Coopers Bitter

WSC · Post by **WSC** » Sunday Apr 23, 2006 6:31 pm

Just abpout to bottle a coopers bitter, 1kg ultrabrew (dex/corn/malt), hallertau hop bag and safale yeast.

Will let you know how it goes in 3 weeks.

Doesn't taste too bad out of the fermenter.

The bloke at the HB store screwed up his nose when I bought it but wanted to experiment anyway.

Cheers,
WSC

NickMoore · Post by **NickMoore** » Monday Apr 24, 2006 9:38 am

hi, which HBS was that?

WSC · Post by **WSC** » Monday Apr 24, 2006 12:30 pm

Was the HB store at slacks creek (quality HB).

They are very good don't get me wrong, just obviously doesn't like coopers bitter.

I haven't found my favourite brew yet so I will keep searching. Maybe the bitter is it?

Simo · Post by **Simo** » Tuesday Apr 25, 2006 1:33 pm

WSC, could you let me know how it goes with the hallertau? How much is i na hop bag and how long did you steep for (or was it dry hopperd?)
your comments on the brew will be much appreciated.

cheers.

WSC · Post by **WSC** » Tuesday Apr 25, 2006 1:52 pm

No worries I will make a note to post in 3 weeks.

I actually boiled the 12g hop bag for 2-3 minutes in the 3litres of water I boil for the brew.

Cheers,

The Carbonator · Post by **The Carbonator** » Friday Apr 28, 2006 5:00 pm

are you guys talking about the Coopers Bitter, or the more expensive "Thomas Coopers Bitter"?

because ive have the thomas cooper one, and its great, but if I can get a great cheaper bitter from coles, then im getting one on the way home....

Paleman · Post by **Paleman** » Friday Apr 28, 2006 5:28 pm

Im actually talking about the standard, cheaper Coopers Bitter. Ive never tried the Heritage Bitter.......any thoughts on that one ??

r.magnay · Post by **r.magnay** » Friday Apr 28, 2006 5:41 pm

Yeah,
I've done a few of the heritage bitters as well, they are good too, I prefer the origional. The heritage gets a bit expensive too because there is no home brew shop in town so we have to get it freighted in which adds substantially to the cost, but the cost is not what stops me making it, I simply prefer the origional.
The heritage bitter is more along the style of Australian bitters like.......dare I say it VB. it is a bloody lot better than that though, but more along that lighter style of beer.

Paleman · Post by **Paleman** » Saturday Apr 29, 2006 4:12 pm

r.magnay wrote:Yeah,
I've done a few of the heritage bitters as well, they are good too, I prefer the origional. The heritage gets a bit expensive too because there is no home brew shop in town so we have to get it freighted in which adds substantially to the cost, but the cost is not what stops me making it, I simply prefer the origional.
The heritage bitter is more along the style of Australian bitters like.......dare I say it VB. it is a bloody lot better than that though, but more along that lighter style of beer.

Thats the beauty about the standard ( original ) Bitter. If its your style, you get a very tasty homebrew for a very good price. I reckon you cant go wrong with simplicity with the original bitter. Just a bag of BE two.

pharmaboy · Post by **pharmaboy** » Sunday Apr 30, 2006 9:36 am

I'd love to know what coopers has done between the TC range and the supermarket range. The TC range is just for home brew shops, and I suspect that its just nicer packaging and a premium price. Its also possible that the TC range is slightly more bitter - the aussie bitter is a fair bit more bitter to me.

The only differnce i can think of that might be the case, is they use isohop in their standard range, and actually boil real hops in their TC range - apart from that the process should be identical.

Anyone get any info from the coopers forums?

The Carbonator · Post by **The Carbonator** » Monday May 01, 2006 12:58 pm

does everyone add hops to the cheapo one???

Ive got a good selection in the freezer. im thinging hallertua/hersbruker. But i am also considering Saaz.

Also, ive got a few WLP001 California Ale yeast stubbies in the fridge.

Should I use hops and the Cal yeast?

I know i should do it the way Coopers instructs the first time, but I know im gonna wish I'd used the better yeast.....and im on the fence about the hops.....

Thanks for your info guys

ex0ja · Post by **ex0ja** » Monday May 01, 2006 2:28 pm

The Carbonator wrote:Ive got a good selection in the freezer.

Are hops supposed to be frozen?

The Carbonator · Post by **The Carbonator** » Monday May 01, 2006 7:41 pm

thats what my hbs guy tells me.

otherwise they loose flavour over time...

So, im thinking hersbruker hopbag steeped 10 mins, unfortunately with kit yeast ( I cant wait 3 days to grow my starter up into 1.5litres - its my last Cal ale )

JAZZA · Post by **JAZZA** » Monday May 01, 2006 9:30 pm

Yes I thought hops were spose to be stored at around 3-4 degrees I will look it up and get back to you.

Will they get freezer burn?

CHEERS,

JAZZA

Aussie Claret · Post by **Aussie Claret** » Tuesday May 02, 2006 9:27 am

I store my hops in the freezer and no worries, they are sealed in air tight containers.

AC

da_damage_done · Post by **da_damage_done** » Tuesday May 02, 2006 9:31 am

I`m a freezer person too.

Paleman · Post by **Paleman** » Wednesday May 03, 2006 3:51 am

Hops will keep in the freezer for many months.

You guys are hop heads if you want to add to the Coopers Bitter !!!

Ive used hops over a year old. Mind you they were Fuggles. Good Stout and Bitter hops.

The Carbonator · Wednesday May 03, 2006 9:22 am

sh!t.

I added 12g hopbag to my first bitter thats in the fermenter now.
The problem is, im really not a hophead at all.....

It the bitter well hopped already?
I assumed its just bittered.

woops.

Hope its not too grassy

Balls · Post by **Balls** » Thursday May 04, 2006 4:33 pm

I've made the Coopers Bitter on several occasions and always add Golding hops to it and only to 20ltrs. Turns out great. I first tride it with Golding hops and like it, so now I always add them.

Scorpio · Post by **Scorpio** » Thursday May 04, 2006 5:39 pm

Has anyone made the Coopers Bitter Recipe on the Coopers website (with molasses) - just wondering if it's a better brew than just using the kit + BE1/BE2.

Extra Smooth Bitter - 22 litres

Coopers Bitter was developed all those years ago with the English style of Bitter in mind. The addition of Molasses produces a slight buttery character which smooths the perceived level of bitterness.

Ingredients

* 1.7kg Coopers Bitter
* 1kg Coopers Brew Enhancer 1
* 200g Molasses

Cheers
Scorpio