How to Brew a Crisp and Refreshing Lager with Coopers European Lager

March 26, 2025

Brew the Perfect Lager at Home with Coopers European Lager

There’s something about a crisp, refreshing lager that just hits the spot. Whether it's enjoyed on a warm day or paired with your favourite meal, a well-brewed lager has a way of bringing people together. If you’ve been thinking about making your own, Coopers European Lager is a great place to start. This brew brings all the character of a premium Northern European lager, delivering a full malt palate with herbaceous hop aromas and a crisp finish.

What Makes This Lager Special?

Not all lagers are created equal. This one captures the spirit of traditional European brews, providing a balanced combination of malt and hops. Expect a clean, refreshing taste and an aroma that subtly hints at green, herbal hops. The smooth finish makes it an excellent choice for anyone who loves that satisfying mouthfeel of a well-crafted lager.

Essential Ingredients and Equipment

Before you begin, make sure you have everything you need for a successful brew. Here’s a handy checklist:

Brewing Kit: A fermenter, airlock, and hydrometer to ensure optimal fermentation.
Coopers European Lager Kit: The malt extract needed for an authentic lager taste.
Brewing Sugar or Light Malt: Enhances fermentation and adds body to your beer.
Quality Brewing Yeast: Helps promote a clean fermentation process for a smooth finish.
Sanitiser: Absolutely essential to prevent contamination.

Brewing at home already comes with enough variables, so keeping everything clean and well-measured keeps things on track. Precision is your best mate when making top-quality beer.

Step-by-Step Lager Brewing Process

Brewing lager is a bit different from ale because it ferments at cooler temperatures. Follow these steps to make a fantastic beer in your own home.

1. Clean and Sanitise Everything

Nothing ruins a brew faster than unwanted bacteria. Give your fermenter, utensils, and bottles a thorough clean with a quality brewing sanitiser. This step isn’t just important—it’s the difference between success and disaster.

2. Mix Your Ingredients

Pour the contents of the Coopers European Lager can into your fermenter with 2 litres of boiling water. Stir until fully dissolved, then add your brewing sugar or light malt. Once combined, top up with cold water to reach 23 litres. The goal is to bring the temperature down to around 12-15°C, which is ideal for lager yeast.

3. Add Yeast and Ferment

Once your wort is at the right temperature, sprinkle the brewing yeast over the surface. Let nature do its thing as the fermentation process kicks in. Store your fermenter in a cool, dark place at around 12-15°C for approximately 10-14 days.

4. Monitor Fermentation

Check the gravity with a hydrometer. Once it stabilises at the expected final gravity level, fermentation is complete. Transferring prematurely can result in bottle bombs, so patience is key.

5. Bottling and Conditioning

Add a carbonation drop (or sugar) to each bottle before filling it with your beer. Cap securely and store at room temperature for one to two weeks for carbonation to develop. Afterward, move the bottles into a fridge or cool storage for an additional four weeks to condition. This brings out the clean, crisp flavours that define a proper European-style lager.

Serving Your Lager to Perfection

This beer shines when served cold. For the best experience, pour into a tall, narrow glass and aim for a generous 5cm head. This ensures the aromas of the herbaceous hops are fully appreciated while giving that classic European lager appearance.

The Joy of Homebrewed Lager

Brewing a lager takes a little more patience than some other styles, but the rewards are worth it. There’s nothing quite like cracking open a bottle of homebrewed beer that you know was crafted with precision and care. With the balanced combination of full malt character and crisp finish from Coopers European Lager, you’ll be pouring pints that rival any store-bought option.

Now, who’s ready to get brewing? Cheers!