Stonch's Stout - coming along nicely

[Stonch]

Well it's looking - and tasting - good for Stonch's Stout!

Here's a "tasting note" and photo of a half pint of the stuff, after the ridiculously short period of 11 days primary and 24 hours in the barrel ...

http://stonch.blogspot.com/2007/05/ston ... later.html

When I was pouring it, I noticed however there wasn't much pressure at all. Inspected the cap and noticed I'd managed to split it around the top, presumably by screwing it on too tight! Ach!

I've emailed Patsy at Hop & Grape and asked her to add it to an order I placed online two days ago... and put the top from my currently empty other barrel on. I can't see why one day with a leak will have done it any harm at this stage.

[james_m_r]

It was a sad day when I polished off the last of my Blackmoor Stout but thankfully I am enjoying my current brew, Honley Mild even more.

Your brew is looking good Stonch, I am sure it will be even better in 3-4 weeks time.

[Stonch]

It occurs to me that mild rather lends itself to simple kit brewing, on account of the low hop count for the style.

[Stonch]

When I was pouring it, I noticed however there wasn't much pressure at all. Inspected the cap and noticed I'd managed to split it around the top, presumably by screwing it on too tight! Ach!

It will be fine, this has happened to me on more than one occasion, it may even be good sign of continued fermentation, i've had caps split when i'm convinced I haven't over tightened and assumed it is down to pressure in the barrel not relieving. Generally I barrel my beers and forget them, I may have left beers like this for days, weeks even, as long as there is continued fermentation you should be ok.

Glad it tastes good at this stage, this is definately a good sign

DaaB, cheers, you're the guru!

Me and Dave have almost daily telephone chats about the brew, each one is peppered with "well, DaaB said..." and "dunno, I'll have to ask DaaB"

Some day, when we've brewed something great, you'll have to come to Clerkenwell and drink with us (and the tramps)

[BarryNL]

So, tell me, in Clerkenwell is the Horseshoe pub still there. I used to work in that building opposite the park between the Three Kings (?) and the Horseshoe. The Horseshoe was my regular lunchtime haunt - unfortunately I was mostly a lager boy in those days ('92 - '96) so can't remember if they ever had good beers (very good pizzas though).

[fivetide]

I used to like the Guinness in the Horseshoe in those days (sorry Stonch!) and remember waking up on a pool table upstairs once. Pizzas in the back garden at lunchtime on a Summer work day was great too, and it had some 'classic rock classics' from the likes of Rainbow on the jukie.


But the Three Kings and Betsy had a better selection of ales, and the Coach & Horses was an Adnams pub for a bit before it went all posh.

[BarryNL]

I used to like the Guinness in the Horseshoe in those days (sorry Stonch!) and remember waking up on a pool table upstairs once.

Heh, good one. What I'll remember most were the occasional sexual assaults by Julie the scary barmaid. I wonder if Pauline and Richard are still running the place. .. or indeed if Big John is still at the Three Kings.

[Andy]

That would be good Stonch but I might get mistaken for a tramp myself

and London's waaaaay too far North!

[fivetide]

I'm pretty sure Big John gave up the papier mache shop opposite where I used to buy tubs of ice-cream to scoff in the church yard, but I stopped working in the area a while ago now, so don't know if he has the pub still.

Stonch probably knows him - they probably burp greetings at each other as they pass in the street struggling with their own respective barrels of brew and entourages of tramps...

[Hoppkins]

Good work Stonch Looks tasty

[Stonch]

As for the Clerkenwell pubs you mentioned:

The Horseshoe, The Three Kings and The Crown Tavern are all going strong.

The Horseshoe is a down at heel place, exterior far more appealing than anything inside. The old landlord is nice enough. I very rarely go there, but when I last did he has Sharp's Cornish Coaster on and it was cracking.

The Crown is a bit poshed up but in the best possible way. After a bad patch with ropey staff, new manager Simon and his deputy Carlos have really turned it around, and now it's a pub I love visiting. Very busy most evenings (heaving on Friday and Saturday), with an exceptional bottled beer selection, some decent continental kegs, Adnams Bitter, TT Landlord and real cider on handpump.

The Three Kings isn't a place I go to, not because I don't like it, just because I prefer the Crown and the Jerusalem so much.

[Stonch]

I'm pretty sure Big John gave up the papier mache shop opposite where I used to buy tubs of ice-cream to scoff in the church yard, but I stopped working in the area a while ago now, so don't know if he has the pub still.

Stonch probably knows him - they probably burp greetings at each other as they pass in the street struggling with their own respective barrels of brew and entourages of tramps...

Next time we crack open the brew I'll take a load of plastic cups so even more passers by - and tramps - can get involved! Spread the home brew joy!

Really, really enjoyed my pint or so of immature stout last night... girlfriend was impressed too. It's going to be so difficult not to just pull off a pint every night!

[delboy]

Really, really enjoyed my pint or so of immature stout last night... girlfriend was impressed too. It's going to be so difficult not to just pull off a pint every night!

Thats it stonch if you keep impressing the girlfriend you won't have to pull one off each night!

[Old Jake]

Really, really enjoyed my pint or so of immature stout last night... girlfriend was impressed too. It's going to be so difficult not to just pull off a pint every night!

Thats it stonch if you keep impressing the girlfriend you won't have to pull one off each night!

This forum's turning into a bad edition of Viz!!

OJ

[Stonch]

delboy - laughed out loud at that

brilliant

Today's lovely in London, just been for a swift pint of Grand Union Honey Porter at the Crosse Keys, the big Spoons in the City, between Monument and Bank. Supped it in a secluded church yard round the back. Perfect warm up for the Ealing Beer Festival tonight!