Dad's Birthday Bitter

[Cheshire-cheese]

Having a bit of a mare, so far.
Forgot to bring back more cystal malt from work and I'm a few hundred grams short so if it's not looking right after collecting the wort I'll either use a very small amount of carafa spec 3 or some brewers caramel.

So far:
5kg MO pale malt
800g Mild malt
230g crystal malt

for a 30 litre batch

Everything has been rushed and the mash is cooler that I'd aimed for, but lets just see what happens...

[trucker5774]

Hey Cheesey, don't panic, mate it will be fine. I'd throw some challenger and goldings in with that and it will be similar to one of my "make what you have brews"
I'm doing a strawberry beer and a honey ale today.......I'm covered in malt dust at the moment

[Cheshire-cheese]

Yes I'm looking grey before my time after getting my head too close when pouring in the grain, a fine layer of malt dust is everywhere.

[Cheshire-cheese]

Goddamnit! When will I learn to put the hop strainer in before filling the boiler

[Cheshire-cheese]

Calm now.
60g Goldings
60g Fuggles

The wort is a nice shade of brown but I'm still wondering whether up tp 50g of carafa spec 3 would add a nice aftertaste. Steeped in the boil now or with late hops?

[trucker5774]

Sounds like we are almost running in harmony. I have the hops in ......10g of target and 25g of unknown halletau...........so far, so good!

[Cheshire-cheese]

Tandem brewing?
Just in:
10g Fuggles
10g Goldings
irish moss

also I filled my 29l boiler and collected more wort which I've boiled up and steeped the carafa spec 3 in, strained it off and added irish moss to a boil.

[trucker5774]

I'm halfway through chilling, so I guess you must be finished, Mr. Cheese! ....If Dad doesnt like his birthday bitter he could try my split brew, strawberry and honey.............if it works

Hope it has gone well for you

[Cheshire-cheese]

All done
In the cellar now doing its thing

[trucker5774]

I'm done too (and cleaned up )..............into 2 FVs for about 4 days then strawberries in one and honey in the other. I set 2 litres aside to see what it turns out like on its own with such light hopping. 25 litres in total 80% efficiency, O.G. 1046 with the fruit and honey to be added to fermentation later

[Cheshire-cheese]

I measured the OG yeasterday and thought: wow! spot on, 1.055. No hang on, it was meant to be weaker than that and I've only got 26 litres. I'll just dilute it to the right volume and strength...
Nah, let's just have it stronger.

[Cheshire-cheese]

SG now 1.012 can't remember what the beer engine calcs predicted the final gravity to be, any ideas?

[WishboneBrewery]

1012 sounds pretty fair

[Cheshire-cheese]

Thanks, I'm back home now and it would seem that, according to Beer Engine v1.09, the fg would be 1.013, so yes it looks like racking into my dad's keg was ok.
I've left my share in the FV until I can free up Cornie 1, or until the twins get another sibling
I should serve as some kind of diacetyl rest.

[Cheshire-cheese]

Now racked into secondary with a sachet of gelatin and a couple of teaspoons of sugar and moved to the cellar to clear whilst I get another keg lined up.