Brewday 11/12/10 - Benson's Bitter

[Benson_JV]

Hello all. It's been a long time since I've done a brew and subsequently been around these forums but after a finance-induced hiatus I'm back!
So to start off proceedings I'm knocking up a simple bitter so I'll have something to drink whilst other things are brewing.

So the recipe for Benson's Bitter is as follows:

23L Brew length
Marris Otter Pale Malt - 5kg
Crystal (Or dark crystal I haven't decided) - 500g

Then the hop schedule will be
22g Goldings
22g Fuggles
once boil has started
Then at the end for aroma I'll be having
20g Goldings

I'll be fermenting with s04.
Hopefully if the camera works I'll post up some pictures once it's underway but we'll have to see about that!
If anyone notices anything drastically wrong with the malt or hop schedule you'll have to let me know...quickly. I reckon it should turn out fairly nice though.
Wish me luck!


Benson
Over & Out.

[coatesg]

Have a good one! What bitterness are you going for? (Looks around 25-30 without working it out? Should be on the malty side - the dark crystal would really boost that nicely).

[mysterio]

Welcome back, if I remember you had a death metal band going, still together ?

[Benson_JV]

I'm not quite sure of the bitterness level, I looked at the amount of hops for the banks bitter then backed off a little bit.
I think I might use the dark crystal, perhaps even using Nottingham instead of S04

Unfortunately not, my band split up over differences with the singer (as usual) we were on the verge of being signed too!

[mysterio]

I think I could help you out, I do a good 'My Way' after 10 pints

[Benson_JV]

Excellent, send me a demo

[coatesg]

I think I could help you out, I do a good 'My Way' after 10 pints

Sign up Whorst as well and have a duet leading the band!

[adm]

Hey Benson - Welcome Back!

Good luck with the brew.

[Benson_JV]

Cheers Adm!

Well it turned out a bit different to what I wanted, but after a year or so of not brewing, who cares
I got 20L at 1060 as opposed to 23L at 1050 but that'll do me. Just have to drink less (yeah right)
I used Windsor yeast in the end, I wanted to use Nottingham but didn't have any in and dad suggested it over S04 so went with that.
We'll see how it goes!

[Benson_JV]

Having moved out of my rents place for now (moved into a flat with the missus, but over Xmas and Jan we're finding a new flat and getting rid of this one) and not having enough room to take my beer equipment, I've had to leave it at my rents. Apparently its bubbling away like a good un! Hopefully bottle in Tuesday or so.
Might be ready to have a sneaky few New years, although I'll have to have one around Xmas for research purposes.
I'll let you know when I bottle it if it looks any good.


Benson
Over & Out.