Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Had a good one? Tell us about it here - and don't forget - we like pictures!
User avatar
smp465
Piss Artist
Posts: 191
Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:28 pm
Location: Cambs. UK

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by smp465 » Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:13 pm

It's off, all looks normal now it's hit the FV, nice head (non-existent in the starter) and a busy airlock. Temp dropped to 20 degC.
Drinking: Double IPA (Mr President Clone)
Drinking: London Porter (5%)
Drinking: Belgian Dubbel (8%)
Conditioning: West Coast Red (5.6%)
Conditioning: Nelson & Friends Series No.1 (Mosaic)
FV: A few spiders
Planning: Everything else!

DrewBrews

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by DrewBrews » Sat Oct 31, 2009 5:57 pm

Right, my starter has been bubbling away nicely and should be ready for my brew tomorrow. :D

I actually made two starters one with the WLP023 and one with a brewlabs slant (Themes valley 3). after about 30 hours both were bubbling away nicely but I thought the difference was interesting.

Image
Left is the brewlabs TV3 Right is the WhiteLabs WLP023
Both of these were made from the same batch of wort!

The most interesting thing is the lack of head on the White labs yeast. I wonder if it's something to do with the medium in the white labs tube. Before I added the WLP023 both starters looked identical, with a head on from being shaken to aerate, but as soon as I added the WLP023 the head dissipated. It was very weird.

Image
The picture above is after about 35 hours and really shows how flat the head is on the Whitelabs one.

User avatar
smp465
Piss Artist
Posts: 191
Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:28 pm
Location: Cambs. UK

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by smp465 » Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:29 am

Nicely documented Drew, interesting that it killed the head on your starter, some sort of antifoam? Anyway, looks like you have good growth.
Drinking: Double IPA (Mr President Clone)
Drinking: London Porter (5%)
Drinking: Belgian Dubbel (8%)
Conditioning: West Coast Red (5.6%)
Conditioning: Nelson & Friends Series No.1 (Mosaic)
FV: A few spiders
Planning: Everything else!

Tequilla6

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by Tequilla6 » Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:34 am

Hi Guys,

Been a little lax in getting my post sorted but have finally uploaded some photo's of the brew and fermentation. I'm not sure what to say about the yeast as I agree that the starter did not foam very much but in the brew itself....It's the first one I have had that seems to be in a constant state of escape. I have also skimmed off some of the yeast as I wanted to get another starter done ASAP as my beer stock is dwindling fast. and this starter is frothing like Vesuvius. Maybe it just took time to get started. Anyway I decided after various discussions with Nick and an interesting read of Mr Malty (Nick again) and late hop schedules and I decided to call my brew. Prickly Shield IPA based on the fact that the invert sugar I used was 600gms of Agave Syrup. To be honest it had a pretty non de-script flavour profile and needed to be used and rather than use a home made invert sugar from standard white sugar seemed like the easiest idea. The invert sugar experiment can wait.


Followed the recipe based on a 80% efficiency and so had
4500gms Pale Malt
600gms Agave Syrup
400gms Crystal

and ended up with 27L @ 1.052 which was spot on for a 5% ABV if the hot mash allows it to ferment down to 1.012-1.014 which it is expected to do. The hop schedule was decided upon once I had read the Mr Malty website about late hops. I know we were discussing the maturation periods for a heavy hopped beer and from what I read it seems that if I rear loaded the hops in my beer then the bitterness would end up less harsh and the maturation period would be a little quicker. Trying to steal a march I guess :oops: and get mine to a perfect pint a little quicker. So the hop schedule was

30gms Challenger 90min
50gms Challenger 20min
30gms Northdown 20min
21gms Challenger Boil Off
15gms Northdown Boil Off

This gave an estimated IBU of 50 so spot on :D , never used so many hops on one beer :shock: As for the pictures well here they are along with the Foam Monster which I have to clear up from the worktop everyday. Fermentation has been at 18C-20C and its down to 1.022 at the last reading and looking good.

So The mash Temp was recorded @ 68C
Image
Confirmed the PH after adjusting the water profile for Burton water based on GW water Calc
Image
Look at all those lovely hops
Image
The Fly Sparge
Image
The Boil
Image
The OG Reading. Honest it says 1.052, Its one of those if I use flash I cannot read the numbers if I don't its too dark...sigh
Image
The fermentation Foam Monster
Image

It was fun and I'm looking forward to moving this from the primary to the secondary and throwing on a London Porter for the yeast to chomp through then this one can settle ready for bottling.

Looking forward to this beer meet now although with the number of bottles and tastings it maybe better to have a room for this one.. I also have two bottles of White Shield by the way, so I will be able to bring this along as our reference beer.

Good Luck all
Last edited by Tequilla6 on Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:51 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
smp465
Piss Artist
Posts: 191
Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:28 pm
Location: Cambs. UK

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by smp465 » Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:24 pm

Nice work Steve.

Did better with your OG than i did :oops:

I've also skimmed some yeast off, this actually appears to be a very good example of a true top working yeast once the juice in the vial has been lost/diluted.
Drinking: Double IPA (Mr President Clone)
Drinking: London Porter (5%)
Drinking: Belgian Dubbel (8%)
Conditioning: West Coast Red (5.6%)
Conditioning: Nelson & Friends Series No.1 (Mosaic)
FV: A few spiders
Planning: Everything else!

DrewBrews

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by DrewBrews » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:03 pm

Excellent pics steve, I've got to build myself a boiler like that. Don't suppose you've got any instructions on how you built it?

Agree about the yeast, Mine was making a break for it out of the top of the fermentor too as you can see in the pic at the bottom of my post viewtopic.php?f=24&t=27962 (should have posted in this tread really). When I washed out the blow off bucket this morning I had about an inch of yeast covering the bottom of the bucket.

We seem to have quite a range of OGs now (I missed my OG by quite a lot.)

Drew 1043
smp465 1046
Maltloaf 1051
Tequilla 1052

two or three left to post?

JabbA

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by JabbA » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:33 pm

I've started!!! Well started a starter :D

Got me yeast delivered yesterday.
Image

So made up a starter with 2l water and 300g dark spray malt.
Image

Filled a demijohn with the wort.
Image

Cooled the wort.
Image

Then added the contents of the vial and aerated before fitting airlock.
Image

The foam soon died down and not a flicker of life in the airlock- much the same as experienced by others...

Had a look today and still apparently lifeless but the little beasties do appear to be multiplying.
Image

The plan is to split the lot into 6 little pop bottles then step one up to be pitched into the brew.

Cheers,
Jamie

User avatar
jubby
Under the Table
Posts: 1281
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:21 am
Location: Cambridge

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by jubby » Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:41 pm

Some fine looking beers so far. SMP, where are your photo's :shock: :shock:

Started my yeast into 2 litres, split into 3 and used one of these in another 1 1\2 litre starter. My yeast also took about 24 hours to get going in the starter, but in the main batch it's off already.
Brewed today using this recipe:

White Shield. 5.6%, 40 IBU, 24 EBC.
MASH. 4.6kg MO, 340g med crystal
BOIL. Challenger & Norhdown FWH, 12g Northdown at 15 min and 15g at boiler off + steep for 20 min before cooling. 450g Golden Syrup & 70g dark candy at 30 min.

Image
Mashed at 68C

Image
WLP 023 starter

Image
Hops, syrup & candy.

Image
Boiling

Image
Sparging (not as clear as Drews :( )

Image
Spent stuff.

Image
OG 1.053.

And finally; brewers treat. Image
It's a bit early, but what the heck! 1/2 pint of Evil Twin :D

15g of Northdown dry hop to go in for 7 days after the primary fermentation has slowed down.

Enjoyed making this one. Can't wait to compare the results.
Mr Nick's Brewhouse.

Thermopot HLT Conversion

Drinking: Mr Nick's East India IPA v3 First Gold & Citra quaffing ale
Conditioning:
FV:
Planned: Some other stuff.
Ageing:

Tequilla6

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by Tequilla6 » Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:22 pm

Drew,

In relation to the Boiler and HLT they are basically the same and were built as this post here. However from what I understand the 60L FV's supplied by H&G have now been modified by the manufacturer and are now no longer suitable for a boiler conversion due to the thinner walls of the FV..... :(

Mashtun & HLT Build inc sight tube update

Seems we do have a varied OG of the beer. it begs the question how many use Beer Engine or Beer smith to assist with the brew.

Cheers

JabbA

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by JabbA » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:26 pm

Top work there Jubby =D>

I'm still playing about with my recipe; am planing on simple hop additions, most at the start of the boil and a few in the last 10 minutes. Also thinking about using a little treacle as well as golden syrup...

My starter is looking a bit more healthy now [-o<

After 42 hours:
Image
with a satisfying blurp from the airlock every 5 seconds or so!

Cheers,
Jamie

User avatar
jubby
Under the Table
Posts: 1281
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:21 am
Location: Cambridge

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by jubby » Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:10 pm

Cheers Jabba.
Also thinking about using a little treacle as well as golden syrup...
What.......no coconut then :?: :wall
Mr Nick's Brewhouse.

Thermopot HLT Conversion

Drinking: Mr Nick's East India IPA v3 First Gold & Citra quaffing ale
Conditioning:
FV:
Planned: Some other stuff.
Ageing:

Tequilla6

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by Tequilla6 » Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:48 am

LOL That poor Bugger Jabba is going to be forever know as the "Coconut King" if we have our way........


PS Is there any room behind that wall of your Jubby, because when Drew finds out I couldn't wait for the next experiment and brewed an 1850 London Porter with addition of some toasted Oatmeal yesterday I'm gonna need some protection as well I think. :wall :wall . I also got some Bishops Farewell yeast from the barrel yesterday (Starter up and running) and I may be willing to trade some for the safety wall.... :mrgreen:

User avatar
jubby
Under the Table
Posts: 1281
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:21 am
Location: Cambridge

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by jubby » Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:14 am

PS Is there any room behind that wall of your Jubby, because when Drew finds out I couldn't wait for the next experiment and brewed an 1850 London Porter with addition of some toasted Oatmeal yesterday I'm gonna need some protection as well I think
:lol:
I also got some Bishops Farewell yeast from the barrel yesterday (Starter up and running) and I may be willing to trade some for the safety wall.... :mrgreen:
Lucky bugger :!:
Mr Nick's Brewhouse.

Thermopot HLT Conversion

Drinking: Mr Nick's East India IPA v3 First Gold & Citra quaffing ale
Conditioning:
FV:
Planned: Some other stuff.
Ageing:

JabbA

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by JabbA » Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:40 am

LOL That poor Bugger Jabba is going to be forever know as the "Coconut King" if we have our way........
Somebody mention coconuts???

Image

Let's see if we can get a beer brewed which actually has a hint of coconut about it next time!

Cheers,
Jamie

DrewBrews

Re: Cambridge Beer Brew Experiment White Shield IPA

Post by DrewBrews » Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:43 pm

Tequilla6 wrote:Drew,

In relation to the Boiler and HLT they are basically the same and were built as this post here. However from what I understand the 60L FV's supplied by H&G have now been modified by the manufacturer and are now no longer suitable for a boiler conversion due to the thinner walls of the FV..... :(

Mashtun & HLT Build inc sight tube update

Seems we do have a varied OG of the beer. it begs the question how many use Beer Engine or Beer smith to assist with the brew.
Cheers Tequilla, for the info. How did you seal the elements in the holes?

I'm gunna buy a cheap kettle this weekend and dismantle it, I've ordered a 7 gallon fermentation bin which might work, I'll see.

Also gunna get my christmas brew on this weekend (bit late really but time management has never been one of my great strengths) so the fermenter might have to go straight into service.

Yeast's looking good JabbA ready for the weekend brew?

@ Jubby. Good pics, that looks like a properly professional set up, can wait to try a sample. ;)

Post Reply