Victorian Ruby Mild ~ Dark Star

[Otters]

Hello,

Just sorting out the back half of 2014's brew schedule

Come across a perfect example of a Victorian strong Ruby Mild 6.3% abv, last weekend at the 'Yapton beer festival' West Sussex, now of course the challenge is to produce a decent prototype,

has anyone got any details of this beer? it didn't seem too far off Sarah Hughes ruby mild, maybe a touch darker and some roasty / creamy character?

Apparently dark star use a selection of 'speciality malts, American / English hops and Mild Malt as the base'

Any inside info is welcomed...

Otters

[Clibit]

Ratebeer has this scrap of info...

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Cask; Occasional - most recently as monthly special for May 2011.
A beer from a less well known mild tradition for strength with soft flavours and gentle hops. Mashed with 100% mild ale spring barley malt and then with Golding hops in the copper give the restrained bitterness.

[Clibit]

And realaleinfo throws this spanner into the clone works..

A beer with soft flavours and gentle hops. Mashed with a classic mild ale barley malt and hopped with Goldings for a restrained bitterness. Finally the beer is blended with an aged dark beer to add colour and complexity of flavour.

[Otters]

Hi,

Thanks for the info this is greatlyappreciated;

It throw's the american hops out the window then. And the blending activity with an aged beer sounds too much complexity to attempt at home.

Does anyone know what 'speciality malts they use' this would be a great find.

Obviously I post the finished recipe for all to use...

Rgds

Otters

[Hanglow]

If it's based on a victorian recipe then perhaps look through Ron's Lets Brew recipes
http://www.unholymess.com/blog/lets-brew

I think the ones with X in the name tend to be milds

He also has a Mild! book with a bunch of recipes as well as his most recent one

There's a recipe in that for a 1865 Lovibond mild recipe

100% mild malt
cluster and goldings@60mins for 40IBU
OG 1.064
6.1%

No specialty malts in that one though

maybe email darkstar to see if they'll tell you what the specialty malts will be

[Clibit]

Def worth contacting Dark Star.

[Otters]

Guys,

I've taken your advice so I'll hopefully get a response from Darkstar

Rgds

Otters