Which IPA?

Mreddster

OK gonna do an ipa. Which kit to buy? Have used coopers other kits and found then great and very successful. However does anyone recommend another brand?

Any recommendations would be appreciated Thanks.

HBO_Staff

It would be interesting to hear what anyone thinks, the St Peters IPA is very popular if you fancied trying a 3kg kit; 

http://www.home-brew-online.com/beer-kits-c1/st-peters-c19/st-peters-st-peters-beer-kits-p221

The new Festival Razorback IPA comes even with the priming sugar, it does have 75g of hops included too so will be very hoppy;

http://www.home-brew-online.com/beer-kits-c1/festival-c14/razorback-ipa-beer-kit-p1142

Mreddster

Sounds good!

Mreddster

Ok so went for the Coopers selection IPA   Brewed it up tonight with 500g Light spray malt and 400g of brewing sugar. Now lets see how it goes in a week or so time.

Mreddster

The beer is ready to bottle.

Question is, can I use the spare Brewing sugar I bought to start the brew for the second fermentation into the bottles? and how much to use for 500mll bottles please  

HBO_Staff

Good news, now it's just down to waiting! Brewing sugar is good for priming, it will dissolve easily and help secondary fermentation in the bottles get going quickly. As a guide around a teaspoon per 500ml bottles is usually used for beers

Mreddster

So bottled all the beer................eventually!

Did not enjoy using sugar to prime the bottles this time! Much prefer the Coopers drops that I have used before, so much easier and less mess. I will be back using them next time no question.

So anyway when using brewing sugar, do you put it in the bottle first before the beer or after? I think before is best as I filled a couple of bottles then added the sugar and they started frothing over!!! Not good.

I think the brewing sugar was too fine so it disolved way to quick? I tried a couple with granulated and it was much better.

Cheers

HBO_Staff

With brewing sugar it is finer so does dissolve much faster, it can be easier to add the sugar first as you say. Carbonation drops are much easier than sugar, easier to put in the bottles and they wont froth much with them being solid. They are more expensive than sugar, and take a little longer to dissolve, but are very popular due to the simplicity!

You can sit back and relax while it conditions in the bottles now, all the hard work is done until the very important job of tasting!

sine_nomine

Festival Razorback IPA is certainly worth exploring. Here is a  first-rate video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qeu3zpA4-w

I've made the Festival Golden Stag and it's the best tasting kit beer I've made to date. Festival provide everything needed including hops,  priming sugar and even a small  reusable nylon bag to fit over  your syphon to stop the trub entering your keg or secondary fermenter (if you use one). Nothing needs to be added to make a superb beer  — well perhaps some water.

HBO_Staff

Cheers for the video link, we were given a sample of the Razorback to try from the suppliers and it is great, it is made with quite a lot of hops but is not over-powering, and we really loved it. The Father Hooks proved popular too at our shop open day where we had some samples to give away

Mreddster

Might try that next time Cheers.

Tried a couple of bottles yesterday. Only been bottled two weeks but already pretty impressed with the Coopers ipa
Happy days!

HBO_Staff

Excellent, if it's good early on it will probably continue to improve too!