Amarillo APA (With lots of shiny pictures!)

[stephenfranks]

Just checked the gravity as bubbling had stopped this morning. I think its finished at 1.015 (Target 1.014), making it 5.9% ABV. I shook up the yeast as I automatically assumed stuck fermentation (as per my Porter I just brewed). It smells gorgeous, though I was hoping for a stronger aroma. It might be that as it is at 18 degrees the aroma is different to 12 degrees?

Maybe I will squeeze another point by tommorow.

I will dry hop this one with 20g of Amarillo.

Would folks recommend force carbonating or priming my corny? I am desperate to drink it.

[awalker]

personally I would force carbonate
So you can drink it while its still getting there, no reason to wait.

Looks good, even better as i was drink my Amarillo brew at the time

[stephenfranks]

I did force carbonate, but can only get pure froth out of the corny as my party hose is useless.

I swapped a chrome tap for a Dalex with flow control and extra thin beer line to solve the problem. Hasn't arrived as yet though.

[fivetide]

I'm still of the opinion that you should put the beer under just a couple of pounds of pressure and let it mature for 3 weeks before pressurising it to 10 or so for a week then tapping. Just my opinion.

[stephenfranks]

I have just gone out to the brewery to draw some off in the name of research.

It comes out as pure froth. Keg is at 5psi.

It eventually settles down to beer. I had tried the American shake it at 20psi method of carbonating, then leaving at 20 for 10 days. I then dropped pressure to 5psi since. It dosent seem overly carbonated (I havent tasted it yet) as I am chilling in freezer for half an hour to see if this helps clear it at all.

The funny thing is that I poured a sample into a glass flask and left in the brewery a few days ago. This sample has cleared (with sediment at the bottom). What I cannot work out is whether the cold weather helped it clear or hot weather (it has been changing here). The shed is insulated, but I didnt track the temp inside the shed.

The beer is still hazy, and has been stored at 12 degrees or lower (fluctuates lower sometimes) for a week or so.

Maybe I should use some beer brite, and be patient until my dalex turns up wit the long run of beer line.

Do I have chill haze or has the beer just not cleared yet?

PS I have drawn off 2 pints from the corny, and I havent cut my dip tube so this may be partly responsible

[onefortheroad]

Great looking brewhouse there!
I've started to use isanglas finings in my beers and so far with great results, it never harms a beer to put a bit of these finings in even if you put too much in like i've done before!
Ps Does your brewery always look that clean and tidy? Excellent stuff!

[stephenfranks]

Artistic license...it normally filthy. No I'm joking, it is fairly tidy as I built storage for everything. That was part of my plan for everything to have its place. You can literally stand up in there, no room for mess.

I have to keep on top of the mopping and surfaces, they soon get sticky...

[stephenfranks]

Had a taste now and it is a bit cloudy, very flat, and still very bitter (slightly unpleasant). Sooooooo.... my force carbing didnt work, and maybe nor did my recipe... perhaps it needs more conditioning? It has been 2-3 weeks now and the bitterness is not subsiding...

[stephenfranks]

I'm not sure if the bitterness is slightly tannic or not?

It is certainly strong enough at 5.9%....warms you up on a cold night!

[bosium]

great brew, what a stunning brewery.
I've also just made an APA, but never tried Amarillo. I've heard great things though, how are they compared to say Cascades?

Also I don't think 5.9% is too strong for a hoppy pale ale. I wouldn't want to go stronger, but give it a month or so more than you were expecting and I bet the hops and alcohol will mellow and it will be an amazing beer. I always find the bigger beers need much longer before they really reach their potential.

[stephenfranks]

I think I will leave it for a month..

[stephenfranks]

Just had a pint of this with my Dad after a few weeks conditioning. The bitterness is still pronounced, but mellowing.

The aroma is the best thing, very floral & citrusy.

I used my new Dalex tap (thanks yashicamat) to dispense into a couple of bottles, which I capped and took round to Dad's house. Unfortunately the hop aroma had all but disappeared when I poured into glasses. The room was very hot and steamy (having dinner and central heating on) so this may not have helped.

Very good pint, perfect carbonation for style.

More than can be said for AG#3 Mild, which smells disgusting and is going down the drain on the weekend........!!!

[6470zzy]

That's a lovely little brewery indeed, congratulations to you on that truely.
I love Amarillo hops, I personally like to match them up with Centennial and Summit.

Cheers

[stephenfranks]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

I am looking forward to a few pints tonight!

[aceuass]

great brew, what a stunning brewery.
I've also just made an APA, but never tried Amarillo. I've heard great things though, how are they compared to say Cascades?

Also I don't think 5.9% is too strong for a hoppy pale ale. I wouldn't want to go stronger, but give it a month or so more than you were expecting and I bet the hops and alcohol will mellow and it will be an amazing beer. I always find the bigger beers need much longer before they really reach their potential.

I use to only use cascade in APA and loved every beer Ive done, untill my last brew, i picked up amarillo on the cheap and decided to brew an APA just with amarillo, WOW, you can really taste grapefruit, with cascade you can taste fruit, but to put your finger on 1 type of fruit, NO, but this amarillo is grapefruit through and through and I will use this more than cascade now
Cheers
Paul