I am new to posting on the forum having started brewing for the first time in Nov 09. I am completely in awe at the whole process...in fact, I think I like the act of brewing more than drinking itself
(hmmm, maybe not! )Anyway here is my 4th AG brew, I may or may not post the first 3 at a different time.
Since I did this brew in Jan, I have also brewed two more ales which will follow soon!
This brew is Orfy's Hobgoblin clone, albeit slightly modified, and a different length (15L). Thanks Orfy!
Goal (according to Beer Engine)
15L
EBC - 70
EBU - 35
OG - 1.053
FG - 1.014
ABV - 5.1%
Ingredients:
3260g Pale Malt
163g Crystal Malt
97g Chocolate Malt
38g Fuggles (90 mins)
31g Styrian Goldings (15 mins)
19g Styrian Goldings (0 mins)
23L Reverse Osmosis Water prepared, with 6g Burton Salts, 0.25g Campden Powder. pH = 5.8, TDS PPM = 213
Label
For those unaware, "Puck" is the hobgoblin in Shakespeare's play: A Midsummer Night's Dream...hence the name. Not a bard pun, eh?
Grist
Mash Temperature Log
I bought some USB Thermometers to monitor my mash temperatures, and wrote some software to display the changes in real-time:
http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/index ... pic=109333
Here, I managed to keep the mash relatively stable in my oven, but opening the oven door proved to drop the temps massively! Black line is mash temp, blue line is oven temp.
First Runnings
Letting the wort stand for 10 mins seems to let a lot of grain debris fall out. I routinely let the wort settle for a while before boiling now.
Running Off From Batch Sparge
Wort goes into kettle
The wort looked like tar! Yum
Coming to the boil
In with the hops
These smell fantastic!
Yeast starter
Nottingham yeast. No need to make a starter here really, just wanted the practice.
Final boiled wort ready for yest
Collected exactly 15L, at exactly 1.053! Just what I wanted!
--- 2 weeks pass ---
FG = 1.014
Priming for bottling
+60g sucrose
Bottling
Capping
Bottles resting indoors to carbonate
Two weeks indoors, then into my outdoor cupboard (out-house).
Final Result
This has got to be the most amazing recipe ever! I cannot describe how good this is. Sweet, mildly hoppy, really well balanced, good mouthfeel thick and chewy, and then when you think it's all over, BAM a mouthfull of smoke. Really Really good!
It's very very close to the commercial Hobgoblin in the tin, but the bottled version I find has a more liquorice taste to it. I prefer this version though!!
Again, massive thanks to Orfy for the recipe!
Andy
