Dryhop Brupak Kirkburton Ale?

[FiercelyFuzzy]

Hi All

Just wondering if anyones tried Brupaks Kirkburton Ale out there. Would it benefit from a bit of dry hopping? I've got a nice foil pack of Goldings I'm itching to use...
I started the brew last night. It had a very healthy OG of 1064! Looking forward to supping this one...

FF

[Reg]

Well according to the Brupaks website...

"KIRKBURTON ALE is intended to appeal to the brewer who is looking for something a bit special. It is a rich, malty strong ale of immense character which is at its best when bottled. Its heart warming properties make Kirkburton Ale the perfect after dinner beer. Brews 24 pints.

TYPICAL ANALYSIS

Barley: 2-row, brewing quality
Hops: English aroma varieties
Colour (EBC): 20 to 25
Bitterness (EBU): 60 to 65
Protein (N x 6.25): 4.0% to 6.5%
Acidity (as lactic): 1.0% maximum
pH: 5.0 to 5.5
Solids: 80% to 82%"

Whilst strong beers can benefit from a degree of balancing bitterness, 60-65 is high on the scale for bitterness in an ale, an imperial stout might be a little higher. However, dry hopping adds more aroma than bitterness which is mostly extracted in the boil, so a small quantity of dry hops won't suck the back of your palate off and might help with the 'nose' of your beer. I'd wonder however whether the subtleties of the Goldings would win the battle over the existing bittering without using uneconomic amounts.

[FiercelyFuzzy]

Thanks Reg!
I saw the analysis on the website but was unsure of what the figures meant. I'll do a bit of reading up so I know in future!
FF

[FiercelyFuzzy]

Well I chucked in 13g of Goldings this morning.
The gravity was 1020 last night so I figured the most vigorous fermentation had stopped (45 point gravity drop in 3 days though - that's something!)
I'll report back with my findings in 2 months or so once it's been bottled, matured & supped.

[FiercelyFuzzy]

I know I'm talking to myself on this thread but i quite like the idea of that!

After 8 days in FV my Kirkburton has stopped bubbling & has had a constant gravity of just over 1020 for the past 4days.

The question is, has it stuck or is it finished? 1020 FG from 1065 OG gives an attentuation of 69% so that sounds about right. I've roused the yeast, added yeast vit & yesterday I rehydrated & pitched a pack of Safal04. Nothing has moved. So should I bottle it or go the whole hog & add Dry Beer Enzyme?

The %ABV is about 6% I think, which is off from the claims on the kit (7-7.5%). But will the DBE dry out too much what is already a bitter beer? (judging from the EBU profile at the top of the thread?).

Many Thanks for any suggestions!

FF

[KevP]

I didnt know Brupaks were made and canned by Muntons! Bugger

[JayBee]

Nor did I. Just ordered a Linthwaite Light as well, might have had 2nd thoughts if I`d known.

[FiercelyFuzzy]

I contacted Clive from Brupaks and he said that the Kirkburton Ale should finish around 1020.
Though this gives a lower ABV than the advertised 7-7.5%.
I've ordered some DBE anyway. I might do a bit of a trial & treat 4 litres with the DBE & leave the remaining 9 litres as is.

[KevP]

Clive also confirmed that Muntons make ALL their kits!!

I quote;
"Hi Kev
Our Microbrewery kits are indeed produced and canned for us by Muntons, who are now the only producers of brewing grade malt extract in the UK. The spray-dried extract used in Brewers Choice is also produced by Muntons. Please don't let that put you off trying them!"


So Muntons are now the ONLY producers of malt extract
Which means that essentially all kits are Muntons kits.

[FiercelyFuzzy]

Well, not sure if anyones interested in an update, but for closure purposes I thought I'd add my findings after sampling the first bottle of my brew.

Well, it turned out I'd dry-hopped with Styrian Goldings; not Goldings. As a complete noob I'd bought the wrong stuff! Anyway, after 5 weeks maturation it is fantastic! Kind of a maltier, stronger version of Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted.
I am really impressed with the kit with the dry hopping. I haven't sampled it without the dry hop, but I can say that it was essential for the smile that's on my face right now. I would do the Kirkburton kit again, even though it didn't reach the advertised ABV. My last brew, Nelsons Revenge, was a bit disappointing due to the lack of aroma. But now I know why! I think I'll dry hop with all of my kits now in future with a suitable hop.

anyway, cheerio.
FF