Brewday 17/02/2007 - Gales HSB

[Bigster]

Was going to brew tomorrow but was wide awake at 6am so decided today was the day. As always recipe not quite followed to the one quoted due to one reason or another:

OG 1051 25 Litres

Crushed Pale Malt 4600g ish ( finished the sack )
Crystal Malt 140g
Wheat Malt 60g
Molasses 100g
Soft dark brown sugar 450g
Goldings 55g full boil ( had less than I thought)
Bramling cross 30g full boil (not used these before)
Goldings 15g power off
Dry hop goldings 15g
5 saccharin tablets in fermenter

Nottingham yeast will be used instead of windsor as my brewing inventory said I had a windsor in stock but my cupboard was bare

No problems apart from I smashed my old style thermometer on the garage floor so guessed the sparge water temp as digi thermometer was in the mash tun - however when sparging the mash tun was showing 73c so I guess that sounds ok.
Also didnt sparge enough so may be left with 21 litres or so
Also had to pop to shops for the dark brown sugar.

Boil due to finish at 10:30

Note to myself - must be more organised

[Andy]

Go Bigster, go....

As per DaaB - finishing the boil by 10:30 sounds like you've got your act together, I'm still sparging Am taking some pics also.

[Bigster]

Bertha on fire again today - 12 minutes from 90's to high 20s. I love brewing in winter

Now as long as there are no hop filter problems....

[Horden Hillbilly]

Hope it goes well Bigster.

[Bigster]

1.051 at 19.6 c to be precise. More luck than judgement

[Bigster]

All done and dusted and another one in the bucket
May have to force myself to brew again next weekend as one reason for this brew was to stock up some bottles for a beer making demo and tasting I am doing and I dont think there will be any leftovers once my corni is full...
Well thats my excuse

ps andy - look forward to picures - havent taken any today as nothing new to show

[Bigster]

First suppings tonight and very pleased with Mr Line again. Dry hopped this one and took out after a week but still a good aroma.

Didnt prime this one and very little space between beer and corni roof. Fully gassed at 10PSI but when dispensing very little froth. My physics was never very good but I guess froth will increase as beer decreases and gas increases

[Bigster]

cheers daab - I went out to garage to pour another pint, for JHBF technical purposes of course, and was able to put more co2 in. After faffing around I tinkered with the PRV and found it a little loose so tightened it. Froth has returned

I know I always go on about my latest beer being the best I have brewed but considering I have not been able to taste or smell anything for over a week this has great hoppy taste and aroma without being too bitter

[Bigster]

Daab
I think you got the order right:

1. HSB must be/ was ? a great beer
2. Dave Line created great beer recipes
.
.
.
.
99. Tenko breweries technical expertise

[Scooby]

One of my favorite DL brews Bigster I like the Bramling cross hops, I have heard SteveD describe HSB as having a slightly sour taste, I think it is a blackcurrant type flavor of the hops

[SteveD]

One of my favorite DL brews Bigster I like the Bramling cross hops, I have heard SteveD describe HSB as having a slightly sour taste, I think it is a blackcurrant type flavor of the hops

Could be, I'm no expert. Did Gales use Bramling Cross, or was that a Lineism? I thought the slight sourness was because HSB was a blended beer in the old style where they blended a proportion of mature Prize Old Ale with fresh weaker Buster Brew which gave the overall medium strength blend some strong ale complexity and accelerate maturation. The technique was called 'bringing forward'.

Still, could just as easily be the hops! Whatever, I thought it made HSB very moreish - and therefore dangerous

[Scooby]

.

Still, could just as easily be the hops! Whatever, I thought it made HSB very moreish - and therefore dangerous

Yes, very dangerous. Maybe Line realised the breweries method and used bramling Cross to imitate it DL does mention that much info was freely given by breweries so they could have been the hops used, still a great brew

[Bigster]

I like the Bramling cross hops, I have heard SteveD describe HSB as having a slightly sour taste, I think it is a blackcurrant type flavor of the hops

Have been on a detoxish/beer free regime for last few days to ensure my liver and insides in tip toppy condition for CBA festival on saturday but couldnt resist a pint of this and boy is it good
It certainly has a distinctive taste , well described above

Same again landlord.....

[bitter_dave]

Nice one Bigster, and good luck at the CBA festival

[Bigster]

Cheers BD
A report plus pictures if I remember to charge my old HP will be on JHBF desk first thing monday morning