Craig's videos are the reason I was confident enough to get into this hobby - so glad I found him - hope to see more videos soon as I watched them all and some of them more than once - great entertainment!
I'm getting ready to do a Canadian blonde kit with my Coopers DIY kit that I bought back 2012 after watching this video. I have made a lot of beer using this kit. Kits, partial mash, all grain... I had to buy other gear over the years but the wort always ends up in the DIY fermenter. Thanks again to Craig for introducing me to this kit and homebrewing in general.
Just ordered my first kit and picked this Canadian Blonde for my first brew, should be here by the weekend and I'm very excited! I've been watching your videos all day, they're really helpful and easy to follow. I'm sure I'll be checking back regularly for tips and ideas, thanks for posting.
I was happy to hear you mention Midwest Home-brew Supplies. I was just there yesterday and I bought a 5 gallon brew pot. I live just a mile down the road from there in St Louis Park, MN! Thanks for all of your helpful videos. With all the knowledge I get from you, (and my personal trial and error) I hope to one day have my own brewery/bar down in Argentina. I have a few years to practice up a bit though. Keep em coming and we'll keep watching. Sincerely, Your friendly neighbor to the south!
My Grandfather made his "Home Brew" from the time of prohibition until he passed away in the mid 1980's He used Blue Ribbon hoped malt extract, Table Sugar and plain old yeast, he fermented in a warm place in an old 5 gallon crock covered with a clean towel, he then bottled in brown qt. bottles. I don't think he ever had a bad batch. He drank a qt. or two every evening while watching t.v. until he was an old man and God took him home. The only sanitizer he used was Bleach. I drank a few of these in my lifetime with him and they were pretty good beer, with a good kick. Now I have tried my hand and dove in head first with an all grain Brown ale, it is sitting in the kegerator where it needs a couple of weeks to clarify, I have drank a few test beers from this, it's cloudy good full flavor but not so strong in the alcohol dept. as I anticipated
autoteck1951 beer drinkers all go to the same heaven where beer flows like waterfalls and falls from the sky like rain, RIP to your grandad he sounds like a real man!
Home brewing has always been something I wanted to try but have been intimidated by it. I decided to give it a shot after watching your videos on inmate brew. I tried it with Grape, Apple, and Orange Juice just to experiment. I wanted to try beer so I purchased the Coopers DIY kit. I am 3 days into my first home brew and I am looking forward to the taste test. Thank you for the tips.
Ah, brings back so many great memories, you doing a simple Coopers kit in the basement. I recently did another Coopers Dark Ale using BE2 and Safale US-05 yeast, and man, it turned out much better than I expected. Gotta love the simplicity of kit beer. Big hugs sweetie, hi to the family. Cheers!
I have made coopers and some other kits. And I am going start a Coopers Real Ale today. I do not have malt extract so I am going to use brown sugar and have done so before with no side effects and it came out just fine. I used dry malt extract in the last German Lager in my last brew and brew and that wasn't my best bear but it was drinkable. So I am not convinced that I 'must' use dry malt extract. Brown sugar works just fine. Thanks for the vid, I picked some new tricks. CHEERS!!!
Thanks for doing these vids Craig. I'm just polishing off my first homebrew kit, a Coopers lager. It is superb beer, way better than I ever expected it to turn out. I've been giving friends a few bottles to try and they have all said they love it. I'm going to do the same kit with all DME in the next few days. Keep the vids coming and thank you!
Hello Mr. Craig, Thanks for recommending Coopers kit. I've just finished batch based on Wheat Coopers and it tasted more like Witbier than Weizen. To the last batch (Draught Coopers) I used table sugar (extra fine) dedicated to desserts and ice cream. Cider taste is minimal compared to the previous batch to which I added table plain sugar and Demerara (cane sugar from Mozambique). In any case cider flavor disappears completely after 3 weeks. A lot of patience for all home brewers! Cheers!
My first batch last night (Lager), so glad I bought this kit. I have a Stout to do next week and my wife is wanting to do this Canadian Blonde for the Summer (Australia), we love those kind of beers on hot days with some lemon. Loving your vids Craig, Thanks! :-)
Great video Craig. Thanks. You talked me into brewing a Canadian Blonde. It is December so I will call it my snowblower beer. It is in the bucket and is 31.5 hrs into the fermentation. I will let you know how it turns out. I am sure it will be delicious as is all the Coopers brew cans I have tried. I usually lean towards the Mexican Cerveza, but I decided to try other styles this time. Tomorrow I will brew a Cooper's Preaches Hefe Witbier. I also have a Coopers Dark ale waiting to be brewed. I made a Cerveza last time and also a Coopers European Lager. I am glad I decided to try some new styles. I was getting a little bored with just one choice in the fridge. Your channel has been a great help during my learning period. Now I have a bit more confidence and am raising my brewing experience to a higher level. I am not sure I need to try full mash brewing, but I may do a partial mash again...last ones I did did not turn out to my liking but, those were a Black Dog Pale Ale, and the other was a short boil Mexican Cerveza. I tried a mangrove Jacks also and swore I would never do anything but the Cerveza, but...now I know what I did wrong, and my taste buds are becoming a bit more sophisticated, so it is onward and upward. I want to experience that WOOOOO, for myself. Cheers. Ron B (hombre)
Hi Craig. Great video as usual. I have made the Cooper's Canadian Blonde a couple of times, with a different variation each time. I can tell you I had the most positive comments when I simply used a brew enhancer, which is essentially what you did by using a combo of DME and dextrose. This last time I did this kit I used the kit plus 100% DME and it simply did not fit the style. I normally brew 100% malt for myself, but when brewing for people used to American beer, you need to use adjuncts
im really happy i found your videos. i live in canada and only started brewing about 2 years ago when i turned 19 (legal drinking age in canada) i made a couple different kinds of mead, wine, and different ciders before and i really wanted to try beer. Thanks to your videos, i made beer from a kit like the one you used in this video ( i had a canadian lager ) and it turned out great!
Craig you're very motivating mate! I usually brew Black Rock (NZ) kits however after watching your videos I've purchased four Coopers kits to give them a try. Cheers.
Hi Craig from Ray in England you inspired me to try home brewing and I am just enjoying my first beer using the new Coopers Micro brew kit and although I'm sure it's not quite up to your whoooargh level it will certainly do want I want it to do if you know what I mean. Thanks Craig. As we say in England .... you're the Dogs B.....ks.
I love these vids, they have given me so much great information about brewing that is extremely valuable to me starting out.And also i love the way this guy just does not care what people think about him, he just stays himself, that is a quality that a lot of the fake haters could do with. keep up the good work brother, you have a massive thumbs up from me.
i think bloopers should be standard on these videos haha ;) having seen all your brewing videos i think i pretty much got your process down but the bloopers always add something new a fun to watch!
Hi Mate got me a coopers kit for Christmas,,Crikey ...I have done 3 brews already, I reckon because of the high temps here in summer Ave 27c the yeast worked really hard really quick and I was bottled in a week and drinking within 2 more. Best kits ever great fun and awesome beer.. I did the Canadian first it was yummy and fresh tasting as you said not got the grubby flavour of bought beer and at an end cost of $1 a litre I am well chuffed,,,Happy brewing.
Hey Craig! Another great video bud...your home brew vids r the reason I firsty got into this thirsty hobbie (hahaha)!! Anyway, I made this brew like you did, but used a 55 gallon drum, adjusting the ingredients to suit, and it turned out pimp!!! As I'm Canadian, eh, and live in Alberta, it goes so well with sitting on the porch and just watching the sun-set over the rockies, thanxs-man!!!!!!
Thanks a lot for your videos! Your videos made us start brewing! It is now our 2nd brew: 1.7kg Coopers Sparkling Ale, 1.5kg Coopers Light Malt extract, and 1kg Coopers Brew Enhancer2. We added a "Morgan Hops Finishing" teabag. It said on the package that we should put the bag in a cup with hot water for 10mins. *AND* that the teabag with hops was supposed to be thrown in the fermenting bucket and stay there for the whole period? Will be exiting to taste this one! Did a Coopers Stout as our 1st.
Hi Craig, i would also like to see the Coopers Mexican Cerveza Kit and a full explanation as to the subject of beer enhancer vs dry malt vs sugar etc ...is it really so complicated ....also this brew enhancer 1 and 2 ...what's the difference as I've found different explanations on different sites. good work Craig from the UK.
Just two hints. Coopers makes 23 liter batches 6 US Gallons not 5 like US Kits. Second if you add the DME first and then boiling water on top and swirl the fermenter you will get less clumps. DME is crazy clumping when it hits the steam off the hot water and clumps as it falls into water.
Hi Craig. I would also love to see a video on the Mexican Cerveza Kit. Id love to hear your opinion on it. Also what @equiliser said on the brew enhancers and dry malt vs dextrose. Great video as always, keep up the great work. Micky in Ireland
Great video - I 'm just getting started and of course, since I am in Adelaide, the home of Coopers I'll be using the Coopers brewkit. This video does a great job of explaining the basics.
Hey, you seem to like using Cooper's extract kits, so I was wondering if you could do a video on the European lager kit that they make. I noticed in one of your older videos there was one lying around in the background but unless I am mistaken I don't think you've used one in a video. I was also wondering if you could use this kit to explain and demonstrate (if possible) the lagering technique that is recommended for this kit. Many thanks, Rich
This is great, Normaly I will brew it with 1can of coopers mexican/canadian blonde 1,5kg drymalt (no dex) 50g Saaz hops (tea) S-04 its amazing. summer beer ;-)
I’ve been brewing beer for over 40 years I always use normal household sugar,I just don’t understand why you would like to spend a lot of money when sugar is only 65 pence a kilo. I’ve tried brewing sugar and I can’t tell the difference. Love your films.👍
Hey Craig. Thank you for being a major force in getting me to begin home brewing. Your hard work is very much appreciated! I recently brewed a Brewer's Best, American Cream Ale kit. I payed extra attention to sanitization, and did not do a secondary fermentation. I left the beer in the primary for 7 days, after which i siphoned it to a bottling bucket and bottled it. It sat for two weeks and I gave it a try. The beer seems too bitter. Is this style supposed to be really bitter? Thoughts?
Hey Craig. I'm about to try my first brew and im going with the Coopers blonde and your method. I will be using the Coopers carb drops. My question is how many drops should I use in 500ml bottles. Thanks
Hi Craig Not sure if u missed it, but in your "Coopers Canadian Blonde" video just before u were outside showing us the finished product, u mention that u were also going to run through the process of poss kegging this beer as i have a batch almost ready and was wanting to know the steps in kegging it? is it the same steps as normal kegging Cheers Steve
Great bunch of videos. I've done all my research before doing my first ever brew through your videos alone. Literally just finished mixing up the wort. I out the yeast in and sealed the fermenting bucket, but them had to move it from my kitchen to the garage, which disturbed the surface somewhat. Will this have a bad effect on my fermenting now? I'm really worried as I've been so meticulous with the process...
Hi Craig, I was wondering if you could you make a video regarding Coopers Mexican Cerveza Kit. I have heard good things about this kit on various forums and I am interested to hear your opinion on this kit. Cheers Wilf.
To sanitize, I use sodium metabisulfite in a spray bottle. I always rince in boiled water. Metabisilfite is hard on yeasts and it retards a nice carbonation. Besides, I could sometimes have a taste or smell of sulfure. You don't want that.
Great as usual Craig, one question though, Do you get your water from a city water supply? I do, and I am afraid that the chlorine will affect the brew. Your thoughts?
@craigTube Ive already added half tsp originally, do you mean to open the bottle and add another half a tsp which would make 1 tsp in each 500ml bottle. If i can clarify what i mean, the neck of the bottle where ive left a space for the expansion of the carbonation - that area doesn't look frothy or bubbly, its just flat looking, BUT when i lightly tilt and shake the bottle around lots of bubbles rush to the base of the bottle - ive made stout
@lkcheat Thank you for the advice! I will most certainly try that the second time around. I am going to pick up another American Cream Ale kit this week and give it another go-around. The beer is definitely good. I am going to try secondary fermentation after three days in the primary. I am also considering Irish Moss for clarification, and also the addition of brown sugar in place of the corn sugar in the 60 minute boil. Any experience using brown sugar as priming sugar? Is it possible?
The brew cleared a bit after putting it into a 2nd carboy. We bottled 4 bottles from 1st carboy, just to test the "turbid" version vs the clear version. The bottles are still tasting yeasty after 3 weeks. We will bottle the rest in a week or two. (We have no airlock on it now. It has finished fermenting. We have put it in a sealed carboy just to let it clear. It was very "smoky" since we threw the hop-tea bag into the brew, and fermenting it with the bag in... We will not do that next time.
Hi, just watched your vid, and just ordered the Coopers kit straight away. However I'm keen to take up your advice regarding using dry malt extract, instead of glucose. Do I use the same amount, as I would with the glucose?.. Great information on this kit, before I went and ordered it, thanks, Nige, UK
Just started to brew my Coopers kit, 2 days ago. Its an English Bitter, with Brew enhancer 2. It started to ferment today, I had a little taste and it was like rotten apples. I think I've gone wrong somewhere.
Hi Craig, love your work. Just bought this home brew kit and making my first batch. Could you explain the thermometer please? As it has 3 different colours (Brown, Green and Dark Blue) at different temp's. Which one is the accurate temp? Thanks
What's your thoughts about "Brew In A Bag"; an all grain brewing method that does not require sparging, and is therefore cheaper and faster than traditional fly / batch Sparging?
ohh craig mate, i love it when i watch a video of yours and you have a nice homebrew in your hand and you do the classic ahhhh ohhhhh noises love that!!! it must be good stuff!
@1madscientist4u not for piming but yes for flavoring. i would stick to corn sugar for priming. i would only add brown sugar to flavor maltier beer thats dark, such as stout or porters. to do it to a cream ale would make it darker and more syrupy, taking it out of the style. for summer beers, less is more! good luck.
Hi craig - great job!! One question - when I pitched the yeast I didnt wait before stirring it in - no bubbling yet and it's been 24 hours. Should I just wait - temp is 25 - last kit I did started bubbling after 6 hours so i'm a bit concerned I screwed up! Thanks for any help, S&K
I'm checking on it every hour, to see whats going on. I've put an electric blanket around it, the temp dropped to 15 earlier, it's freezing here in UK. I don't have much faith in this thing at the moment.
Hi Craig, How much sugar do you put into each pint bottle and do you shake the bottle up to mix the sugar together? Just bottled mine and i'm a little worried that they look flat and not much going on in there,i expected to see lots of bubbles.I added 1/2 tsp of sugar to each empty (568ml) bottle then filled it with the beer. ps If i leave them a week to carbonise will they taste okay to try 1, and do they get MUCH better tasting with age, say if i left it for 3 weeks, thanks Rob from UK
Hi Craig love your videos, made your fermented pickles and sauerkraut, they were awesome, but I wanna make some beer, i like a Kokanee style, can you please point me to a kit, and what I’d need exactly, thank you so much from Alberta.
Awesome video Craig,did you mention exactly how long you left this in the fermenter for before bottling,I think you've mentioned it before but unsure is it 7 days? Take care,Cheers!
You made a typo in the video, in the beginning u said "DYI" in the intro, just pointing it out. I'd also like some advice. Im 18 (the legal limit in South Africa is 18), and ive brewed my own cider on the weekend, it came out quite nice by just using 10 Apples, 2 packs of yeast and 2 kg's of sugar, with 10 liters of water. Im considering making actual beer now, would you recommend the Coopers DIY Beer Kit? And what are the pros and cons of the kit? Thanks
Thanks for another great video. I've been quietly watching for two years. I was inspired to try my first brew by your videos and have moved on to the all-grain thing. I still brew can kits from time to time for fun and because they still taste great! I'm doing my first 3 batches of wine this month (even did the twisted mist SM kit.) I have some wine questions if you have time.Would it be better to ask here or elsewhere? Thanks again! Brewing the Coopers mexican cerveza kit this weekend.
Hi Craig, could you recommend any hops that could be added to this, something that will go with the style of beer. the beer is nice on it's own but I want to try something different.thanks, Scott
Great to see a real person and not a corporate video how to, gives me some good insights into the process before trying it. What confuses me is that you bang on about bacteria all the time. Then you spend minutes talking with the kit open and full of ingredients in front of you, I don't think you realise that if your talking your spitting, and spit contains bacteria. You also licked your fingers in this one. This either proves that bacterial contamination isn't so big a deal or you are lucky.
Hi Craig, I just got my hand into DIY kit yesterday and i already brewed it. However, I think the sugar is still sticking in the bottom and it has been 12 hours since I fermented it. Should I give it a stir? or It doesn't really matter? hope to hear from you soon
Hi craig awesome video I've just got a diy coopers larger kit I followed instructions and tips from your vids all went well prob a bit ott on sanitisation though looking forward to some nice brew one quick question what's the difference between the two enhancer's and what would you recommend for a stronger larger taste cheers mate from uk
@CraigTube :Hey Craig,thank you very much explaining the things so well. I tried the coopers new kit with the same instructions.I think everything was going good till I bottled te beer I tried one beer yesterday(day 9 of botteling) and I dont know what happened the beer has turned out to be giving a very bitter and unpleasent taste and doesent seems to healthy for drinking. there was very less carbonation is the beer.I think I need to discard all the bottles I have brewed. Any sugesstions....plz
Great video craig. .I live in the UK m8 and I've never seen one of those fermenters to stop you getting the brown gunk at the top is it possible you could let me know where you get them as I'd like to obtain one...cheers. gav.
Hi Craig if you go to Home Hdwr and get one of those ov gloves there great for BBquing and or your hot beer can / mixes 20.00 nonslip too good for mega heat i have 2
@jones123 No this shoud not affect the yeast any, you should start to see some fermentation around 12 to24 hs. If not you may want to repitch another yeast pack, but I bet you wll see some fermentation. :-)
Good night I'm talking, writing from Brazil. And I would like to know which IBU the percentage of bitterness in this beer. I will buy one Thank you! Hugs from the beer friend from Brazil.
Hi Craig, I'm on my second kit, the first, the lager, went really well, my second, Australian Stout seems to be going nowhere. I sanitized with starsan, just used the brew enhancer like the first, can of extract, stirred, added the yeast, which smelled like apples, waited 5 mins, stirred. Now over 24 hours later I see no signs of foam at all, it's flat on the top. There seems to be yeast growth at the bottom, just no activity at the top, any ideas mate. All the best.
Craig's videos are the reason I was confident enough to get into this hobby - so glad I found him - hope to see more videos soon as I watched them all and some of them more than once - great entertainment!
I'm getting ready to do a Canadian blonde kit with my Coopers DIY kit that I bought back 2012 after watching this video. I have made a lot of beer using this kit. Kits, partial mash, all grain... I had to buy other gear over the years but the wort always ends up in the DIY fermenter. Thanks again to Craig for introducing me to this kit and homebrewing in general.
Just ordered my first kit and picked this Canadian Blonde for my first brew, should be here by the weekend and I'm very excited! I've been watching your videos all day, they're really helpful and easy to follow. I'm sure I'll be checking back regularly for tips and ideas, thanks for posting.
I was happy to hear you mention Midwest Home-brew Supplies. I was just there yesterday and I bought a 5 gallon brew pot. I live just a mile down the road from there in St Louis Park, MN! Thanks for all of your helpful videos. With all the knowledge I get from you, (and my personal trial and error) I hope to one day have my own brewery/bar down in Argentina. I have a few years to practice up a bit though. Keep em coming and we'll keep watching.
Sincerely,
Your friendly neighbor to the south!
My Grandfather made his "Home Brew" from the time of prohibition until he passed away in the mid 1980's He used Blue Ribbon hoped malt extract, Table Sugar and plain old yeast, he fermented in a warm place in an old 5 gallon crock covered with a clean towel, he then bottled in brown qt. bottles. I don't think he ever had a bad batch. He drank a qt. or two every evening while watching t.v. until he was an old man and God took him home. The only sanitizer he used was Bleach. I drank a few of these in my lifetime with him and they were pretty good beer, with a good kick. Now I have tried my hand and dove in head first with an all grain Brown ale, it is sitting in the kegerator where it needs a couple of weeks to clarify, I have drank a few test beers from this, it's cloudy good full flavor but not so strong in the alcohol dept. as I anticipated
Great comment, I have a mental picture of your grandad, he seems like a top bloke, I never really knew mine so enjoy stories of grandfathers, cheers.
autoteck1951 beer drinkers all go to the same heaven where beer flows like waterfalls and falls from the sky like rain, RIP to your grandad he sounds like a real man!
My grand father had homebrew all around his house I remember trying one when I was like 8 years old without anyone knowing
What a champion
Home brewing has always been something I wanted to try but have been intimidated by it. I decided to give it a shot after watching your videos on inmate brew. I tried it with Grape, Apple, and Orange Juice just to experiment. I wanted to try beer so I purchased the Coopers DIY kit. I am 3 days into my first home brew and I am looking forward to the taste test. Thank you for the tips.
Gav, I am in the UK and my wife got me a Coopers kit for my birthday and it had the Kreuzen collar with it. Craig - thanks for the inspiration!
Ah, brings back so many great memories, you doing a simple Coopers kit in the basement. I recently did another Coopers Dark Ale using BE2 and Safale US-05 yeast, and man, it turned out much better than I expected. Gotta love the simplicity of kit beer. Big hugs sweetie, hi to the family. Cheers!
I have made coopers and some other kits. And I am going start a Coopers Real Ale today. I do not have malt extract so I am going to use brown sugar and have done so before with no side effects and it came out just fine. I used dry malt extract in the last German Lager in my last brew and brew and that wasn't my best bear but it was drinkable. So I am not convinced that I 'must' use dry malt extract. Brown sugar works just fine. Thanks for the vid, I picked some new tricks. CHEERS!!!
Thanks for doing these vids Craig. I'm just polishing off my first homebrew kit, a Coopers lager. It is superb beer, way better than I ever expected it to turn out. I've been giving friends a few bottles to try and they have all said they love it. I'm going to do the same kit with all DME in the next few days. Keep the vids coming and thank you!
Hello Mr. Craig, Thanks for recommending Coopers kit. I've just finished batch based on Wheat Coopers and it tasted more like Witbier than Weizen. To the last batch (Draught Coopers) I used table sugar (extra fine) dedicated to desserts and ice cream. Cider taste is minimal compared to the previous batch to which I added table plain sugar and Demerara (cane sugar from Mozambique). In any case cider flavor disappears completely after 3 weeks. A lot of patience for all home brewers! Cheers!
My first batch last night (Lager), so glad I bought this kit. I have a Stout to do next week and my wife is wanting to do this Canadian Blonde for the Summer (Australia), we love those kind of beers on hot days with some lemon. Loving your vids Craig, Thanks! :-)
Just started my first home brew, these videos have been a huge help, cheers mate and keep them coming
Hello Craig, glad to see you made a video with the new Coopers DYI Kit. I really enjoyed it...Cheers!
Great video Craig. Thanks. You talked me into brewing a Canadian Blonde. It is December so I will call it my snowblower beer. It is in the bucket and is 31.5 hrs into the fermentation. I will let you know how it turns out. I am sure it will be delicious as is all the Coopers brew cans I have tried. I usually lean towards the Mexican Cerveza, but I decided to try other styles this time. Tomorrow I will brew a Cooper's Preaches Hefe Witbier. I also have a Coopers Dark ale waiting to be brewed.
I made a Cerveza last time and also a Coopers European Lager. I am glad I decided to try some new styles. I was getting a little bored with just one choice in the fridge. Your channel has been a great help during my learning period. Now I have a bit more confidence and am raising my brewing experience to a higher level. I am not sure I need to try full mash brewing, but I may do a partial mash again...last ones I did did not turn out to my liking but, those were a Black Dog Pale Ale, and the other was a short boil Mexican Cerveza. I tried a mangrove Jacks also and swore I would never do anything but the Cerveza, but...now I know what I did wrong, and my taste buds are becoming a bit more sophisticated, so it is onward and upward. I want to experience that WOOOOO, for myself. Cheers.
Ron B (hombre)
Wooo Hooo!!!! the Mad Scienitist of Beer making !!! I am not worthy !! Craig You are My hero !!!
Bless you and your videos !!!
MOE
Hi Craig. Great video as usual. I have made the Cooper's Canadian Blonde a couple of times, with a different variation each time. I can tell you I had the most positive comments when I simply used a brew enhancer, which is essentially what you did by using a combo of DME and dextrose. This last time I did this kit I used the kit plus 100% DME and it simply did not fit the style. I normally brew 100% malt for myself, but when brewing for people used to American beer, you need to use adjuncts
im really happy i found your videos. i live in canada and only started brewing about 2 years ago when i turned 19 (legal drinking age in canada) i made a couple different kinds of mead, wine, and different ciders before and i really wanted to try beer. Thanks to your videos, i made beer from a kit like the one you used in this video ( i had a canadian lager ) and it turned out great!
I really like how you did the different points in time to cover the brewing, the fermenting, and finally the tasting! Great content as usual!
Craig you're very motivating mate! I usually brew Black Rock (NZ) kits however after watching your videos I've purchased four Coopers kits to give them a try. Cheers.
Hi Craig from Ray in England you inspired me to try home brewing and I am just enjoying my first beer using the new Coopers Micro brew kit and although I'm sure it's not quite up to your whoooargh level it will certainly do want I want it to do if you know what I mean. Thanks Craig. As we say in England .... you're the Dogs B.....ks.
I have just used Saran Wrap before and it works fine as long as you're not opening it constantly.
Best video watched so far you kept it simple. Brilliant!!!!
I love these vids, they have given me so much great information about brewing that is extremely valuable to me starting out.And also i love the way this guy just does not care what people think about him, he just stays himself, that is a quality that a lot of the fake haters could do with. keep up the good work brother, you have a massive thumbs up from me.
This kit is great! Your videos motivated me to purchase this kit and start brewing. Can't wait for my first batch!
i think bloopers should be standard on these videos haha ;) having seen all your brewing videos i think i pretty much got your process down but the bloopers always add something new a fun to watch!
Great video Craig. Really appreciate the level of detail which is of great help to a newbie brewer like me.
Hi Mate got me a coopers kit for Christmas,,Crikey ...I have done 3 brews already, I reckon because of the high temps here in summer Ave 27c the yeast worked really hard really quick and I was bottled in a week and drinking within 2 more. Best kits ever great fun and awesome beer.. I did the Canadian first it was yummy and fresh tasting as you said not got the grubby flavour of bought beer and at an end cost of $1 a litre I am well chuffed,,,Happy brewing.
Craig, you always have good audio. Appreciate that.
Drinking my first Canadian Blond tonight , following your video! It's Great!
i made the canadian blonde myself used half kilo dextrose and half kilo malt
extract found the beer quiet nice ill keep doing the same way.
Using australian made love it, I'd love to meet this guy, cheers mate great videos keep it up
Mitch Julius you are a natural teacher!!! Thank you.
hey craig im happy your doin the candian blonde, i think i encouraged you to do it (probally others did too) its my go to homebrew. cheers!
Hey Craig! Another great video bud...your home brew vids r the reason I firsty got into this thirsty hobbie (hahaha)!! Anyway, I made this brew like you did, but used a 55 gallon drum, adjusting the ingredients to suit, and it turned out pimp!!! As I'm Canadian, eh, and live in Alberta, it goes so well with sitting on the porch and just watching the sun-set over the rockies, thanxs-man!!!!!!
Thanks a lot for your videos! Your videos made us start brewing! It is now our 2nd brew: 1.7kg Coopers Sparkling Ale, 1.5kg Coopers Light Malt extract, and 1kg Coopers Brew Enhancer2. We added a "Morgan Hops Finishing" teabag. It said on the package that we should put the bag in a cup with hot water for 10mins. *AND* that the teabag with hops was supposed to be thrown in the fermenting bucket and stay there for the whole period? Will be exiting to taste this one! Did a Coopers Stout as our 1st.
Thanks for the info on the new coopers kit
Thanks again. I am ready to make a second batch with new kit and good idea on how to sanitize the odd kit parts.
Craig this beer gets better with age after about 6-8 weeks in a bottle it is way nicer than 2-3 weeks cheers
I am so amazed that the lid works as well as the air lock WOW...
A super video >>watched it three times Thanks Craig :) Cheers
Hi Craig, i would also like to see the Coopers Mexican Cerveza Kit and a full explanation as to the subject of beer enhancer vs dry malt vs sugar etc ...is it really so complicated ....also this brew enhancer 1 and 2 ...what's the difference as I've found different explanations on different sites. good work Craig from the UK.
I found the same with the BB American Cream, but it mellows after several months in the bottle. Not the most memorable taste, but very drinkable.
Coopers kits are pretty good I did honey blonde with aussie wild honey and the Coopers Canadian Blonde same out really tasty
Just two hints. Coopers makes 23 liter batches 6 US Gallons not 5 like US Kits.
Second if you add the DME first and then boiling water on top and swirl the fermenter you will get less clumps. DME is crazy clumping when it hits the steam off the hot water and clumps as it falls into water.
Hi Craig. I would also love to see a video on the Mexican Cerveza Kit. Id love to hear your opinion on it. Also what @equiliser said on the brew enhancers and dry malt vs dextrose.
Great video as always, keep up the great work. Micky in Ireland
Great video - I 'm just getting started and of course, since I am in Adelaide, the home of Coopers I'll be using the Coopers brewkit. This video does a great job of explaining the basics.
Hey Craig, another great video. Thank you for the information on the substitute for the enhancer.
Hey, you seem to like using Cooper's extract kits, so I was wondering if you could do a video on the European lager kit that they make. I noticed in one of your older videos there was one lying around in the background but unless I am mistaken I don't think you've used one in a video. I was also wondering if you could use this kit to explain and demonstrate (if possible) the lagering technique that is recommended for this kit. Many thanks, Rich
@BeerGeekNation Hi, The Cooper's beer kits Craig is using is prehopped.
This is great, Normaly I will brew it with 1can of coopers mexican/canadian blonde 1,5kg drymalt (no dex) 50g Saaz hops (tea) S-04 its amazing. summer beer ;-)
I’ve been brewing beer for over 40 years I always use normal household sugar,I just don’t understand why you would like to spend a lot of money when sugar is only 65 pence a kilo. I’ve tried brewing sugar and I can’t tell the difference. Love your films.👍
Hey Craig. Thank you for being a major force in getting me to begin home brewing. Your hard work is very much appreciated! I recently brewed a Brewer's Best, American Cream Ale kit. I payed extra attention to sanitization, and did not do a secondary fermentation. I left the beer in the primary for 7 days, after which i siphoned it to a bottling bucket and bottled it. It sat for two weeks and I gave it a try. The beer seems too bitter. Is this style supposed to be really bitter? Thoughts?
Hey Craig. I'm about to try my first brew and im going with the Coopers blonde and your method. I will be using the Coopers carb drops. My question is how many drops should I use in 500ml bottles. Thanks
Hi Craig
Not sure if u missed it, but in your "Coopers Canadian Blonde" video just before u were outside showing us the finished product, u mention that u were also going to run through the process of poss kegging this beer as i have a batch almost ready and was wanting to know the steps in kegging it? is it the same steps as normal kegging
Cheers Steve
Great bunch of videos. I've done all my research before doing my first ever brew through your videos alone. Literally just finished mixing up the wort. I out the yeast in and sealed the fermenting bucket, but them had to move it from my kitchen to the garage, which disturbed the surface somewhat. Will this have a bad effect on my fermenting now? I'm really worried as I've been so meticulous with the process...
Hi Craig, I was wondering if you could you make a video regarding Coopers Mexican Cerveza Kit. I have heard good things about this kit on various forums and I am interested to hear your opinion on this kit.
Cheers Wilf.
To sanitize, I use sodium metabisulfite in a spray bottle. I always rince in boiled water. Metabisilfite is hard on yeasts and it retards a nice carbonation. Besides, I could sometimes have a taste or smell of sulfure. You don't want that.
Great as usual Craig,
one question though, Do you get your water from a city water supply? I do, and I am afraid that the chlorine will affect the brew. Your thoughts?
Hi this is my first time making beer I hope I don't wreck things up. It is day 3 and I can't wait!!
You have so many great and helpful videos on your channel, well done and thanks.
@craigTube Ive already added half tsp originally, do you mean to open the bottle and add another half a tsp which would make 1 tsp in each 500ml bottle.
If i can clarify what i mean, the neck of the bottle where ive left a space for the expansion of the carbonation - that area doesn't look frothy or bubbly, its just flat looking, BUT when i lightly tilt and shake the bottle around lots of bubbles rush to the base of the bottle - ive made stout
I've purchased this kit, will the fermentor be ok to make cider aswell? Videos are brilliant by the way.
You are giving a ton of great info here. Helped make my decision to start home brewing. Thanks
@lkcheat Thank you for the advice! I will most certainly try that the second time around. I am going to pick up another American Cream Ale kit this week and give it another go-around. The beer is definitely good. I am going to try secondary fermentation after three days in the primary. I am also considering Irish Moss for clarification, and also the addition of brown sugar in place of the corn sugar in the 60 minute boil. Any experience using brown sugar as priming sugar? Is it possible?
The brew cleared a bit after putting it into a 2nd carboy. We bottled 4 bottles from 1st carboy, just to test the "turbid" version vs the clear version. The bottles are still tasting yeasty after 3 weeks. We will bottle the rest in a week or two. (We have no airlock on it now. It has finished fermenting. We have put it in a sealed carboy just to let it clear. It was very "smoky" since we threw the hop-tea bag into the brew, and fermenting it with the bag in... We will not do that next time.
Hi, just watched your vid, and just ordered the Coopers kit straight away. However I'm keen to take up your advice regarding using dry malt extract, instead of glucose. Do I use the same amount, as I would with the glucose?.. Great information on this kit, before I went and ordered it, thanks, Nige, UK
Just started to brew my Coopers kit, 2 days ago. Its an English Bitter, with Brew enhancer 2. It started to ferment today, I had a little taste and it was like rotten apples. I think I've gone wrong somewhere.
Hi Craig, love your work. Just bought this home brew kit and making my first batch. Could you explain the thermometer please? As it has 3 different colours (Brown, Green and Dark Blue) at different temp's. Which one is the accurate temp? Thanks
What's your thoughts about "Brew In A Bag"; an all grain brewing method that does not require sparging, and is therefore cheaper and faster than traditional fly / batch Sparging?
This is one of my favourite kits!
ohh craig mate, i love it when i watch a video of yours and you have a nice homebrew in your hand and you do the classic ahhhh ohhhhh noises love that!!! it must be good stuff!
Cheers Craig great info
I love your style mate
thanks Craig looking forward to my first batch of beer.
Did you ever get a kegerator
@1madscientist4u not for piming but yes for flavoring. i would stick to corn sugar for priming. i would only add brown sugar to flavor maltier beer thats dark, such as stout or porters. to do it to a cream ale would make it darker and more syrupy, taking it out of the style. for summer beers, less is more! good luck.
Hi craig - great job!!
One question - when I pitched the yeast I didnt wait before stirring it in - no bubbling yet and it's been 24 hours. Should I just wait - temp is 25 - last kit I did started bubbling after 6 hours so i'm a bit concerned I screwed up!
Thanks for any help,
S&K
I'm checking on it every hour, to see whats going on. I've put an electric blanket around it, the temp dropped to 15 earlier, it's freezing here in UK. I don't have much faith in this thing at the moment.
Hi Craig, How much sugar do you put into each pint bottle and do you shake the bottle up to mix the sugar together?
Just bottled mine and i'm a little worried that they look flat and not much going on in there,i expected to see lots of bubbles.I added 1/2 tsp of sugar to each empty (568ml) bottle then filled it with the beer.
ps If i leave them a week to carbonise will they taste okay to try 1, and do they get MUCH better tasting with age, say if i left it for 3 weeks, thanks Rob from UK
Hi Craig love your videos, made your fermented pickles and sauerkraut, they were awesome, but I wanna make some beer, i like a Kokanee style, can you please point me to a kit, and what I’d need exactly, thank you so much from Alberta.
Im started to brew when seen your first video. I want to see what you can do with stuff from regular supermarket to make some lager ????????
What about the smaller can refills for the mr beer kit, do you need to add the malt and other stuff?
Awesome video Craig,did you mention exactly how long you left this in the fermenter for before bottling,I think you've mentioned it before but unsure is it 7 days? Take care,Cheers!
You made a typo in the video, in the beginning u said "DYI" in the intro, just pointing it out. I'd also like some advice. Im 18 (the legal limit in South Africa is 18), and ive brewed my own cider on the weekend, it came out quite nice by just using 10 Apples, 2 packs of yeast and 2 kg's of sugar, with 10 liters of water. Im considering making actual beer now, would you recommend the Coopers DIY Beer Kit? And what are the pros and cons of the kit?
Thanks
Thanks for another great video. I've been quietly watching for two years. I was inspired to try my first brew by your videos and have moved on to the all-grain thing. I still brew can kits from time to time for fun and because they still taste great! I'm doing my first 3 batches of wine this month (even did the twisted mist SM kit.) I have some wine questions if you have time.Would it be better to ask here or elsewhere? Thanks again! Brewing the Coopers mexican cerveza kit this weekend.
Hi Craig, could you recommend any hops that could be added to this, something that will go with the style of beer. the beer is nice on it's own but I want to try something different.thanks, Scott
It should be possible to harvest some yeast off that collar. The sediment looked very... Yeasty when you cleaned it?
@CraigTube just wondering did yours have a cidery odour while fermenting? doing the canadian blonde now :)
Great to see a real person and not a corporate video how to, gives me some good insights into the process before trying it. What confuses me is that you bang on about bacteria all the time. Then you spend minutes talking with the kit open and full of ingredients in front of you, I don't think you realise that if your talking your spitting, and spit contains bacteria. You also licked your fingers in this one. This either proves that bacterial contamination isn't so big a deal or you are lucky.
I would assume that all plastic containers are BPA Safe?, but I haven't really thought about it the hot water pour.
Hi Craig,
I just got my hand into DIY kit yesterday and i already brewed it.
However, I think the sugar is still sticking in the bottom and it has been 12 hours since I fermented it. Should I give it a stir? or It doesn't really matter?
hope to hear from you soon
Hi craig awesome video
I've just got a diy coopers larger kit I followed instructions and tips from your vids all went well
prob a bit ott on sanitisation though
looking forward to some nice brew
one quick question what's the difference between the two enhancer's and what would you recommend for a stronger larger taste
cheers mate from uk
@CraigTube :Hey Craig,thank you very much explaining the things so well. I tried the coopers new kit with the same instructions.I think everything was going good till I bottled te beer I tried one beer yesterday(day 9 of botteling) and I dont know what happened the beer has turned out to be giving a very bitter and unpleasent taste and doesent seems to healthy for drinking. there was very less carbonation is the beer.I think I need to discard all the bottles I have brewed. Any sugesstions....plz
i love watchin you taste the beer, it just makes me wanna have one!
Great video craig. .I live in the UK m8 and I've never seen one of those fermenters to stop you getting the brown gunk at the top is it possible you could let me know where you get them as I'd like to obtain one...cheers. gav.
Hi Craig if you go to Home Hdwr and get one of those ov gloves there great for
BBquing and or your hot beer can / mixes 20.00 nonslip too good for mega heat i have 2
@jones123 No this shoud not affect the yeast any, you should start to see some fermentation around 12 to24 hs. If not you may want to repitch another yeast pack, but I bet you wll see some fermentation. :-)
Good night I'm talking, writing from Brazil. And I would like to know which IBU the percentage of bitterness in this beer. I will buy one Thank you! Hugs from the beer friend from Brazil.
Craig...I have a question for ya buddy! What would happen if I were to double up on ALL the ingredients to make a 23l batch?
Hi Craig, I'm on my second kit, the first, the lager, went really well, my second, Australian Stout seems to be going nowhere. I sanitized with starsan, just used the brew enhancer like the first, can of extract, stirred, added the yeast, which smelled like apples, waited 5 mins, stirred. Now over 24 hours later I see no signs of foam at all, it's flat on the top. There seems to be yeast growth at the bottom, just no activity at the top, any ideas mate. All the best.
ordered a kit like this after looking at this clip ;) best instructor on the net ;D
I cant wait to start brewing, ordered my cooper beer kit today =)
Do you have any information on sanitizing the bottles?