I have a Coopers Irish Stout kit and 1kg of dark DME in storage (as well as some us-04 and 50g of cascade) ready to go, I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas for a hack that could beef the stout up to an Extra or even Export stout quality.
Was thinking something like this:
Coopers Irish Stout kit 1.7kg
Dark DME 1kg
Light DME 500g (up to 1kg?)
US-04
Cascade dry hop (why not)
Could this get me to a 5.5 - 6%+ stout? If not, any advise re. export/foreign stout appreciated.
For 19 liters
1.7kg lme +1.5kg dme will get you to 1.056 sg. around 5.5% abv
1.7kg lme + 2kg dme will get you to 1.065 around 6.5 % abv
Of course these abv estimates depend on your final gravity.
I'd probably go with something like fuggles or ekg over cascade.
Some extra steeping grains will offer a lot too
I'd recommend steeping either some roasted barley or black malt with that kit. About 150g should do ya. You could steep a little crystal malt too, to freshen it up.
I wouldn't be a huge fan of the S-04, however. Some people seem to like it, I just think it makes every brew taste like... home brew.. ???
What yeast would you recommend for one of these stout kits?
US05 or nottingham.
Or stick with the kit yeast.
The yeast in a coopers stout is great :)
+1 LordEoin
Quote from: LordEoin on August 13, 2015, 07:40:47 PM
US05 or nottingham.
Or stick with the kit yeast.
The yeast in a coopers stout is great :)
Have to agree with you, after brewing a Coopers Irish stout as my second brew ever . it was back at the end of june start of july there, prob not the best week or so to be brewing anything given how hot and heavy the weather was . wet bath towles and fan pointed at the fermenter and the temp was still pushing 26c . thinking ah sure as long as its under the 27c we are grand lol
After reading a lot more about brewing and yeast ,i had some real worries about how it would turn out . tried a bottle after a few weeks and it was like nasty cheap cider ( not that id know what that tastes like you understand ) .put the bottles out the shed thinking ah well maybe it will mellow out with time . had another yesterday and was truly shocked at the change a few weeks can make .
https://www.flickr.com/photos/56870432@N02/20607108301/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/56870432@N02/20607108301/)
I take zero credit for this turning out drinkable in any way . and i dont know enough to make any real judgements on what yeast is best for x,y or z . but if im ever brewing a stout during the warm weather i may just stick to the Coopers from now on . ...... now if only i can get as good as the yeast im sorted lol