Brew UK Forum | Recipes
Goldmine
Just received this from my uncle, it's my grandfather's handwritten recipe book. When I was a kid I would be fascinated by the 4 x 50 gal FV's he had, 2 either side of the arga in his kitchen - all filled with mead.
He lived most of his life on Lundy Island and with my grandmother, owned the Marisco Tavern - the island's only pub.
You can see on his notes, it is dated 1946. I will be spending the next few days going through this! What a lucky man I am!
Beer will get you through the times of no money better than money will get you through the times of no beer
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Great stuff. Do share the gold!!!
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
You could always see if you could get it published? That way everyone could share the gold and then you could be earning the gold coins coming in?
But make sure the tips are posted on here first of course
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I will be sharing, plan to make a mead first, but there's loads of notes to go through.
I'd love to publish it but a lot of it is personal to him and there's really not enough to be honest. Shame as it's a good idea! :o)
The entry (above) for marrow wine is dated January 1946, that must have been immediately after his demob from REME. There's one entry dated June 6 1946, that's exactly 2 years after the Normandy landings. Eleanor is two and her birth seems like yesterday. Can't imagine what it would be like to live a normal life with those memories fresh in your mind!
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Yeah I know what you mean. When you look back at the war years it makes you realise that the credit crunch is really not such a big deal when you could be getting bombed every night and that's if you weren't in the trenches! Saying that credit crunch probably seems pretty bad if you've lost your job/business/house.
On a lighter note, I would really like to make some mead so would be great to share that one. I've got some wyeast mead yeast coming in a week or so might give that a whirl.
There is definitely a gap in the market for a modern wine making book to be written as most are very old now.
I bought the "Principles of Brewing Science" the other day, just waiting for delivery. Looks like a pretty heavy read but should have some pretty interesting in depth science stuff which I can hopefully convert into improving my beers.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Very true indeed Greg. I was on duty at the front of the school last week and there were two new community police there (the part-time variety). Our PC told me that they both used to be bankers. Why did I find it difficult to find any sympathy?
Will definitely be sharing the Mead Greg... have a busy week coming (christ aren't they all!) but I will be on it as soon as I can. I've only had chance to take the briefest look so far but y'know, I don't remember any mention of yeast. I have no idea what varieties were available at those times (especially on Lundy Island), I'm hoping it wasn't bakers yeast. Will need to dig deeper!
I saw that book listed and decided against it :o) I get so little time for reading that I often need it to be fairly easy-going. I did buy 101 Ideas for Homebrew Fun last week. Only had the briefest of looks (again) so far but those that I've looked at are just about using unusual ingredients. Still, it is easy-going :o)
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I know a fair few people who've lost jobs ranging from accounting to aviation in the last 12 months. My job bores me to weeping uncontrollably (IT & insurance; not to be confused with stunt driving and knife throwing), but I suppose I should be grateful (as my manager keeps reminding me). In fairness to the afore-mentioned bankers, at least they tried to turn their hand to some other line of work-
- nope, sorry, I can't do this. Tony, I'm with you; Zero sympathy. I tried...
What I really wanted to ask is how can you best describe the taste of Mead? I know it's been about for some time (3rd year English Canterbury Tales springs to mind), but I've never ever tried it.
On the subject of books I got 'Brew Your Own British Real Ale', by Graham Wheeler and 'Clone Brews' by Tess and Mark Szamatulski for Christmas. I read the Weeler book and quiet liked it. I've tried a handful of the recipes with some success too. Turning my attention the Clone book now for ideas for my next brew. I'd be interested to hear the opinion of anyone who's got either book.
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Hi Barry, I've got "Brew your own British Ale" and its not bad. Its easy to read and understand and modern although I do find it a little basic. Also most of the recipes seem the same with just slightly more hops/grains but same types. Still worth a read if you are starting out.
There is a whole thread on books - http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/good-books#post-682.
Mead is really nice, like a strong wine. Almost sherry like but doesn't taste the same. I've only had it once in a pub in dorset but would like to make some as its a traditional british brew. Needs a long time to mature though.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I found this book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Enthusiasts-Guide-Homebrew-Beers-Making/dp/1845431650/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273432598&sr=1-4
at the library. Most of the others they had were ancient but this one stood out. The author is an american craft brewer who has some extreme ideas about home brewing. It's great fun and i'm fermenting the Kiwi Witbier as I type!
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
I bought that book a few weeks ago. I haven't brewed any of the beers as yet but its not a bad read. Its especially good for extract brewers.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Bazza,
I know what you mean my job bores me senseless too. Funny thing is i am also in IT/Insurance as well. Oh i wont mention the name of the company on here. However, they used the strap line "quote me happy"
Brew your own British Real ale is an excellent and informative book. I've not got around to making one out of there yet. But i am eying up the ingredients and prices now.
Neil
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Greg, thanks for the info regarding the Mead. The 'strong wine' and 'not tasting like sherry' bits hooked me in but 'takes a long time to mature'... hmmmm... I was never very good at the whole patience thing ;p
Neil, like Greg says above, the recipes are a bit same-y in the British Real Ale book, but it's still a decent start for novices like myself. If it helps you, recipes in the book I have tried include:-
- Big Lamp - probably wouldn't make it again; a bit bland. Then again, I could just be a poor brewer
- Sarah Hughes - THis one was very flavoursome and strong too. I would definitely recommend it.
- Old Peculier - Just tried my first bottle of this tonight, a week early (see paragraph one about patience). Not bad at all. I know it's just a clone, but there were definite hints of the original (one of my favourite ales) in there. Who knows what another couple of weeks might do. Again, recommended.
My next brew is going to be the Sam Adams clone from the Clone Brews book. I'm naming it 'Sammy Adams' combining the first name and surname of two prominent Northern Ireland politicians who are complete polar opposites. The label's gonna be a lot of fun to design. I see a green and orange colour scheme
Yeah. IT is boring enough, but combine it with insurance... Nnnngggg...
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Wow tony, I'd love to have a book like that. I have been to cornwall every holiday I can remember so mead is in my blood (well a fair proportion anyway!) Great story about the 50gal :-0 mead fv's.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
hey folks, sorry for the delay in responding, work is a pig at the moment, even weekends get used up.
Bazza .. your comment made me seriously laugh out loud a couple of times!
I love GWs books, I have the one you mention and I have another he wrote with another bloke (sorry - at work at the moment and I have a crap memory), they are pretty light going (as Greg says), but what comes through is the 'must have fun' element... and if it ain't fun, why are we doing it? :o)
With regard to the taste of Mead .... yes, pretty good description by Greg, it really does taste of 'Old(e) World'. I plan to bottle it in pint bottles, so will need to make sure it's not too high in alcohol content. I think I can probably get the initial batch to go through in 6 months with any luck. I'll get the recipe up here in the next few week(once again, apologies - work is just manic). I plan to make a 19ltr batch as I've just acquired 2 19 ltr water bottles :o)
I've read a lot of good things about the Sarah Hughes Ruby .. may try to find an AG recipe. Anyone know why it's called that? Who was/is Sarah Hughes?
Nath ... it's an amazing piece of history :o)
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hey guys i would also be interested in trying the mead recipe as well, i bet the book has brought back lots of memories and enlightened you a lot Tony.
Bazza what is the book with the Sam Adams clone?
its one of my favorite ales on a par with Sierra Nevada and Punk IPA.
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hey, Plopleuk. The book with the Sam Adams recipe (extract and all-grain versions) is 'Clone Brews' by Tess and Mark Szamatulski. It's also got a recipe for the Sierra Nevada ale. I got it from Amazon and was going to post a link, but it seems to have gone up to £25!! I got it there for around a tenner before Christmas, so you might want to look elsewhere.
I started a 2 gallon all-grain version of the Sam Adams recipe last night, so I'll let you know how it goes.
Tony - There's an all-grain recipe for Sarah Hughes Ruby in the GW British Real Ales book. Turned out a treat too. I did a slight variation on the recipe in the book and have called it 'Nerys Hughes' in honour of my wife who's a district nurse (old 80's TV reference there).
BTW, I Wiki'd Lundy Island. It looks brilliant. Were you not itching to get there every holiday and weekend?
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thanks Bazza just found the new revised version with 50 more recopies due out in June so pre ordered.
http://www.play.com/Books/Books/-/165/222/-/14716341/Clone-Brews/Product.html?searchtype=genre
thanks for the info very useful.
Posted 1 year ago by Member
50 more recipes? Nice.....
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Still haven't had time to read through this .. work is a 24 hour a day thing at the moment :o(
Bazza .. I'll look out for the recipe in GWs book, seems to be really popular. Let me know how yours turns out - great name by the way - I remember the prog but never watched it. I hope your missus is suitably impressed!
Lundy Island is a great place and I went there a lot when I was a kid. There's not a lot to do though .. on initial visits, its wonderful to just sit in some of the ruins and soak it all up - stare out to the sea, feel the salt drying on your skin (christ I do miss the sea!). But, the pub is the real centre of the island and the new owners have really f'd it up - gone for the maximum space for money-making and ripped the soul out of the old building. My father's bedroom has gone and now is another drinking and eating area. My uncle worked behind the bar from the age of 12, when his 18th birthday arrived, the locals decided to get him drunk - but years of 'I'll have a pint, have one yourself' had laid a great foundation - he was the last man standing the following morning!
There's a book of my grandfather's letters been published, but it was done by my auntie... who is persona non grata and she has left so much of the good stuff out. It's called ATVB Lundy (I think, I have a copy at home somewhere) but I think you'd only find it in shops in the south west.
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
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