Home Brew Forum

Double brew post, but not a double brew day. Brewed my first lager last week on 10th March. Some of these will be going to a friend who hits 50 in June, hence the name. The second is a one hop brew with (surprise, surprise) Admiral hops from a Bushel of Hops. This was brewed today. I have some pics from the lager brew day which I will post later when time allows.
Took a hydro sample from the lager today which is down to 1.034 after 6 days. Tastes pretty good so far. No off flavours at all. Expected more sulphury flavour, but it was very clean.

Half Century Lager

Date: 10th March 2016

Gyle Number: 45

Fermentable Colour lb: oz Grams Ratio
Castle Chateau Pale Ale M 4 EBC 11 lbs. 0.4 oz 5000 grams 93.5%
Carapils 4 EBC 0 lbs. 7.0 oz 200 grams 3.7%
Acidulated Malt 3 EBC 0 lbs. 5.3 oz 150 grams 2.8%


Hop Variety Type Alpha Time lb: oz grams Ratio
Saaz Whole 3.35 % 90 mins 0 lbs. 1.4 oz 40 grams 40%
Hallertauer Mittlefruh Whole 4.6 % 90 mins 0 lbs. 1.1 oz 30 grams 30%
Saaz Whole 3.35 % 10 mins 0 lbs. 1.1 oz 30 grams 30%


Final Volume: 25 Litres
Original Gravity: 1.050
Final Gravity: 1.011
Alcohol Content: 5.1% ABV
Total Liquor: 40.9 Litres
Mash Liquor: 20.5 Litres
Mash Efficiency: 77.9 %
Bitterness: 27.4 EBU
Colour: 7 EBC
Stepped mash: 40C mash in, 52C for 15 mins, 63C for 40 mins, 72C for 5 mins then 78C for 10 min mash out.
Fermented @ 11C with WLP800 Pilsner Lager yeast.


Admiral's Delight

Date: 16th March 2016

Gyle Number: 46

Fermentable Colour lb: oz Grams Ratio
Castle Chateau Pale Ale M 4 EBC 9 lbs. 4.1 oz 4200 grams 87.7%
Crystal Malt, Dark 240 EBC 0 lbs. 8.8 oz 250 grams 5.2%
Flaked Oats 0 EBC 0 lbs. 7.0 oz 200 grams 4.2%
Torrefied Wheat 4 EBC 0 lbs. 4.9 oz 140 grams 2.9%


Hop Variety Type Alpha Time lb: oz grams Ratio
Admiral Whole 13.1 % 90 mins 0 lbs. 1.1 oz 30 grams 37.5%
Admiral Whole 13.1 % 10 mins 0 lbs. 0.7 oz 20 grams 25%
Admiral Whole 13.1 % 0 mins 0 lbs. 1.1 oz 30 grams 37.5%


Final Volume: 23 Litres
Original Gravity: 1.048
Final Gravity: 1.011
Alcohol Content: 4.8% ABV
Total Liquor: 37.1 Litres
Mash Liquor: 19.2 Litres
Mash Efficiency: 79 %
Bitterness: 47.8 EBU
Colour: 27
Mashed @ 67C for 2hrs 30 mins
Fermenting @ 18C with WY1469 Yorkshire Ale yeast 3rd Gen.

Cheers,
Charliemartin

They look good

have you used Castle Chateau Pale Ale malt before?

Yes, I bought it from the Homebrew Company in Ireland. Can't recall exact price. It was in Euros, but pretty cheap. Not overly impressed with brews so far. Seems a bit lacking in flavour compared to MO, but I have changed my brewing setup quite a bit recently so not sure if that is to blame. Will probably go back to Flagon or MO, although I am considering Munton's Propino from the Malt Miller for my next sack of malt.

I almost bought it from them last time I made an order with them as it was so cheap, but went with muntons extra pale spring blend in the end . I usually use Crisp MO or Pale ale (which i think is flagon)

Almost forgot. Some pictures from the Half Century Lager brewday:



















The pot from Brewbuilder is new, and is very nice quality. Went for a fairly cheap element off of ebay, but just ordered a new one from Brewpi in Holland which will hopefully give a better rolling boil.

Cheers,
Charliemartin