Designing a beer (Pack)

[Jovial Monk]

Lefty wrote:
Yes, woe is me. The pariah of the forum

But unlike Allbull and Shrek, I have a couple of things to be happy about:

1. our economic performance in the face of the worst financial crisis since the depression.
2. the maroons beat the blues and,
3. my chocolate stout is coming on more quickly than I expected. I couldn't smell or taste the chocolate at first, but now it's really coming to the fore.

Question for JM: I really badly want to brew another chocolate stout this weekend but my small fermenter already has a brew in it. I have a 60 litre fermenter spare - can I make a 23 litre brew in this without risking infection due to the size of the headspace?

OK what controls bacteria? Hops are antibacterial but initially it is the yeast! So care with sanitation and pitch plenty of yeast into wort that has had the shit aerated out of it! Doubt any greater threat of infection from a 60L fermenter but it is yeast will take care of it. There might be a bit more oxygen left in the 60L job's headspace so rack or bottle a bit earlier than normal. Again, I doubt anything to worry about.

[TomB]

3. my chocolate stout is coming on more quickly than I expected. I couldn't smell or taste the chocolate at first, but now it's really coming to the fore.

Where did you say you live again?

[Ethnic]

Not very exciting news to anyone but me but I tasted my first ever batch of home brew for the first time and am VERY HAPPY with the results. Ok maybe not as good as the store bought stuff......yet. I can always improve and this will now be my new hobby. My brothers all liked it and ran off with half the bottles. I look forward to my journey through the wonderful world of booze.

[Jovial Monk]

Good stuff, Celly!

The Toke and Brew on Semaphore Rd has the better Coopers kits. Match with a can of malt, add a fresh 11.5g sachet of yeast. . .better than store bought!

[Ethnic]

Good stuff, Celly!

The Toke and Brew on Semaphore Rd has the better Coopers kits. Match with a can of malt, add a fresh 11.5g sachet of yeast. . .better than store bought!

Thanks JM. Will check them out when next brew is ready to be made (which will be sooner than I originally anticipated ). Now is the malt meant to replace the sugar? Any particular malt you recommend?

[Jovial Monk]

Yes, particularly the Coopers liquid malt.

Malt contains proteins, sterols, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals etc good for the health of your yeast and you. It also contains plenty of fermentable sugars, mostly maltose, two glucose molecules joined together.

If you like pale ale and who doesn't? Try the Coopers Australian Bitter beer concentrate with a can of Coopers light liquid malt. Stand them both in hot water, pour into fermenter, follow with 4L boiling water, stir for a few mins, add topping up water, pouring that in from a height to get good aeration. sprinkle thinly & evenly a packet of Safale 04 or 05 on the froth, don't stir in, fit lid & airlock.

Compared to a kit and kilo your beer will have more body, flavor & mouthfeel and will keep a nice thick head to the end of the glass.

[Ethnic]

Awesome. Looks like I have my next brew recipe. Thank you.

[Jovial Monk]

No probs. Beer is me

BTW never ever wash a beer glass with dishwashing detergent: the surfactants and wetting agents in it will kill the head on your beer stone dead--just wash with plain hot water.

[Ethnic]

Attention Mr Jovial Beer Dog Trainer Person

Are pale ale and stout brewed the same way or is there a difference?

[Jovial Monk]

Ummmm no real difference unless you want to use dark grains. . .leave that for another batch or two.