Comments on: Brew Your Own Beer From a Kit – Part 4 Brewing http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/30/brew-your-own-beer-from-a-kit-part-4-brewing/ Its all about the beer! Tue, 22 May 2012 02:45:40 +0000 hourly 1 By: Scott-TheBrewClub http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/30/brew-your-own-beer-from-a-kit-part-4-brewing/comment-page-1/#comment-6916 Scott-TheBrewClub Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:14:15 +0000 http://thebrewclub.com/?p=4055#comment-6916 @Peter - again, great comment. The Plastic bottles as sure goofy feeling, but I always use them for the PROS you listed. I'm not bringing my Cooprs beers out in public anyway, so who cares what it looks like in storage! For me, anything that saves time or makes the process easier without sacrificing quality gets the nod. Plastic is it. Plus, they're a bit larger than the 12.oz bottles most homebrewers will use inglass, so its more beer per bottle this way too. Thanks again for sharing! :-) @Peter – again, great comment. The Plastic bottles as sure goofy feeling, but I always use them for the PROS you listed. I’m not bringing my Cooprs beers out in public anyway, so who cares what it looks like in storage! For me, anything that saves time or makes the process easier without sacrificing quality gets the nod. Plastic is it. Plus, they’re a bit larger than the 12.oz bottles most homebrewers will use inglass, so its more beer per bottle this way too. Thanks again for sharing! :-)

]]> By: Peter Owens http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/30/brew-your-own-beer-from-a-kit-part-4-brewing/comment-page-1/#comment-6912 Peter Owens Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:47:00 +0000 http://thebrewclub.com/?p=4055#comment-6912 The old question: Glass or plastic bottles. I have used both & I must say that whilst the lightness of plastic bottles is a double edged sword, overall for home brewing, plastic wins hands down. The Cons: * The damned plastic bottles roll around if only slightly knocked & you find yourself forever standing them up again. * The necks rather easily exhibit pitting corrosion which you will see as ring marks & probably try to wash out - to no avail. This may take some years & many brews but reckon on some regular replacement. * Appearance - well it can't be denied glass looks better. The Pros: * Low thermal mass means domestic hot water can be economically used to sanitise plastic bottles. * Very easy to handle, carry in a box, & store, those glass bottles can be a challenge when you try to store in remote areas of your garage. * Unbreakable & they never burst. Admittedly bursting is very rare anyway but if it happens (with glass) you can get several exploding together & it makes a hell of a mess. * Filling is risk free (dropping results in no breakage) & "capping" is dead easy - (no capper or crown cap expense). The screw down seals work 100% & can be reused almost indefinitely. * Secure storage is easy, you just put the screw seal on but not so tight as to seal, this keeps insects & dust out so the bottles are ready to go anytime without further sanitation. (BTW I have hordes of ants nest in my glass bottles & its hard to prevent) * Low thermal mass & light weight makes drying on a "tree rack" a cynch, a bit harder with heavier glass bottles. If you think there may be a taste difference just do your own blind taste test. Remember if PET is good enough for bottled water it's safe to bet the commercial choices of breweries are influenced by many factors not involving taste. Even Coke has moved to plastic. The old question:
Glass or plastic bottles.
I have used both & I must say that whilst the lightness of plastic bottles is a double edged sword, overall for home brewing, plastic wins hands down.
The Cons:
* The damned plastic bottles roll around if only slightly knocked & you find yourself forever standing them up again.
* The necks rather easily exhibit pitting corrosion which you will see as ring marks & probably try to wash out – to no avail. This may take some years & many brews but reckon on some regular replacement.
* Appearance – well it can’t be denied glass looks better.
The Pros:
* Low thermal mass means domestic hot water can be economically used to sanitise plastic bottles.
* Very easy to handle, carry in a box, & store, those glass bottles can be a challenge when you try to store in remote areas of your garage.
* Unbreakable & they never burst. Admittedly bursting is very rare anyway but if it happens (with glass) you can get several exploding together & it makes a hell of a mess.
* Filling is risk free (dropping results in no breakage) & “capping” is dead easy – (no capper or crown cap expense). The screw down seals work 100% & can be reused almost indefinitely.
* Secure storage is easy, you just put the screw seal on but not so tight as to seal, this keeps insects & dust out so the bottles are ready to go anytime without further sanitation. (BTW I have hordes of ants nest in my glass bottles & its hard to prevent)
* Low thermal mass & light weight makes drying on a “tree rack” a cynch, a bit harder with heavier glass bottles.

If you think there may be a taste difference just do your own blind taste test.
Remember if PET is good enough for bottled water it’s safe to bet the commercial choices of breweries are influenced by many factors not involving taste. Even Coke has moved to plastic.

]]> By: Scott-TheBrewClub http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/30/brew-your-own-beer-from-a-kit-part-4-brewing/comment-page-1/#comment-2949 Scott-TheBrewClub Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:03:30 +0000 http://thebrewclub.com/?p=4055#comment-2949 Dude, thanks so much for the tips! I agree, its a good kit, but some small modifications like the ones you mention above might help step it up a notch. I noted how the bottles were easy to use, but they are definitely cheezy. Glass would be an improvement in taste I'm sure, but as you mention you need a capper. (Small price to pay for better beer I think.) I'd also second the Star San or a similar product over the bleach for cleaning. Having cleaned with bleach initially, and then again after use, there's got to be a better way! Dude, thanks so much for the tips!

I agree, its a good kit, but some small modifications like the ones you mention above might help step it up a notch. I noted how the bottles were easy to use, but they are definitely cheezy. Glass would be an improvement in taste I’m sure, but as you mention you need a capper. (Small price to pay for better beer I think.)

I’d also second the Star San or a similar product over the bleach for cleaning. Having cleaned with bleach initially, and then again after use, there’s got to be a better way!

]]> By: Dude http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/30/brew-your-own-beer-from-a-kit-part-4-brewing/comment-page-1/#comment-2947 Dude Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:35:42 +0000 http://thebrewclub.com/?p=4055#comment-2947 Also dont forget to get a spring loaded bottle washer and gods gift to homebrewers: star san. The Coopers booklet recommends using diluted bleach. Which is a nightmare. Star San is a no rinse power cleaner. Which saves hours and is worth its weight in gold. Also dont forget to get a spring loaded bottle washer and gods gift to homebrewers: star san.
The Coopers booklet recommends using diluted bleach. Which is a nightmare. Star San is a no rinse power cleaner. Which saves hours and is worth its weight in gold.

]]> By: Dude http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/30/brew-your-own-beer-from-a-kit-part-4-brewing/comment-page-1/#comment-2946 Dude Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:24:17 +0000 http://thebrewclub.com/?p=4055#comment-2946 I started out with the same kit and its a good kit. Heres some recommendations. An Emily capper($15) and some crown caps(cheap) are a great investment. Some people say PET bottles make beer taste as good as glass but its a lie. Theres a reason beyond tradition that people havent accepted PET bottles for beer on the open market. Beer in glass tastes better. The Brewers Sugar is awful, its just sucrose and gives beer a cidery taste. A good basic recipe for the Coopers cans is 500g light dry malt extract and 500g of corn sugar and 100g of maltodextrin. This stuff is cheap at brew shops. Or there are canned malt/hop extract kits that dont require the addition of any other ingredients. Aka Muntons Gold. These minor changes create much better beer. I started out with the same kit and its a good kit. Heres some recommendations. An Emily capper($15) and some crown caps(cheap) are a great investment. Some people say PET bottles make beer taste as good as glass but its a lie. Theres a reason beyond tradition that people havent accepted PET bottles for beer on the open market. Beer in glass tastes better.
The Brewers Sugar is awful, its just sucrose and gives beer a cidery taste. A good basic recipe for the Coopers cans is 500g light dry malt extract and 500g of corn sugar and 100g of maltodextrin. This stuff is cheap at brew shops.
Or there are canned malt/hop extract kits that dont require the addition of any other ingredients. Aka Muntons Gold.
These minor changes create much better beer.

]]> By: Scott-TheBrewClub http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/30/brew-your-own-beer-from-a-kit-part-4-brewing/comment-page-1/#comment-2691 Scott-TheBrewClub Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:02:41 +0000 http://thebrewclub.com/?p=4055#comment-2691 @Don - I've a way to go before I'm a master brewer, that's for sure! Gotta start someplace though, right? Yes, all that stuff can be calculated and manipulated if you want to - I think you vary the amount if sugar but with the kit you pretty much get what you get if you use the ingredients as instructed. I think my beer should be about 4.5% ABV. .-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..<a href="http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/25/how-much-is-too-much-to-spend-on-beer/" rel="nofollow">How Much is too Much to Spend on Beer</a> =-. @Don – I’ve a way to go before I’m a master brewer, that’s for sure! Gotta start someplace though, right? Yes, all that stuff can be calculated and manipulated if you want to – I think you vary the amount if sugar but with the kit you pretty much get what you get if you use the ingredients as instructed. I think my beer should be about 4.5% ABV.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..How Much is too Much to Spend on Beer =-.

]]> By: Don http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/30/brew-your-own-beer-from-a-kit-part-4-brewing/comment-page-1/#comment-2688 Don Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:56:37 +0000 http://thebrewclub.com/?p=4055#comment-2688 Cool stuff Scott. Pretty soon you'll be a master brewer! So with a terminal gravity of 11 does that translate into ABV? Can you calculate that, or manipulate it? Or do you just get what you get? .-= Don´s last blog ..<a href="http://beerandwhiskeybros.com/2009/11/29/aging-takes-care-of-everything/" rel="nofollow">Aging Takes Care of Everything</a> =-. Cool stuff Scott. Pretty soon you’ll be a master brewer! So with a terminal gravity of 11 does that translate into ABV? Can you calculate that, or manipulate it? Or do you just get what you get?
.-= Don´s last blog ..Aging Takes Care of Everything =-.

]]> By: Scott-TBC http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/30/brew-your-own-beer-from-a-kit-part-4-brewing/comment-page-1/#comment-2687 Scott-TBC Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:53:49 +0000 http://thebrewclub.com/?p=4055#comment-2687 @Jim - Yes, exploding bottles would be next, except that the kit comes with plastic bottles which make for one less thing to worry about! :-) Glad you're getting something out of it too. I know I am, and I already know a few things I'll do differently next time which I'll write about in my concluding post. @Patrick - thanks again. Between taking on this little project and all the great comments along the way, I'm learning quite a bit - and having fun too! I think you're right, the kits are geared toward the beginner who most likely is a lager drinker. My next batch will likely be the stout or maybe the wheat brew. We'll see, but it won't be the lager! .-= Scott-TBC´s last blog ..<a href="http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/09/brewing-beer-at-home-with-the-coopers-homebrew-kit/" rel="nofollow">Brewing Beer at Home With the Coopers Homebrew Kit</a> =-. @Jim – Yes, exploding bottles would be next, except that the kit comes with plastic bottles which make for one less thing to worry about! :-) Glad you’re getting something out of it too. I know I am, and I already know a few things I’ll do differently next time which I’ll write about in my concluding post.

@Patrick – thanks again. Between taking on this little project and all the great comments along the way, I’m learning quite a bit – and having fun too! I think you’re right, the kits are geared toward the beginner who most likely is a lager drinker. My next batch will likely be the stout or maybe the wheat brew. We’ll see, but it won’t be the lager!
.-= Scott-TBC´s last blog ..Brewing Beer at Home With the Coopers Homebrew Kit =-.

]]> By: Patrick http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/30/brew-your-own-beer-from-a-kit-part-4-brewing/comment-page-1/#comment-2686 Patrick Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:51:38 +0000 http://thebrewclub.com/?p=4055#comment-2686 I would guess that they do the lager kit with the initial brew kit because most people starting out homebrewing are lager drinkers and it sells better that way. It's kind of silly though since a lager is significantly harder to homebrew to style (you need an extra fridge or fermentation control chamber). If their instructions said to ferment at room temperature then it's not really a lager, it is a steam beer - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_beer For a first timer it's not really important that the beer is authentic to style, the more important thing is that they get people to buy the kit and get into the hobby - if they can do that by marketing to lager drinkers (which are the majority of beer drinkers here and presumably in Australia, where Coopers is based) then so be it. I would guess that they do the lager kit with the initial brew kit because most people starting out homebrewing are lager drinkers and it sells better that way. It’s kind of silly though since a lager is significantly harder to homebrew to style (you need an extra fridge or fermentation control chamber). If their instructions said to ferment at room temperature then it’s not really a lager, it is a steam beer – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_beer
For a first timer it’s not really important that the beer is authentic to style, the more important thing is that they get people to buy the kit and get into the hobby – if they can do that by marketing to lager drinkers (which are the majority of beer drinkers here and presumably in Australia, where Coopers is based) then so be it.

]]> By: Jim http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/30/brew-your-own-beer-from-a-kit-part-4-brewing/comment-page-1/#comment-2685 Jim Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:49:08 +0000 http://thebrewclub.com/?p=4055#comment-2685 Holy crap, Scott, I'm actually learning things! This has been a really good series. And the Coopers / Fisher Price "My First Brewer's" set is the perfect way to learn the basics. By the time you're done, you'll have learned lots and be ready to try again, maybe with grains this time. I can't wait for step five, where the beers all explode. That is what happens next, right? :) It'll be fun to see how this turns out. Holy crap, Scott, I’m actually learning things! This has been a really good series. And the Coopers / Fisher Price “My First Brewer’s” set is the perfect way to learn the basics. By the time you’re done, you’ll have learned lots and be ready to try again, maybe with grains this time.

I can’t wait for step five, where the beers all explode. That is what happens next, right? :)

It’ll be fun to see how this turns out.

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