The Monster Returns

Due to the recent aquisition of some very cheap Coopers Stout Kits, it's time for round two with the Monster.

Monster Stout Mk II
2 x Coopers Stout Kit
1kg Dark Malt Extract
200g Black Patent Malt, steeped
400g Milo
20g Fuggles @ 15 mins
5g Fuggles @ 5 mins
Kit Yeast

See 'The Monster meets The Otis', above, for the brew that eventuated from this idea.

Winter Warmer Ginger Beer Take 2 (and 3)

Due to popular demand, the winter warmer is making a comeback.

Winter Warmer Ginger Beer
1 Cooper's Ginger Beer Kit
1kg Dextrose
200gr Brown Sugar
500gr grated fresh ginger
3 tbs Ginger Powder
1 tbs Nutmeg
Juice and Zest of one Lemon
Cinnamon Stick
3 Cloves
Safale Dry Ale Yeast

Brewing Notes: Boiled Dextrose and fresh Ginger for 20 mins
@ 20 mins, added Brown Sugar, Ginger Powder, Nutmeg and Lemon Zest
@ 30 mins, added Kit, Lemon Juice, Cinnamon and Cloves.
@ 40 mins, flameout and into fermenter, topped to 23L and pitched yeast and yeast nutrient.

Two batches were made. as of 8 hrs later, one fermenter was obviously away, but the second took off more slowly, possibly due to higher pitching temp due to a greater boil volume.

15/07/08: Both Fermenters are underway, and smell wonderful. I was worried that I'd have to buy a new yeast for second one, but all is good.

14/08/08: Bottled with help from Herr Sean Skelton. Good times. Tasted quite nice out of the fermenter, so another two will be put on to use as a base for punch for Sean's 21st. Should be a ripper.