contemplating fresh hops in a brew

[oneilldave]

thanks dave, as i've really no idea and that your suggestion is quite close to the ipa and apa on this list...
http://www.howtobrew.com/section4/chapter19-3.html

means i'll follow your instruction to the letter and see what it's like at the end.

i'll report back in 4 weeks.

please could you share the recipes you've really liked the results of?

So, how's the brew coming along at the moment? I'd think that by now that you'd have an idea how the brew was coming along. I will dig out some recipies I've used and post them up for you, if that helps. But, just so you know, I've never used the dried extracts, only the liquid ones, and always had a wonderful result.

Dave.

[hard water]

hello again dave

it's been in the FV for a little over 2 weeks....and will be bottled up later this week. in 2 or 3 weeks i'll let you know

[GARYSMIFF]

Very Good

[hard water]

i've spent a productive afternoon bottling this one up, and even though it's yet to have it's secondary fermentation it seems very promising. i'd say that the taste of fresh hops really shines when compared to beer kits.

i'll report back in a fortnight

[hard water]

not even a fortnight in the botlle yet, and it's delicious.
if you've not yet tried this method of brewing, do give it a go

[oneilldave]

not even a fortnight in the botlle yet, and it's delicious.
if you've not yet tried this method of brewing, do give it a go

That's great news! As an extract only brewer myself I am constantly suprised by the quality of the ale's I make using only liquid extract and selected hops.

I would suggest that you could experiment with a series of single hop brews? For example, brew using a medium malt extract and choose, say East Kent Golding. Do as already suggested (long boil, bitternes; medium boil, flavour; very short boil, aroma) and make a note of how much you use, and how long they were boiled for. Then, when you and a few friends sample the results, make a few notes on the taste so that next time you can tweek as you see fit. You know, less long boil hops to reduce the bitterness, more medium boil to get a deeper hop flavour etc. And, bang, before you know it you have a recipe that's pretty much entirely your own creation!

I would recommend Citra hops, and Fuggles. Citra has a high Alpha Acid so will give you a lot of bitterness so you won't need too much in the long boil, while Fuggles, with their much lower AA content, may need extra in the long boil. Without being prescriptive as this is a journey of discovery and that you can do over many years, I would say 10g of Citra for a long boil but maybe 15 to 20g of Fuggles to get the same level of bitterness. If you had two FVs you could do two brews at the same time to really do a comparison. You'd need to keep a stick at your front door to beat away the crowds trying to get in for those tasting sessions!

Good luck ... and enjoy the journey!

Dave.

[hard water]

thanks dave, that's exactly what's breweing, if you'll excuse the pun. the first brew, whilst lovely, wasn't quite bitter enough for my taste.

here's what's in the FV now

i've used 3.5kgs LME in 10litres water and
0 mins 33g northdown
60 mins 33g northdown
75 mins 33g northdown
90 mins, cool, dilute to 21 litres and ferment with safeale S04

after 2 weeks, it'll go into a keg with some cascade* for aroma for 2 weeks and then get bottled.

*unless you've got a suggestion for another aromatic one, or one that's a better match to northdown??

thanks for your continuing suggestions.