Inspired loosely I guess by Racer 5, I wanted a red ale and also wanted to try Jester Hops. Most reviews of this hop are in pales so I wondered about a darker grain bill. I overnight mashed as I'm v pressed for time but got v good efficiency doing it (81%) 5 points up on target. The jester are giving off mainly black currant aromas but not in huge amounts. This will need a good dry hop I think to get it to where I want aroma wise. Boil is on.
Now at 1010 after a week in the FV. Gonna dry hop next week but I'm thinking Columbus may work best. The taste is improving, becoming more smoothed out. Definitely blackcurrant/coffee aroma and a complex maltyness. Promising but at 6.4% abv perhaps stronger than I wanted. Beersmith estimate was 5.9% abv.