National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Kit Brewing => Topic started by: LordEoin on August 21, 2013, 12:39:23 AM

Title: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: LordEoin on August 21, 2013, 12:39:23 AM
Just a headsup for anyone that doesn't know about this kit. It's a gem!
I put another one on tonight and the house smalls amazing :)
It's great 'as-is', no need for any hacking and the supplied yeast is perfect, but it's very forgiving and fun to play with if you want to.

This time I just wanted to put on a quick brew to get some bottles filled quickly, and this is the perfect kit for the job.
A 30 minute brewday (after cleaning stuff), a fairly fast ferment, early drinker. Just what the doctor ordered (or warned me about).

If you're looking for a quick, easy and tasty brew, this is the job  ;D

Homebrewwest also have a bundle option that makes the LME even cheaper, and add your 5% HNC discount, WINNING!
http://www.homebrewwest.ie/coopers-international-english-bitter-17-kg-beer-kit-514-p.asp (http://www.homebrewwest.ie/coopers-international-english-bitter-17-kg-beer-kit-514-p.asp)

(http://www.homebrewwest.ie/ekmps/shops/homebrewwest/images/coopers-international-english-bitter-1.7-kg-beer-kit-514-p.gif)
Title: Re: Coopers English Bitter
Post by: LordEoin on August 21, 2013, 12:49:05 AM
by the way:
1.7kg kit + 1.5kg LME, to 21L = 1. 044 (probably end up around 1.008)
Set to 18C
I'll probably dryhop about 30g cascade in a week and bottle after another week.
This will be at its best after about 6-8weeks in the bottle, but very drinkable after 2or3 weeks.
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: Garry on October 07, 2013, 11:10:37 AM
LordEoin gave me a couple of these a few weeks ago and told me to let them condition a bit.

I was thirsty during the weekend and like old mother hubbard, my own cupboard was bare! So I tried this one.

Pours a lovely clear dark copper colour. Fantastic head, like a fluffy meringue. Hard to get any aroma through a head like that but there was a bit of hops from the bottle. Very nicely carbonated, it might be too much for some of the warm beer drinkers but it was goldilocks for me (just right!). Nice clean bitter taste.  Reminded me a bit of a Fullers London Pride.

Very nice drop. I must get one on myself. I don't think I'd modify LordEoin's recipe either.
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: LordEoin on October 07, 2013, 12:53:11 PM
I didn't even dryhop that in the end, so it's basically just kit+LME.
It's very tolerant to pretty much any dryhop or grain steeps :)
This is probably my favourite beer kit.
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: onesoma on October 09, 2013, 06:03:57 PM
Sounds good LordEoin. I bottled a batch of this on Sunday, same fermentables plus around 25g EKG boiled for 2 minutes and then steeped for 15 mins.

What final gravity did you get to? I only got to 1.015 after two weeks. Temp was pretty constant around 20-21. Starting gravity was 1.046. Sample while bottling tasted good. Can't wait to try it in a few weeks  :)
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: LordEoin on October 09, 2013, 07:36:00 PM
EKG is great in this kit. It'll be a fantastic beer.

with 1.5kg LME, sweeter maltier and more full bodied = OG1.044, FG 1.012
with 500gLDM and 250g dex, clean light refreshing     = OG1.036, FG 1.007
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: Dunkel on October 09, 2013, 08:38:49 PM
Quote from: LordEoin on October 09, 2013, 07:36:00 PM
with 500gLDM and 250g dex, clean light refreshing     = OG1.036, FG 1.007

Dunkel the Younger made this exact beer, and was very pleased with it. It also went down well at the Capital Brewers July meeting.  :)
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: IrishBeerSnob on January 06, 2014, 02:10:29 PM
Hey guys, long time lurker, seldom poster

I'm getting my equipment together and am looking at this being my first kit.

Finalising the order and am wondering do i get the Liquid Malt Extract (Amber or Light) and I was hoping to dry hop with cascade. Can i do this in the primary FV after initial fermentation down?

Kinda hoping for a similar finish to Bru Rua?

Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: LordEoin on January 06, 2014, 04:11:35 PM
I'd go with the light LME as there's already enough colour in this kit.
It's fine to dry hop in the primary FV.
Once the main fermentation is done (day 5ish) put 30grams of cascade into a boiled muslin bag, weight it down with some sterile marbles and chuck it in.
Leave it a week then bottle.
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: IrishBeerSnob on January 06, 2014, 04:48:19 PM
Cheers, thanks Eoin.
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: IrishBeerSnob on January 06, 2014, 07:49:23 PM
Sterile marbles? I'm guessing you sanitize them or do you boil em?
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: irish_goat on January 06, 2014, 08:07:40 PM
Quote from: wayneibs on January 06, 2014, 07:49:23 PM
Sterile marbles? I'm guessing you sanitize them or do you boil em?

Either would work.
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: LordEoin on January 07, 2014, 10:05:19 AM
i sterilize them in a bleach&vinegar solution. simples.
Boil the bag though. You don't want it soaking up the bleach and leaching it into your beer.
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: Clem dog on February 22, 2014, 11:25:35 AM
Hi,

I have this in the bucket since the 19th.
Done as kit with 1.5kg of LME (ala HBW). Has anyone noticed a sulphury eggy smell from the fv? Temp controlled to 20c with an aquarium heater.
First brew I have done that i have not liked the smell of in the room.
Not really concerned and ill let it run its course for a few weeks, just looking for opinions!

Clem
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: LordEoin on February 22, 2014, 03:55:31 PM
Probably too late, but lower the temperature to 18.
Don't worry though, it will fade and disappear
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: Clem dog on February 22, 2014, 04:22:53 PM
Just been musing to myself.

Maybe it's the fact I used untreated tap water for this brew instead of my usual asda smart price water. (returned from asda with sparkling water instead of still). But I battered on and did it anyway with tap water. After having aerated with my paint mixing paddle on the drill, I rembered that I was using tap water so i crushed half a campden tablet an threw that into the foam. Then I cleaned up the kitchen to avoid the wrath of swmbo before pitching. Maybe this is where my problem is arising from!  Maybe I should have stirred the campden in, or not used it at all having forgotten to do it first off.
Either way wifey is complaining about the smell and that is focusing the mind to prevent such an occurrence happening again! :(

Clem
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: LordEoin on February 27, 2014, 02:54:02 PM
I never heard of campdem tablets making the eggy smell, but after a bit of google poking i see that it's probably the cause alright.
Something to do with how it reacts with chlorine.
it should fade out though.
I'd probably give it some extra time in secondary to let it sort itself out.
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: LordEoin on March 24, 2014, 10:10:34 PM
Scored 40 in the Competition, hacked to an American Amber
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: Motorbikeman on September 02, 2015, 03:10:56 PM
bottled this over a week ago.   

Does anyone find it a bit watery.   As in they wised they added 20l of water instead of 25.    Very bland .   Maybe it will get better. 
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: LordEoin on September 02, 2015, 08:24:54 PM
what was your recipe?
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: Bubbles on September 02, 2015, 09:05:49 PM

Quote from: Motorbikeman on September 02, 2015, 03:10:56 PM
bottled this over a week ago.   

Does anyone find it a bit watery.   As in they wised they added 20l of water instead of 25.    Very bland .   Maybe it will get better.

I don't think the Coopers kits are supposed to be made to 25 litres, are they? I thought 23 was the proscribed brew length.
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: LordEoin on September 02, 2015, 09:07:45 PM
yeah, they're generally to 23 but better to 20
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: Bubbles on September 02, 2015, 09:53:59 PM
Yep, I always used to brew these short, 19-21 litres.
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: LordEoin on September 02, 2015, 10:24:19 PM
Coopers brewers brew them to 20 liters for demos.
They taste better and fit in a cornie ;)
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: Motorbikeman on September 02, 2015, 11:22:10 PM
Ah feck it.   Im so used to brewing 25L   I filled the yoke up to the top.  .. 

    Typical. ???   Never read the instructions. 

I used 750g coppers BE II and 250 brown sugar.   

Its drinkable and nice . Very young ,   But I can't believe I made a silly mistake like that.

       

Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: LordEoin on September 02, 2015, 11:33:24 PM
The brew enhancer and extra sugar wouldn't have helped either.
Try the next one to 20l with 1kg light/amber DME (steeping grains and a dryhop will also add to it)
Title: Re: [Review] Coopers English Bitter kit
Post by: Motorbikeman on September 06, 2015, 08:37:43 PM
This is not too bad even with the extra few liters.   Its quite strong.  I had 4 pints a few nights ago which went to my head a bit more than expected.   

I was thinking of  testing out my new grown hops ..  http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,9109.0.html

Would this kit suit it?    If so,  what quantities would work for a powerful hoppy ale..     I am not really interested in bitter as its quite good as is.  , more aroma   would be great though.