Born Again Brewer

[Calum]

Off on holiday in a wee while so will see how the beer looks next Saturday.

I'm off to the borders so I may pop into Traquair House to see if they have a batch on the go at their brewery (I believe they only brew three days a week). If not I'll buy some Bear Ale in the shop anyway.

[Calum]

I'm back from my holiday in the borders. The weather turned a bit, well, Scottish, towards the end of the week but it was a nice break.

I visited Traquair House on Wednesday and as it happens the brewery was in action. However, this meant they wouldn't allow visitors in . All I could see was a closed door that had steam billowing from it.

Came back on Saturday and my brew has not fermented very quickly. This is obviously due to us turning off the heating while we were away. Now that it has had a day in a warmer house it is going a bit faster. It still smells fresh so I do not think it has had too much of a detremental effect.

I'm away again tomorrow until Wednesday so hopefully it will have almost completed by then (wife and kids are still at home so the heating will be on).

[eskimobob]

Came back on Saturday and my brew has not fermented very quickly. This is obviously due to us turning off the heating while we were away. Now that it has had a day in a warmer house it is going a bit faster. It still smells fresh so I do not think it has had too much of a detremental effect.

You might find that the slower fermentation has a good effect on the finished beer - will be interesting to hear what you think when you sample it.

[Calum]

Okay, 15 days in the primary fermentation vessel and beer was ready to rack off into a barrel. I have just completed this and will leave for at least a week before bottling.

The beer has fermented down extremely clear and bright and is going to be very nice indeed (I just had a sipp, honest! ).

[Vossy1]

Nice work Calum

[Calum]

I have decided to change tack on this beer. I think I will consume straight from the barrel (obviously via some sort of drinking vessel) instead of bottling.

I drew a small sample last night prior to removing it too the garage and it was already crystal clear (only 2 days in barrel) and extremely drinkable. As the old adage goes, "if it ain't broke don't fix it." so I will leave for a couple of weeks and then start to consume. I may bottle the next batch (however, my wfe bought me a cornie a couple of years ago and I have yet to use it so perhaps it will go in there instead).

One quick question for you experienced brewers. The beer has quite a bitter edge (not unpleasant) but perhaps more that I would have expected given the amount of hops I used. When I was boiling I kept the lid partially on to make sure it retained the rolling boil - I have read that this can impart a bitter flavour to the beer. Is this true? Does anyone else boil with the lid on or should I always remove the lid?

My next brew is planned for Tuesday 14th. I'm going to make something a bit darker so I'll start a new topic once my plans are in place.

[PieOPah]

Never boil with the lid on....

With the lid off it allows various bitterness from the hops to escape - the nasty bitterness is the stuff that should have been allowed to escape from the brew!

[Calum]

Thanks PieOPah.

Lesson learnt - I recognised the taste from some IPA I made a couple of years ago. I obviously used the same method back then. Topless brewing for me from now on (that will scare the natives).

However, still good beer. It will get even better if I can keep my hands off it for a few weeks!

[bitter_dave]

Calum, I'm not sure I'm what you would call an 'experienced' brewer, but I've found insulating the sides of my plastic boiler with the insulation panels used on hot water tanks reduces the time it takes to reach boiling point, and, I suspect, increases the intensity of the boil. (obviously it reduces the amount of lost heat from the sides.) You could insulate with a blanket etc alternatively.

I just mention this as a possible way of maintaining a rolling boil with the lid off.

[PieOPah]

However, still good beer. It will get even better if I can keep my hands off it for a few weeks!

And that is the most difficult part of all.

I kegged my stout about 4 days ago and have already started drinking it. Initially I wanted a taste to see what it was like. That taste turned into a pint. I'll be giving my dad a taste tonight and I'll just have to have a pint with him. The wife will probably have some. I doubt my mum will but she'll have a small taste anyway.

Before I know it I'll be left with no beer and it won't even have had time to mature and taste its best.....

It's a huge problem when you have run dry. Thankfully I'll be brewing again at the weekend so should be able to get my stocks back up.

[Calum]

Cheers B_D, I will have to investigate on the insulation. My boiler does take a while to come to the boil so I'll be looking to improve on this (I wonder if my wife would complain if I took the duvet out to the garage for a couple of hours ).


PieOPah, my challenge will be when I am making my next batch on Tuesday. Making beer is so much more fun when you are drinking some at the same time

[PieOPah]

(I wonder if my wife would complain if I took the duvet out to the garage for a couple of hours ).

Do you have a sleeping bag you could use?

I have one that was too small (I am sure they sold me a childs - the wife insists it is because I am too big). I now use this. It often gets covered in wort but does well in the washing machine

[Calum]

I have a load of old sheets that are used when decorating - I'll use these next week.

Our old sleeping bags have another use....I came home from work last week to see my son and his pals using them to slide down the stairs! .They are the old polyester types - you could really sense the build up of static.