Brewferm Christmas Beer

[MickyD]

Just a quicky for any tips. I have made this today, and its a bit of a PIA as there is so little of it, it takes an age to cool enough to put the yeast in. I even had it sitting in the bucket, in the sink full of cold water and ice packs.

I know it only makes 7L, but Hopshop didn't have any more and couldn't get any, so I got this and a BotW Christmas brew as well which makes 10L. So with these 2 and the Bavarian Pilsner from BotW I should have a nice selection for crimbo.

Question is, what would you use to prime the two Christmas beers?

[sparky Paul]

DaaB - would you make all these strong 9ltr Brewferm kits up with dextrose?

I've seen discussion recommending the use of sugar to make these kits up, but does this apply to the dark beers too? I've got a Brewferm Abdij (Dark Abbey) to make before Christmas and I'm not sure whether to use dextrose or spraymalt...

[MickyD]

I have both brewing sugar and medium spray malt, would it make a heck of a lot of difference?

[sparky Paul]

Yes, sorry for hijacking the thread, I saw you about and thought you might know the best way to go with it.

FWIW, I also always go for dextrose when priming.

[sparky Paul]

btw thinking about it, you wont go wrong using 75/25, even if it isn't true to style.

Cheers DaaB.

[MickyD]

Thanks for the info guys. Luckily this particular Brewferm beer didnt need any extra sugars for brewing. Its one of two out of this range that didnt need extras. Just the tin and 6L of water, lob in the yeast and watch it go.

Only took 20 minutes for it to start

Oh it smells really nice as well, the yeasty smell coming off this one is very toasty, and coffee like.

[clootie]

I brewed a double batch last month. I was intending to keep them all for the festive period but could resist cracking a bottle last night. It has been bottled for about 5 weeks so very young bearing in mind the strength but nevertheless still quite good. Strong malt, hints of coffee, it had cleared nicely and poured with about 1cm head. Definately worth leaving alone for another couple of months though to round off the rough edges. Roll on Christmas.

[beardybrewer]

cracking a bottle last night

Have you tried their triple? What did you think of it in comparison. I tried this last xmas and while it was good it didn't strike me as particularly festive.

Log: http://www.lounge111.net/Brew/ViewLog.aspx?ID=26

[clootie]

Sorry Newkie, the Christmas was only the second Brewferm kit I've tried (the other being the Pils which was only about the 3rd kit I did so turned out so-so). I thought I would give this a bash as I had a fairly dry Christmas last year as my wife was heavily pregnant (Baby was born 3rd Jan). I wanted to make up for lost time this year! I have developed a taste for Belgian beers in the last 6 months or so and hope to try a few more of these kits in the next year or so.