Brewday 28/01/07 Chim Chimnay

[tubby_shaw]

From the look of this yeast head I would definately say that I have got a nice strong Chimay ale yeast going

It's fermenting at 18º C BTW

[oblivious]

This is a very good batch sparging site if you’re interested

http://hbd.org/cascade/dennybrew/

[NzDan1]

His thoughts on first wort hopping have convinced me to give that a go though

Hi Daab! I started first wort hopping a few months ago, hard to say what it did as I also added late boil hops, although I also tried cone hops on top of the mash when lautering and I reckon it helps the spreading of water and less disturbing of the grain bed!
A few weeks ago I did a mash hop, no late boilhops just a little bittering hops for 60 mins, result: aroma and flavour is definitely there, not as much as if I was to put the same amont of hops in late boil but it proves mash hop aroma and flavour does carry through the boil, and it does seem to produce smooth hop flavours, I wouldnt do it all the time due to the sheer amount of hops I used in the mash for the flavour output.

[oblivious]

Thanks Oblivious but it was that site/method I was refering to

Sorry, don’t know how is miss your previous post!

[SteveD]

Explain first wort hopping....I need to know everything! (In the style of the Evil One in 'Timebandits')

[tubby_shaw]

As the name suggest it is quite tricky but I reckon you'll pick it up quick enough...

First you put the hops in before the start of the boil....then you boil

I've been wort hopping all the time I've been beer making then without knowing it
It just seemed the natural thing to do
Being a Yorkshireman and wanting value for money it just seemed natural that the hops should be in the wort for as long as possible

[tubby_shaw]

You really don't want a boil over with all those hops in there though

It's never happened to me yet
But Sod's law states it's going to happen next brew
Oh well never mind, life's all about new experiences

[tubby_shaw]

You really don't want a boil over with all those hops in there though

It's never happened to me yet
But Sod's law states it's going to happen next brew
Oh well never mind, life's all about new experiences

I've added the hops a few times pre-hotbreak when mini mashing, after seeing them expand in the pot I can't help wondering what sort of mess they'd make

I'll take photos

[tubby_shaw]

Ok,
I have just taken a hydrometer reading of the brew and to say the least I am a little surprised
I got a reading of 1.006 after 5 days fermentation
Now I think that this yeast may come under the classification of highly attenutive
But the beer doen't taste thin at all
If my sums are correct this gives me (1064 - 1006) / 7.45 = 7.8% abv
This is going to take some maturing, I think I may have just brewed my 2007 Christmas ale

[tubby_shaw]

but what was the sneaky first sup like

It was surprisingly good for green yeasty beer
The Chimay taste was most definately dominant due to the yeast. There was a very pleasant coffee flavour which came through which I can only assume is coming from the amber malt.
I am going to mature it in bulk in an old Beersphere for 3 months (much easier to get sneaky tasters that way ) and then bottle it for Christmas

[SteveD]

That's first hop worting then....no....hopping wort firsting! That's it!

[tubby_shaw]

I've been moving kegs around and thought that I'd better try a pint of this whilst I can get to it
It's maturing well, my first impression was, it tastes like bubblegum then I got a banana flavour then that roasted malt/caramel flavour then ALCOHOL and finally the hop bitterness
I am 2/3 of the way through the pint and my head feels slightly loose
I think i'd better have another one to check its not toxic

[Bigster]

Tubby, Tubby..... are you there?
Perhaps it was toxic...

Good work Tubby. You sound like a beer judge/ taster - I just about manage 'great' or 'excellent'

[tubby_shaw]

Tubby, Tubby..... are you there?
Perhaps it was toxic...

Good work Tubby. You sound like a beer judge/ taster - I just about manage 'great' or 'excellent'

Just about Bigster
Got half way through the second pint and decided it would be a good idea to mix it with mild It wasnt bad but I've still got half a pint of that to drink tho'

[Bigster]

Glad you are still in one piece. At 7.8% it must be a beast