Bramling Bitter

[Ben711200]

Bramling Bitter (Standard/Ordinary Bitter)

Batch Size 20.5l
Original Gravity (OG): 1.045 (°P): 11.2
Final Gravity (FG): 1.014 (°P): 3.6
Alcohol (ABV): 4.13 %
Colour (SRM): 12.2 (EBC): 24.1
Bitterness (IBU): 30.3 (Average)

88% Pale Ale Malt
5% Crystal
3% dark Crystal
3% Flaked Oats
1% Chocolate

20g Bramling Cross (6.75% Alpha) @ 60 Minutes (Boil)
20g Bramling Cross (6.75% Alpha) @ 20 Minutes (Boil)
20g Bramling Cross (6.75% Alpha) @ 10 Minutes (Boil)
20g Bramling Cross (6.75% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Boil)

1/4 protafloc tablet @ 15 Minutes (Boil)

Single step Infusion at 66°C for 60 Minutes. Boil for 60 Minutes

Fermented at 20°C with Fullers yeast starter harvested from a Bengal Lancer bottle.



I made this the other day as I'd not tried knowingly tried Bramling Cross before and had a cheeky taste after about a week in the bottle. I'm utterly astounded at how much of an improvement it is on similar recipes I've made recently and I can only attribute it to using Fullers yeast instead of my default Nottingham. It's got a much fuller body and and smoother finish than my Nottingham fermented beers, presumably due to its lower attenuation. I wish I had listened to the likes of Seymour standing up for traditional English ale yeasts sooner

[Ben711200]

Also.. Really like it as a hop for this sort of use. I can't say I can specifically taste the brambles and blackberries that everyone is trained to mention but I like the earthy quality it seems to have.

Criticisms and suggestions for improvement are always welcomed




Edit: did I really type "blackberrys"? Jesus.

[Troutman47]

I used Bramling Cross in the very first recipe I formulated.

It was an IPA, I always have a taster when I syphon it into the bottling bucket and I was amazed how good it tasted for a first attempt at formulating a recipe!

I've made the recipe twice since but it has never been as good as the first so the next time I make it it'll be with Bramling.

It's an awesome hop I reckon, much under rated.

[seymour]

I have no criticisms, only congrats for both of you. Cheers!

[far9410]

I used BX in an extract brew a few years ago, it was a bit dodgy, so not used the hop since, people are raving about it now so might give it a try, after all there is a slight possibility that my brewing techniques back then were pretty crap!

[DeGarre]

My single hop bramling X is currently conditioning on its 3rd day so no test bottles yet but on a brewday I was expecting a lot of Ribena aromas, instead what I got was lemons and grapefruit and my fingers smelled like I had been grating lemon peel.

I thought the aroma while brewing was better than the fuggles/EKG version of the same beer brewed previous day.

Come Friday and I will open a test bottle...just to check how the carbonation is coming along.

[DeGarre]

My single hop bramling X is currently conditioning on its 3rd day so no test bottles yet but on a brewday I was expecting a lot of Ribena aromas, instead what I got was lemons and grapefruit and my fingers smelled like I had been grating lemon peel.

I thought the aroma while brewing was better than the fuggles/EKG version of the same beer brewed previous day.

Come Friday and I will open a test bottle...just to check how the carbonation is coming along.

Spoke too soon. Sampled the Bramling X today and am at this stage 99% convinced Bramling Cross hops were in those generic hop packets I got 2 years ago with the Brewferm Kölsch kit. Exactly the same fruity peachiness. When I drank that Kölsch last year I thought it was the fruitiest beer I'd ever brewed.

[TC2642]

I've got a single hopped Bramling X P.A. that's a few days from kegging. I get blackberry with it usually but will have a check after it's been in keg a few days.