Thread: Lite????

The small amount of suagr added to eth bottles for secondary fermentation is to carbonate the beer (make it gassy). It adds about 0.5% alcohol. All up you use less taht 200 grams at this stage. Using less only makes it less gassy, or flat.

If you want a LITE the reduce the amount of sugars in the primary.

From the CASCADE HOMEBREW SITE
Reduced alcohol *: To lower the alcohol content, reduce the amount of sugar added. For example, modify from about 5% to about 4% by adding 500 grams of sugar instead of 1 kg.

Apparaently you still need to add some sugar at the start as the kits generally won;t ferment properly. Also as teh alcohol gets less, you need to replace it with something, eg more hops.

There's also a good case for not using sugar in the primary ferment too.......I use dry light malt, and it tastes better/clears better/.....dunno if its better for you.

I used the term sugars, but should have used "fermentables." which is all the various forms.

My preferred is 500g dextrose(brewing sugar) and 500g light malt. As I find all malt leaves it a bit too sweet. I also add 200g cornstarch, doesn't add much alcohol, but gives teh beer more body and makes it feel less watery.

Thanks guys... most appreciated... will try a few of these. I've lots to learn... need to be able to do woodwork all day...& enjoy a good beer later!....LOL
THANKS...
cheers KEKEMO!

I use 1 can of coopers and 500gm of light dry malt , and bulk prime with 180gm of dextrose

and this gives a 2.6% finished brew

The dry malt gives the brew more body and a good head

Also try adding extra hops to improve the flavour , say one of the bags you get from the brew shop , about 15gm , which you steep in one cup of boiling water , which is then added before fermentation

you can add dark malt instead of light malt also