Hello from Annapolis Valley!

[NScooknet]

Hi All,

I just signed up for a couple other brewing forums, and was referred here because it's local to me, so here i am!

I'm in Kingston NS, and just started brewing for the first time.

I have only the basic stuff, a beginners brewing equipment kit consisting of a plastic primary fermenter, a glass carboy secondary, and the usual other goodies that come with the kits.

Since I'm totally new at this, I bought a "Brew House" India Pale Ale kit, (liquid wort) and so far, it seems to have turned out ok, and i just bottled it a couple days ago in recycled Keith's and Oland's twist off bottles, as well as a few large Propeller non-twist off bottles.

I"m really excited to try it in a few weeks, and i hope I don't get any bottle bombs along the way.

I'm considering trying one of those Coopers IPA kits in a can, but am not sure if they are any good or not, and advice about using those would be welcome.

The Coopers are much cheaper $18.99 a can as opposed to $40.00 for the Brew house kits, but the Brew house kits come with the dextrose, so I'm not sure it's much cheaper in the end unless I can find the other needed ingredients cheap.

Take care all!

Chris

[akr71]

I'm considering trying one of those Coopers IPA kits in a can, but am not sure if they are any good or not, and advice about using those would be welcome.

The Coopers are much cheaper $18.99 a can as opposed to $40.00 for the Brew house kits, but the Brew house kits come with the dextrose, so I'm not sure it's much cheaper in the end unless I can find the other needed ingredients cheap.

As far as the Coopers kits go, you get what you pay for. I know the Brew House & Festa Brew kits are more expensive, but you'll get a superior beer in the end. Keep with it and you'll be hooked and you'll be doing extract and partial mashes in no time!

[Jimmy]

The Coopers cans will probably be a bit cheaper, however, the Brew House and Festa Brew kits will be of better quality (I've never made a Coopers kit, so this is from what I have been told)

I am typing this from my phone, since my Aliant Internet has been disconnected for the 3rd time in the past month.... Note the anger in that statement...but I am sure others will post a bit more detailed response soon. It has been a bit slow on here the past week or so, but it usually picks up on the weekdays.

Oh, and welcome!

[NScooknet]

Thanks for the reply guys!

Yeah, I kinda thought that it was a "get what ya pay for" thing with that coopers stuff, but I also thought that maybe there was a way to "fix" it up a bit to give it a more completeness or something.

I definitely want to get into the all grain thing, but like anything else, I need to learn how to do it, and thus far, I'm still a bit confused about the ingredients and procedures, as well as what equipment is needed.

Thanks again!
Chris

[derek]

I've used Cooper's kits. As kits go, they're probably a bit better than middle of the pack. But really, I was never happy with the beers I made from kits (OK, I haven't been terribly happy with the beers I've made from grain either, but I can see where and how to improve and have faith that in another year they'll be phenomenally better!)

"fixing" kits basically involves using some amount of real grain and additional hops.

[NScooknet]

I've never used the Cooper kits, it's just a can with a yeast packet under the lid, so what else do you need to make it work, just the dextrose for the initial wort, and then to prime before bottling?

The guy at the local supply shop said there is also a "beer enhancer" that you can add instead of the dextrose to give it more body, what's that all about? Do you recommend that??

Do you heat those Coopers kits or just add water like the Brew Store brand kits?

[akr71]

Heating the can will get the malt to flow better. If you want to doctor it, adding more hops will probably make the biggest impact. Adding malt extract or dextrose will give you a stronger beer, but very little in the way of flavor change. Once you've mixed the syrup and water together, take about a gallon and put it on the stove and add some hops (at least an ounce) and boil for close to 20 minutes (add more hops after 10 minutes and 18 minutes too).

The great thing about this obsession, er, hobby is that you can try whatever you want. Juice, flavor extract, spices - whatever.

[NScooknet]

Well,
I chickened out and stuck to what I know and bought another "Brew House" kit, only this time, I bought the "Pale Ale" beer instead of the IPA one i bought the first time.

I was basically faced with 3 choices, The Brew House, Munstons, and Coopers, the latter 2 are in a can, as opposed to the liquid wort Brew House product.

It might have been a bit cheaper to go with the cans, by about 7 bucks or so, but I just figure ya get what you pay for, and didn't want to mess around with anything complicated yet until a get a few batches under my belt.

With the cans it appears you have to buy the dextrose/corn sugar separately, and if you want it to taste OK, you are supposed to pay extra for the beer conditioner which is a mixture of spray malt and dextrose I think.

I was confused a bit also by the fact that the Brew House kits come with a pH balancer that you MUST add (or else the instructions say your beer will taste like crap!) but the cans don't, nor do the recommend using it. Why?

Is it something about the Brew House liquid wort mixture, or does the cans already have a pH balancer in it as one of the ingredients??

Maybe after I get this Pale Ale kit going I'll get another carboy and get a batch of one of the cans going, but not until I figure out how to make them the best way possible!

Thanks!

Chris

[jeffsmith]

When I was getting started out with extract brewing I found Northern Brewer to be a good resource for getting to know a bit more about the process and whatnot. Their bi-weekly podcast BrewingTV also has a number of home brewing segments that illustrate the extract (and all grain) process pretty well too.

[maltster]

The Brewhouse kits have phosphoric acid added to extend shelf life. The pH balancer (potassium bicarbonate) is needed to bring the pH back to the normal level.
They have some details on the Brewhouse website.
http://www.thebrewhouse.com/resource_ce ... nation.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[NScooknet]

Well that's good I think because I just noticed the date code on the kit is Jan 2011.....doh.

better be ok, the first one i made was Sept 2011.

[mr x]

[NScooknet]

Thanks Mr X

I just started my 2nd batch of beer a few hours ago while the first is conditioning in the bottles, it's a Brew House brand Pale Ale kit, hope it turns out good!

Chris

[Tony L]

Hi All,

I just signed up for a couple other brewing forums, and was referred here because it's local to me, so here i am!

I'm considering trying one of those Coopers IPA kits in a can, but am not sure if they are any good or not, and advice about using those would be welcome.

The Coopers are much cheaper $18.99 a can as opposed to $40.00 for the Brew house kits, but the Brew house kits come with the dextrose, so I'm not sure it's much cheaper in the end unless I can find the other needed ingredients cheap.

Take care all!

Chris

Good to see you took my advise and signed up here, lol. Welcome

Festa kits are the best in kits followed by brewhouse imo but you can make decent beer with the coopers kit if you choose to replace the dextrose with
malt extract and add some fresh hops to the boil. Toss the yeast that comes with the kit and buy fresh yeast suitable for the brew you are making.
Ferment at the range for the yeast you are using and Bobs your uncle.

[NScooknet]

Thanks for that great info Tony, i really appreciate it!

The problem is that I now have 3 forums I'm registered with, the US one, the Canada one, and the Nova Scotia one...LOL

It's all good though, there's never too much info when it comes to making good beer!

Thanks again!

Chris

[mr x]

Does anyone know who makes the Brewhouse kits?

[NScooknet]

You can see their webpage online here:

http://www.thebrewhouse.com/types/index.htm

They've got some pretty good info about their products there, the company's name is "RJ Spagnols".


Chris

[chalmers]

Welcome, from yet another Chris!

[NScooknet]

Thanks for the welcome!!