Coopers Vintage Ale '18

  • MaltyMalty
  • HoppyHoppy
  • ResinousResinous
  • FruityFruity
Sale price$59.75
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In the deepest, darkest winter, patient craft brewers across the land await the arrival of a mysterious stranger. Never certain of what it brings, but assured that it’s worth the wait, this welcome stranger arrives without flourish or fanfare, but in whispers of awe and expectation. Finally it is here; aromas of tropical fruits herald its arrival – followed closely by spicy, earthy scents, sweet malt and floral flavours, a touch of herbs and an endearing bitterness. Let it rest its bones undisturbed, and this deep amber, medium-bodied beer will improve even further over time to give those who look after it, a mellow ale in the finest Thomas Cooper tradition.

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Recipe Contains

1 × Thomas Coopers Bootmaker Pale Ale (1.7kg)
1 × Thomas Coopers Amber Malt Extract (1.5kg)
1 × Dextrose (1kg)
3 × Light Crystal Malt (100g)
1 × Carbonation Drops (250g)

You'll Need

1 × 25g Vic Secret Hops
2 × 25g Aramis Hops
1 × Coopers Commercial Yeast Culture (or use the supplied Brew Can yeast)

Beer Style: Ale

Colour (EBC): 30
Volume: 21L
Difficulty: Expert

ABV 7.5%

Alcohol by Volume

55 IBU

International Bitterness Units

EBC 30

Colour

This Recipe

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Ingredients

1 x 1.7kg Thomas Coopers Bootmaker Pale Ale
1 x 1.5kg Thomas Coopers Amber Malt Extract
1 x 1kg Dextrose
3 x 100g Light Crystal Malt
1 x 25g Vic Secret Hops
2 x 25g Aramis Hops
1 x Coopers Commercial Yeast Culture (or use the supplied Brew Can yeast)
1 x 250g Coopers Carbonation Drops

Mix

The Day Before: Line a pot (at least 4 litres) with a mesh cleaning cloth (pulled straight from the
pack).
Place all of the Light Crystal Malt in a plastic zip-lock sandwich bag and crack it using a rolling pin.
Add the cracked Light Crystal Malt and 2 litres of cold water, fit the lid and sit in the fridge for 24hrs.
Brew Day: Remove from the fridge then gather up the corners of the mesh cloth and lift, allowing the
liquid to drain from the Light Crystal Malt back into the pot.
Place the strained liquid onto the stove top, bring to the boil and add half of the Vic Secret Hops.
After 10 mins boiling, remove from the heat and add the remaining Vic Secret Hops, and half of one
pack of the Aramis Hops and let steep for a further 15 mins.
Cool the liquid by placing pot in a bath of cold water for about 15mins then strain into a Fermenting
Vessel (FV).
Add the contents of the two brew cans plus dextrose and stir to dissolve.
Fill with cool water to the 18 litre mark, stir vigorously and check the brew temperature.
Top up to the 21 litre mark with warm or cold water (refrigerated if necessary) to get as close to 18C
as possible.
Stir in the Coopers Commercial Yeast Culture and/or sprinkle the Brew Can yeast then fit the lid.
Click here to view our how-to-video on Harvesting Commercial Yeast.

Home Recipes COOPERS VINTAGE ALE '18

Coopers Vintage Ale '18

In the deepest, darkest winter, patient craft brewers across the land await the arrival of a mysterious stranger. Never certain of what it brings, but assured that it’s worth the wait, this welcome stranger arrives without flourish or fanfare, but in whispers of awe and expectation. Finally it is here; aromas of tropical fruits herald its arrival – followed closely by spicy, earthy scents, sweet malt and floral flavours, a touch of herbs and an endearing bitterness. Let it rest its bones undisturbed, and this deep amber, medium-bodied beer will improve even further over time to give those who look after it, a mellow ale in the finest Thomas Cooper tradition.

Coopers Vintage Ale '18
Beer Style Ale
Flavour Profile Malty, Hoppy, Resinous, Fruity
Alcohol Content 7.5%
Colour (EBC) 30
Bitterness (IBU) 55
Volume 21L
Difficulty Expert

Ingredients

1 x 1.7kg Thomas Coopers Bootmaker Pale Ale
1 x 1.5kg Thomas Coopers Amber Malt Extract
1 x 1kg Dextrose
3 x 100g Light Crystal Malt
1 x 25g Vic Secret Hops
2 x 25g Aramis Hops
1 x Coopers Commercial Yeast Culture (or use the supplied Brew Can yeast)
1 x 250g Coopers Carbonation Drops

1. Mix

The Day Before: Line a pot (at least 4 litres) with a mesh cleaning cloth (pulled straight from the
pack).
Place all of the Light Crystal Malt in a plastic zip-lock sandwich bag and crack it using a rolling pin.
Add the cracked Light Crystal Malt and 2 litres of cold water, fit the lid and sit in the fridge for 24hrs.
Brew Day: Remove from the fridge then gather up the corners of the mesh cloth and lift, allowing the
liquid to drain from the Light Crystal Malt back into the pot.
Place the strained liquid onto the stove top, bring to the boil and add half of the Vic Secret Hops.
After 10 mins boiling, remove from the heat and add the remaining Vic Secret Hops, and half of one
pack of the Aramis Hops and let steep for a further 15 mins.
Cool the liquid by placing pot in a bath of cold water for about 15mins then strain into a Fermenting
Vessel (FV).
Add the contents of the two brew cans plus dextrose and stir to dissolve.
Fill with cool water to the 18 litre mark, stir vigorously and check the brew temperature.
Top up to the 21 litre mark with warm or cold water (refrigerated if necessary) to get as close to 18C
as possible.
Stir in the Coopers Commercial Yeast Culture and/or sprinkle the Brew Can yeast then fit the lid.
Click here to view our how-to-video on Harvesting Commercial Yeast.

2. Brew

Place the FV in a location out of direct sunlight and try to ferment at 18C.
Fermentation should take 10 to 14 days.
At around Day 7, add the remaining Aramis Hops to the brew by wrapping them in a mesh cleaning
cloth (pulled straight from the pack) and place directly on top of the brew then re-fit the lid.
On day 12, check the specific gravity (SG).
Check the SG again the following day and so on.

3. Bottle

The brew is ready once the SG has stabilised over a couple of days, expect about 1008 to 1013.
Gently fill clean PET bottles to about 3cm from the top. Sturdy reusable glass bottles, designed for
storing beer, should be used if planning to keep some of the brew in bottle beyond 18 months.
Add 2 carbonation drops per bottle and secure the caps (use only one carbonation drop for bottles
intended to be stored for a longer period).
Store the bottles upright in a location out of direct sunlight at or above 18C

4. Enjoy

After at least two weeks, check for sufficient carbonation by squeezing the PET bottles.
Bottles kept unrefrigerated should improve with age.
When ready to drink, chill the bottles upright.
The chilled beer may be poured into clean glassware, leaving the sediment behind.
Expect the alcohol content to be approximately 7.5% ABV.

Common Questions

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