20% Off Coopers Home Brew Products
I believe it is easier to brew with turbo yeast where you can yield about 2.5L pure ethanol (60% after distillation and 96% following rectification) per $10 standard yeast bag. But would like to try brew beer one day. Is it really good idea especially during hot summer days? The temperature in a garage is around 28 to 30deg, thanks.
I'm currently looking for a fermentation fridge to combat this exact problem. Got an inkbird temp controller from a previous deal. This is the answer to a 30degree shed/Aus summers
Especially if using Saflager S23 yeast
+1 - brewing at the PROPER temps is one of two most critical things to brew outcome - the 1st one being sanitation/cleanliness. If you don't brew at proper temps and also STABLE temps your brew will generally taste like classic bad homebrew (what old codgers who used white sugar and bleach to sanitise got).
I've had a brew fridge since brew 1 as after reading up it was so critical - easy to solve, cheap fridge, upright freezer etc - add temp controller - sorted.
You can workaround with water baths, eskies, using Kveik yeast etc but nothing will give as good results as the aforementioned 'brew fridge'.
I'm certain the majority of folks that try to home brew and quit after a few efforts is because they overlook temps (and temp stability i.e not in a day going from 19c to 26c swings!) and get underwhelming tasting brew.
@Daniel Plainview: Use the coopers yeast (from their actual bottles). Very different to the crap they provide in the brew packs.
@Daniel Plainview: ive done nearly 50 batches and its probably time to consider a fridge. I dont mind my beers, but they dont taste as good as they could
I suggest trying cider first, it's an easier process… you just need to mix apple / pear juice with some cider yeast, leave it for a few days ~ 1 week at room temp and you'll have some cider afterwards.
Bottle and add a carbonation drop for fizz before closing.
You can use the equipment from the coopers DIY kit for this or even just a clean, food safe tub with a hole in the lid for a bung / air lock.
Nice to see you branching out watchnerd 😁.
Beer good 😁. That's my Homer Simpson impersonation
Starting off home brew beer - which is the best kit to buy?
Generally check out your Local Home Brew Shop, for the best deal on a starter kit.
The best kit to buy is not a kit.
By some unhopped extract, some grains for steeping, some fresh hops, and some decent yeast. Add a small amount of time and enjoy a beer that tastes a thousand times better.
I'd make an exception for ESB's 3kg kits.
Otherwise, if you want stupid fast beer buy a fresh wort kit.
(EDIT: Unless by kit you mean gear, in which case yeah, hit up your FLHBS)
Bit unfair to neg him for this comment - while I'll say that kits are perfectly ok, what he's saying is true IN THAT for only marginally more work you get vastly superior results albeit from all grain or even using unhopped malt extract with your own bittering hop additions.
The majority of the work in any brew is the prep, ferment, cleanup and bottling or kegging - those are pretty much set regardless of how you brew - so makes sense to do the one that gives the best results.
There's nothing worse than doing an underwhelming batch and then having to drink it for quite a while wishing you'd done that lil more effort.
PS. The fresh wort kit instead of a kit is a great suggestion - marginally more cost but vastly superior and even easier and faster than a kit!
I usually recommend this kit from Grain and Grape if you're happy to use glass bottles. For the same price as the Coopers gear, you get a fresh wort kit (which will be streets ahead of the Coopers can) that sells for $50 on its own, plus a better quality yeast and the proper sanitiser. You also get the bottle capper and some caps, but you do need to BYO bottles (your neighbours' recycling bins might be a good source).
feels like forever since these were last discounted. time to stock up again
I'd just be careful stocking up too much on prehopped kits - age REALLY affects both the malt extract and the flavour of them massively. I made this mistake when I first got into them and it really affects your end results for just a few dollars saving.
Has been running for a week now. I was wondering when they would next go on sale. Big W prices are very high on the Thomas Coopers kits though.. some homebrew shops sell them for $19-$20 RRP and they are $24 at Big W. All Ozbargainers should be into homebrew. I find the regular pale ale produces a brew very similar in taste to the commercial one, can't beat 23L of beer for less than $20.