant]

When I did kits, the beer enhancer from wilko's was a mixture of spray malt and some other sort of sugar. In fact most of the packs weren't mixed well so you could see one half light brown spray malt, and the other half white sugar.

[Bert]

Do you think I will be able to throw in some spray malt and more water and this stage?

[vacant]

You'd be adding "maltiness" but no "hopiness". If you added no further water the ABV will go up.

Or just let it be and see if you like the result. When you do your next brew with spray malt you could compare the two.

There's a very good chance whatever you do within reason you'll get a drinkable result. Your beer, your choice.

[Bert]

Yeah I think I will let it be, Vacant. I will make the same kit with bells and whistles next, to compare.

Cheers

[batey1963]

I use the brew kit enancer from wilkoes and have not had a duff one yet using it. The Tom Caxton real ale is lovely.

[rootsbrew]

You didn't say how much water you've used - remember, water is an ingredient. Adding the DME now is unlikely to damage the brew, but it will create a different one!
If you want to add the DME, try this...
- Put 2 litres water in the fridge overnight, so it's really cold.
- Boil up 1 litre of water with the DME, keep boiling for 15 mins.
- Remove from heat and mix in cold water.
- Add luke-warm malty-mix to FV.
... The beer might be a weeny bit stronger but the malt will make it a lot smoother. It's up to you.
Remember to add only fully disolved DME and ensure the new liquied isn't too hot, so it doesn't scald the yeast.

I will make the same kit with bells and whistles next, to compare.

OK, make sure you use bottled water, if you don't yet.

[Bert]

Thanks for your advise rootsbrew, I have decided to leave it now and just focus on the next one. Deffo going to use bottled water as well, so thanks again!

[cellone]

Hey Bert. Cooper's pilsener is worth ago. I prefer it to the euro.

Fair play for doing a lager from the kick off.