Random Walk 131209

[adm]

I haven't been able to get a brew on for the last few weeks due to travel and family commitments, but I got a chance today......and seize the day I did....


Random Walk
(A "user upper")

Grain Bill
5Kg Maris Otter Pale Malt
250g Medium Crystal
213g Wheat Malt
112g Flaked Oats

Hops
NZ Rakau Organic Pellets 11.5%AA 20G First Wort 25.3 IBU
US Amarillo Pellets 8.2% AA 31g 15 mins 13 IBU
AUS Galaxy Flowers 14.9% AA 10g 15 minus 6.9 IBU
AUS Galaxy Flowers 14.9% AA 13g Flame Out 0 IBU
UK East Kent Golding 6.2% AA 10g Flame Out 0 IBU

Yeast
US 05 Dried

Here's how it went.....

The grain


Mashing In


The Devil's Mash Tun rides again....


First runnings. I had a bit of a stuck sparge on this one....almost ground to a halt, so I closed the tap, added the remaining water, gave it a good stir and tried again. Still slow, but it all came out in the end and worked fine as I ended up with 90% efficiency. It's a new sack of Warminster grain, so I hope the rest of the brews from it don't behave the same way.


15 minute hops - Amarillo and Galaxy. Should be good.


Flame Out hops......Galaxy and a bit of EKG.


Getting dark outside and nearly time for tea.....better get a move on


All set to run off


The cold ground water this time of the year really helps with the chilling. It was blasting through the chiller at about 18C - only took about 3 minutes to chill and run off.....


Pitched a packet of US05 and aerated


Put to bed at 19C. This'll get a couple of weeks in the fermentation chamber as I'm away next weekend too.


And the result.....24L at 1054.

All went well....this brewing lark is a bit like riding a bike after you get the hang of it.

[WishboneBrewery]

Looks good, I'd be interested how those oats turn out.

[haz66]

Carpe Diem

[crookedeyeboy]

Wow 3 minute run off time. Man Ive GOT to get myself a setup like that!

[Andy]

Nice one!

[adm]

This beer is a bit of a surprise. I stuck it on the tap today, and even though I've got a bit of a cold and cant taste things properly, its still rather good.

Nice and smooth with assertive, long lasting bitterness and tropical and citrus fruit flavours and aromas. A lovely full mouthfeel too - which is maybe down to the oats, despite only using a small amount. It's still hazy as of today, but I'm only on the second pint from the keg (liar - that's the third one now). Maybe it's the oats throwing the haze (or maybe it's this batch of WLP001), but in small amounts they certainly seem to add a nice silkiness and body.