Brew UK Forum | Brewdays
2 brews in a day but the brewgods were against me!
Well, what a nightmare!
Missus took the kids away today and as soon as I hot back from work I started on me brews. In hindsight I should have at least cleaned the neglected equipment on the saturday and got all the bill ready, still hey ho!
Started at 11ish and finished well, now 9.30pm!
The first beer was the pilgrims choice ale, but changed a bit, also I didnt realize how little pale malt I had left so its an 11ltr batch, made a lil bit weaker! heres the recipe:-
BeerSmith Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Pilgrim's Choice in the end again
Brewer: Nath
Asst Brewer:
Style: Special/Best/Premium Bitter
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (35.0)
Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 17.00 L
Boil Size: 22.91 L
Estimated OG: 1.045 SG
Estimated Color: 11.9 EBC
Estimated IBU: 33.3 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Boil Time: 55 Minutes
Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
3.40 kg Pale Malt, Maris Otter (5.9 EBC) Grain 97.87 %
0.07 kg Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (145.0 EBC) Grain 2.13 %
4.00 gm Pilgrim [10.90 %] (55 min) Hops 6.3 IBU
10.00 gm Pilgrim [10.90 %] (30 min) Hops 12.5 IBU
15.00 gm Pilgrim [10.90 %] (30 min) (Aroma Hop-SteHops -
45.00 gm Pilgrim [10.90 %] (5 min) Hops 14.5 IBU
1 Pkgs British Ale (Wyeast Labs #1098) Yeast-Ale
Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Full Body, No Mash Out
Total Grain Weight: 3.47 kg
----------------------------
Single Infusion, Full Body, No Mash Out
Step Time Name Description Step Temp
75 min Mash In Add 9.07L (ended up with about 11L) of water at 80.7 C 69.0 C
But that didnt really go to plan as I couldent find my irish moss so I hope it clears ok, first time with a wort cooler though and that was a laff (ta greg).
Still I messed up the brew by putting the 45g of steep hops into the brew at 50mins, so I cut the brew length by 5 mins and chucked the 10 at the end (recipe was ammended to show this).
What will it turn out like? Who knows! I know they are high aa for a dual purpose, but if ya dont try youll never know! It smelled like a beer so finger crossed and all that.
While this was boiling I finally got round to starting the "lager with no name" recipe by greg:-
BeerSmith Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: The lager with no name 60m
Brewer: Nath
Asst Brewer:
Style: German Pilsner (Pils)
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (35.0)
Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 20.00 L
Boil Size: 26.63 L
Estimated OG: 1.043 SG
Estimated Color: 6.6 EBC
Estimated IBU: 34.9 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes
Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
3.50 kg Lager Malt (3.9 EBC) Grain 89.74 %
0.40 kg Wheat Malt, Ger (3.9 EBC) Grain 10.26 %
48.00 gm Hallertauer Hersbrucker [3.00 %] (60 min)Hops 18.5 IBU
48.00 gm Saaz [2.20 %] (60 min) Hops 13.6 IBU
20.00 gm Saaz [2.20 %] (15 min) Hops 2.8 IBU
0.50 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs Pilsen Lager (Wyeast Labs #2007) Yeast-Lager
Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Full Body, Batch Sparge
Total Grain Weight: 3.90 kg
----------------------------
Single Infusion, Full Body, Batch Sparge
Step Time Name Description Step Temp
90 min Mash In Add 10L of water at 80.7 C 69.0 C
Notes:
------
1st ferment @ 11c until 1.025 (3/4s fermented)
Up temp to 20c for 24hrs (dycil rest) Then back to 11c
Rack to secondary and drop temp to 5c in 2c steps each day (3 days)
Bottle after 2 weeks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As you can see I will be fermenting this proper lager stylee! Smelt really nice and spicy so I hope all goes well with this one. No irish moss again as its lost but we shall see.
The only other thing I did was get really bloddy wet as the brewgods were unhappy as I messed the first ag up and they unleashed a massive rain storm while I was brewing outside with my home made kettle! So I was ringing wet and just waiting to be electrified by my dodgyness!
YAY Im still here! BOW DOWN TO THE HOME MADE BOILER!!!
Mwa hahahahahahaha.
I also opted for a higher mash temp than usual to see if it really does make a fuller bodied beer.
Piccys of the first one to follow soon!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Good stuff Nath, you definitely choose the wrong day weather wise!
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Sounds like a day and a half!
Good work though, it shows your dedication by laughing in the face of adversity!
Good luck with it nath!
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Ta lads,
Well the ale is fermenting away nicely though took about 36 hrs to really get a head on it, but now there is no stopping it!
the lager has no visible signs or smells so I have increased the temperature to 15c to see if I can warm it up a little, as soon as I see the first sign I will put the temp down to 11c again.
Cool
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Hmmm, well the lager still ahsnt kicked off (which is strange as the pack swelled ok over 24 hours. I upped the temp again last night to 20c and had a wee look this morning and nothing. No bubbles, head or eggy smell. I pitched at 22c then put it in the beer fridge set at 11c so maybe I didnt give the yeast enough time to "gather its buddies". What shoud I do then. Still it a bit more leave it at 20 until something happens or pitch a spare s23 just in case?
Ta,
Nath
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
I would leave for a bit longer at 20c then pitch a S23. Wait for fermentation to start then drop the temp down.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Well checked at 2pm and nothing, checked again at 6pm and a head is starting to form! I just hope its the yeast that has made the head and not some weird wild mould/yeast as there is no eggy smell yet. I have lowered the temp to 11c but it will take a good 6-7 hours for the wort to reach that temp.
Fingers crossed, we shall see/smell/taste! On he plus side the ale is doing fine and smells rather good at the mo!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Good luck with it nath, hopefully all is well!
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Poper head on the fv now, very slight sulphur smell but is doing its stuff at the desired temp of 11c!
Gigedy gigedy.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Well time for an update -
The ale is in the barrel as of monday and in warm conditioning. Had a wee taste and tastes like a beer at the moment, not much flavour from the crystal malt which is good, but the colour is more acceptable for a "bitter".
The lager went to 20c after 7 days for a dycital rest @ 1.022 then I transferred it to a secondary and is under air lock where I am dropping it 2c each day so from 11c mon, 9c tuesday and will drop to 7c tionight after a reading. If all is well with the fg then I will lager at 5c for 2 weeks after
Cool
Nath
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Looks great nath ... must be like looking after a baby!
Does it get you up at night for a nappy change?
:o)
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
No...... but if it did I would!
Had a lil sample to see what the gravity is and its about 1.014 so thats probably about it, but i will give it another day at 9c before lowering it to 7 then 5c to lager.
Its a little bit butterscothy so my diacityl rest probably didnt work too well, or it m,ay be the mahoosive lag time due to my silly pitching.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I've got no experience of lager nath, where is the butterscotch taste coming from? Is that likely to go after the long rest at 5c?
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Nath, I think you'll find that flavour will disappear after lagering. Well fingers crossed anyway.
That's what puts me off lagers, its bad enough doing an all grain brew and things not turning out that well but its even worse when you've gone to all the extra effort of cold fermenting etc... but it will be worth it if all ends up well.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Well the ale has had a week warm conditioning so I moved it to cold yesterday and drew off a 1/2 pint to check. The colour is really nice that little bit of crystal malt has made it look really golden. The crystal malt is not overpowering but in all the drink lacked.... I dunno, quite a lot. I find that it tastes the same as any other ale I have done. Drinkable but not that great. On the plus side the beer is nearly clear at the mo and I didnt use any irish moss. Time to leave it for a month and see what happens!
The lager is now sat in the brew fridge lagering at approx 4c so I will give it 2 weeks and bottle her up.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Nath, its still very young so I think you will find conditioning will work its miracles. If not then its a matter of your process or (more likely) your water as there is nothing wrong with the recipe.
What exactly is wrong with it? Can you be more specific regarding the flavour?
You could try bottled water on the next one?
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
I dunno mate, I will have to bring some round in a few weeks. Saying that remember the emergency wherry I done and thought it tasted a bit poo compared to other wherrys I have made, well thats a real nice pint now, wuite hoppy, but that has taken 8+ weeks to condition right. Im thinking it may be the water so next time I will grab some bits n bobs to improve things. At least it will rule another thing out!
Maybe its time I got a s/s kettle also...hmmmmmmm!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Well at the moment the pilgrims choice ale tastes quite nice, nothing uber special but a nice drink, not too much in aroma but the flavour is quite pallatable at the mo. Result! Now just to get rid of that butterscotchy flavour in the lager. Hmmmmm
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Just a lil update to say the lager is starting to taste less butterscotchy but im finding that when I draw a sample to tey from my airlocked vessel its comming out a bit fizzy, is this normal?
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Reply
You must log in to post.