Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Two massive days of brewing.

Given that my 21st is fast approaching, and given that I haven't done much brewing in the last few months, in true twisted illogical corks style I have embarked on a brewing crusade of sorts, with six brews being put on in the last two days, and possibly more to be done in the near future. Insane aye bruz...

Here follows the Brews:

Sl-hut Pale Ale
I made two batches of this. Recipe as follows:
Coopers Pale Ale Kit, added at flameout
approx 1kg LDME
approx 500gr Dextrose
approx 150gr Maltodextrin
approx 150gr Crystal Malt, steeped for half an hour
20gr Cascade at 30mins
10gr Cascade at 10mins

Salfale US05 yeast.
Made to 20l.

Fermenting Notes:
4/2/08 One fermenter didn't seem to take off, so I pitched the kit yeast as well.
No activity was noticeable throughtout ferment on either, other than the airlock bubbling on one fermenter, so I assume there is a leek in one fermenter. We shall see shortly, when I do some Specific Gravity readings.


Tooheys Dark
Tooheys Dark Kit
1kg DDME
approx 150g Roasted Barley
30gr Fuggles at 30mins.
10gr Fuggles at 20mins
10gr Fuggles at 10 mins.

Kit Yeast.
Filled to 20l

Tasting: Bloody good drop a month later at the party, and at last tasting (5/2008), still good, but somewhat over-carbonated. Perhaps bulk-priming and racking to secondary would be advisable to counter this in the future. But all in all a recipie to try again, as it was one of the favourites at the party.

Coopers Bitter
Coopers Bitter Kit
1kg light malt?
some dextrose?
40g Goldings?
crystal malt?
kit yeast?

Tasting: It's a shame I didn't write down the actual recipie for this, because it has proved to be an intriging ale. After two weeks in the bottle it was somewhat undrinkable, and due to the party it became rather infamous. But in the last few months (4/2008-6/2008) it has come good in a big way. The key is to drink it after it has warmed up a bit, and ye gods does it go down easily.

Coopers Real Ale
Coopers Real Ale Kit
1kg Amber malt?
some dextrose?
40g Goldings?
crystal malt?
kit yeast?

Tasting: named the Son of a Bitch, or the S.O.B, as Mull clamped his hand between the lid and the bottle whilst capping. Similar to the Bitter, except that it was drinkable earlier. Looks amazing in a glass, just like a proper English Bitter.

Thomas Cooper's Wheat
Thomas Cooper's Wheat Kit
1.7 kg wheat malt
40g Hallertau?
some dextrose?
Specialty wheat yeast.

Tasting: At the 21st it was fantastic, and due to its popularity there were precious few left at the end. However, as of May it is certainly past its best. One to attempt again, but it needs to be consumed within a couple of months.