Coopers Ruby Porter

[Jimbro]

I'm starting a Coopers Ruby Porter tomorrow using dark spray malt.
Any suggestions on simple ways to really enhance this what should I just do it as it is?
Cheers

[Jimbro]

Oops, the SG was way too low in my opinion. Hopefully it will be ok.

[WalesAles]

Oops, the SG was way too low in my opinion. Hopefully it will be ok.

Shall we all guess the SG? Or do you think Jimbro will tell us?
Going on the detailed info that we have.......1 Kit and Dark Spraymalt.
I`d say it was 1036.

WA

Sent from my sofa.

[Jimbro]

The things you forget when you are a bit flustered LOL . The SG was 1030.
It has been a long day so far

[WalesAles]

Jimbro,
How many Lts was the brew?
How much Spraymalt?
What Temp was yeast in at?

WA

[Jimbro]

Hi Wales, the brew is 22 L, 1 kg of spraymalt and 21°.
Because I am still learning, is it a no no to dark spraymalt with a porter? All I had in the cupboard to be honest. I know now that I will probably end up with a weak Porter but Hey ho .

[WalesAles]

Jim,
Was all the spraymalt fully mixed into the brew? Did you mix with a spoon or a plasterers whisk on a drill?
I can`t see why the SG would be so low.
I always use 1Kg spraymalt with my kits and they all come out at 1040 - 1042ish.
Is the Hydrometer correct?
Hopefully someone will come on here to help.

WA

[Jimbro]

Yes it was fully mixed, I used a spoon/paddle with strong jets of water to mix it as I do with all of my brews, well, the last 4.
I have had a thought, the hydrometer was sitting in quite cool water and steriliser as I did the brew so maybe it was a false reading?

[Jimbro]

I don't mind, it will still get drunk/drank/slurped as long as it ferments

[wanus]

Spraymalts need an electronic catering whisk or blender so it disperses evenly.
A paddle leaves it lumpy.
Iff you started this on the 14th of september it may not be to late to get in there and give it a blitz with an electronic blender.
Take a reading before and after iff you do and maybe add a little more yeast.

[twentyfootwilf]

I never have a problem dissolving dme using a spoon, it's not so difficult.

[Monkeybrew]

Hi Wales, the brew is 22 L, 1 kg of spraymalt and 21°.
Because I am still learning, is it a no no to dark spraymalt with a porter? All I had in the cupboard to be honest. I know now that I will probably end up with a weak Porter but Hey ho .

Hi Jimbro,

I would agree that your OG would have been approximately 1.040 with your fermentables in a 21L brew.

Dark Spraymalt is fine for a Porter,as some porters can be dark brown to jet black in colour, so dark would have been my choice too.

It does just sound like your spraymalt wasn't fully mixed in properly or that you have a duff hydrometer in your kit. Have you checked the calibration of your hydrometer in tap water? It should read 1.000 in tap water @20C.

The yeast will seek out the sugars an ferment ok, so you should end up with a 4.0% ish Porter rather than a 3.0% Dark Mild

Cheers

MB

[jaroporter]

Iff you started this on the 14th of september it may not be to late to get in there and give it a blitz with an electronic blender.

i'd say 5 days is always going to be too late to start whisking a beer.. you generally don't want to be adding a load of oxygen when the fermentation is coming to an end.

will the dme eventually dissolve by itself? yeast can be pretty efficient at finding and eating all the sugars

[wanus]

Fair point jaroporter.
If it was my beer i would take the risk.It would bug me because MBs correct by saying it should be around the1.040 mark.
My thoughts were the OG reading of 1.030 must be because the spraymalt has`nt dispersed enough but like MBs also asking is it a dodgy hydrometer?
Come on jimbro,hows it going?

[Jimbro]

Sorry for the late response guys, I was starting off a bitter at the same time. I think my hydrometer might be faulty as it gave a low reading on the bitter as well.
Anyway, I tried the porter last night and it looks and tastes absolutely fantastic Just a tiny bit more smoky and more chocolatey than a Guinness .
In the photograph I was too impatient to pour it properly LOL