Jim's Beer Kit

Yup, I think S04 will work well in this. I've been busy on the computer as well, this is my label... let's see how the beer turns out and whether it lives up to it! (Credits to all those whose ideas/content I have borrowed in making this label) https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FR8DFIEuKbc/VUZd8qfD...

It's underway, all tucked up and waiting for the yeastie action to start.
Smelt great, lots of hoppy smells.
Ended up switching for S04 as the WLP002 starter didn't look promising, again

I had same problem. When I switch off the heating to cool, I also remove the blow off tube, and replace with an airlock with minimal water in it. When it sucks back, it just bubbles the "wrong" way.

Trying out a fake lager. Want something that looks like a fizzy tasteless lager, but is full of surprises when you taste it... Any suggestions? Current plan (for tomorrow's brewday) is: A05 C'est Lagre (Fake Lager) Original Gravity (OG): 1.041 (°P): 10.2 Final Gravity (FG): 1.010 (°P): 2.6 Alcohol (...

Yes from me, any topup water goes through the hop bed. Usually give it a clarity and taste check - it's like a late addition hop tea with tiny bit of sugar from whatever's left around the hops. Loads of extra flavour, versus just plain water as the alternative. I've even started planning it into the...

I have a 45W trace cable attached to an STC1000, two passes round the 60l FV, then everytinhg wrapped in B&Q silver coated bubble wrap. Even in depths of winter in garage, it keeps it nicely at 20.0C. (I also have a 30W one, which struggles below about 5C). If you've got 150W, response time will be ...

I have a 7.5kw gas burner on a 100l kettle, it came out for a brew yesterday... Overnight mash, started sparge at 09:00, boil commenced at 10:30 very shortly after sparge had finished (bucketed the runnings into boiler, fired up as soon as FWH covered). I do notice though that you don't get a massiv...

Hops arrived yesterday, big box from MM, yeast starter in airing cupboard overnight foaming nicely this morning. Overnight mash, boil today, 90l now tucked up in 2 fermenters, big bag of spent hops outside garage. Lovely pale colour wort, bitterness seems perfect from tasting the hydrometer jar, was...

'fraid I'm with boingy there - push the limits a bit, press the go button, see what happens.

But we're not all built like that...

Timbo

Looks like your challenge is not having a reference point for alpha.

Why not try a small hop tea boiled for say 30 mins, one of known alpha hops, one of your wild unknowns, and compare bitterness by taste. Use this to estimate alpha into brew software?

Aha, timbo, you spotted the weak link in my recipe design. Yes, to a degree it's an experiment (as all my beers are!), but with some supporting evidence that it could well succeed... My logic for the recipe went something like: - Typically I use about 5g/l of dried hops, aiming for an IBU around 25-...

I've got 2kg green hop on the way from Rob at the Malt Miller for Saturday (more available, order now for weekend delivery) http://themaltmiller.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=612 The plan is: 90l pale ale - 72.5% pale ale malt - 20% extra pale ale malt (crisp lager malt) - 5% wheat malt - 2....