Holland and Barrett Beer

[robharper]

Last night I tried an experiment: a simple 10 litre brew using malt extract from Holland and Barrett (£1.59 for a 454g jar). Ingredients: 3 jars of extract, crystal malt, progress hops, and S-04 yeast. Plugging this into Beer Engine (subbing pale LME for the stuff I was actually using) gave me an OG of 1.044. What I actually got was 1.040, the difference quite possibly due largely to me being new to all this (it's only the second time I've steeped crystal) and not doing a particularly good job of something along the line. So I'm guessing that this extract contributes a similar amount of gravity to "real" homebrew LME.

The wort tasted good, so I pitched the yeast and now it's a matter of waiting. Word on another thread was that this malt resulted up in thin beer, lacking in mouthfeel, so I'm hoping that putting a reasonable amount of crystal in should help that a little. I'll let you know later how it works out.

[Tequilla6]

Good on you for the experiment though. I am now AG so it's a mute subject, but still it would be good to know how this turns out. Keep us updated.

[evilsoc]

What are the ingredients of this stuff? Is it 100% malt extract? I dont see why you would compromise quality of beer with cheap ingredients but if it is 100% malt good luck.

[robharper]

I don't have the jars/labels in front of me, but I don't think there was an ingredients list on it, which would mean that it would have to be 100% malt extract, seeing as it is being sold as food.

Actually, I'm starting to get this slightly perverse urge to make a brew purely from ingredients bought at H&B. I'm pretty sure that they don't have hops there, but I'm sure I can put together some sort of gruit mix. Molasses might be good too. As for yeast, according to their website they have "Debittered brewer's yeast" as a food supplement type thing; I don't know if the yeast would still be viable though.

[evilsoc]

I imagine that would be like adding marmite to wort and expecting it to ferment. i.e. a waste of time, money and ingredients.

[Tequilla6]

I have never been in a H&B, do they do Molasses as well? Been looking for Molasses and can only find it in any quantity on Horse feed shops. Everyone else just says to use treacle, which is not the same although similar.

[robharper]

Evilsoc: yeah, you're probably right. If it was dirt cheap I might have a try, but I might just settle for using a reliable yeast (assuming I go down this line).

Tequila: yep, H&B sell molasses at about £1.30 or so for a 1 lb jar (IIRC). I'm pretty sure Julian Graves sell it too. By extension, it's probably worth looking into pretty much any health food type shop.

[Tequilla6]

Superb, got some recipes from "Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers" by Buhner that I want to try out.

[WishboneBrewery]

Superb, got some recipes from "Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers" by Buhner that I want to try out.

Any of those include any ethnobotanicals?

[Tequilla6]

From what I understand the meaning to be they are all ethnobotanicals, that's what the book is about...It talks about the historical relationships that exist between people and plants and their medicinal uses.

Very interesting once you get rid of all the spiritual and fringe beliefs pushed throughout the book.

[KevP]

i wonder if not being stored in a tin can would mean this extract would keep better without maybe the extract twang?
Also I fail to see it on their website?

[WishboneBrewery]

The synopsis at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sacred-Herbal-H ... 0937381667 certainly sounds interesting

[Providence]

Hi rob.

Any news yet on this brew? Have you tried any of it? I for one am watching closely!

[robharper]

I put this brew into a 2 gal pressure barrel a couple of weeks or so ago, but it hasn't pressured up much yet. I think the keg is airtight. I ended up pitching a bit more yeast to hopefully kickstart a bit more fermentation. I have had a small sample, though, and it is a reasonable bitter, I reckon. Go on, have a go at some yourself.

Both this brew and another, slightly different one that I bottled last night (using the same extract) had an FG around 1.014. I'd hoped for a bit lower, but it's not too bad. Maybe next time I'll stick some nutrients in as well.

[Providence]

Thanks for the feedback rob.

I've been thinking about this for a while. I could be wrong but a FG of 1014 would be consistent with what an all malt extract kit such as Wherry would achieve, so is not really a problem?

Based on what you've said, I think I'll have a go.

I was thinking of doing a full 23 litres though. What do you (or anyone else) think of this?

7 Jars Malt Extract
40gms Hops (Might be Styrian or Pilgrim as that's what I've got). Half in boil and half as tea.
200gms Crystal
S04 Yeast