Smugglers

[StrangeBrew]

Just kicked off a Smugglers Premium Ale @ 17:15.
I know with some Muntons kits that people have had trouble getting the FG down due to stuck ferments but I've got my fingers tightly crossed for this one.
I'd be interested to hear about your results with this kit!
All went well except as I was rinsing the fermenter I found a split in the plastic about half way down, I'm just happy that I noticed it before I filled it!
I cut the brew length down from 23ltr to 20ltr giving a respectable OG 1055 and doubled up the yeast to 12g.

Anyway, it's now all done and sat at a room temp of 22c.

Sorry people I didn't take any pics

[fivetide]

It's a really interesting beer. I had some troubles fermenting it from 1053 to 1014 and used a secondary and a loooooong conditioning period but it was worth it for clarity and character in the end. Patience is the key to this one - I wasn't very at the time... ...but still had a few pints left at Christmas from last Summer and it was strong and clean as you like.

[Scroogemonster]

I've got a keg of this in the garage, in its 1st week of maturation phase.
I was also concerned about stuck ferments etc but added yeast vit as advised by DaaB and used gervin english ale yeast (Nottingham) instead of the crap that comes with the kit.
Fermented to 1014 in 3 days. Tastes very bitter at this stage but hopefully will become more subtle in a few weeks. Good hop aroma already and clearing nicely!

[fivetide]

Seriously, leave it a couple of months if you can, it'll be a far better pint for it.

[StrangeBrew]

Thanks for your replies.

Very interesting thread FT, got there in the end though mate!

I'm not sure that the yeast supplied with kits is rubbish other than there's not enough of it. I think the problem with stuck fermentations lies else where.

This is my first brew this year, haven't had chance till now. It's good to get one on the go and I'll be really pleased to christen one of my cornies with it!

[StrangeBrew]

Just a quick update.

13 days in the FV.

The first four days were quite productive with the gravity dropping from 1055 to 1024. It's taken a further 9 days to drop to the current reading of 1018.
I really wanted this one to go below 1014 so I've added half a sachet of Dry Beer Enzyme to hopefully give it a kick into life. I Just hope that adding the beer enzyme at this late stage doesn't ruin the flavour of the finished beer.

...fingers crossed.

[fivetide]

A good rousing and a nice warm room should do the trick, sounds good so far.

[StrangeBrew]

After adding the Beer Enzyme on Sunday the Smugglers has now dropped down from 1018 to 1010 and still fermenting.
I don't really want it to go any lower. Is it advisable to stop fermentation by moving it to somewhere cold or should I just let it ferment out?
The last two brews that I added DBE to ended as low as 1002 if I remember correctly.

[fivetide]

I've never used beer enzyme, sorry can't help.

[StrangeBrew]

OK will do but if it ends up with a low fg like the last lot it''ll be approx 7% on my reckoning.

[StrangeBrew]

All I wanted was a pleasingly easy to drink brew not a head banger

I just hope it doesn't turn out too harsh!

[StrangeBrew]

Finished at 1005, 3 weeks in the FV and at last it's in the Corni.

Had a quality control sample and it's very promising. I'll post a pic of the first pint pulled.

[StrangeBrew]

1005 isn't bad at all

If I'm working it out correctly it's approx 6.7%

I'd better put that bacon order in I think!