Christmas Pudding
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PieOPah
Well, I bottled my Christmas beer yesterday and what a nightmare it was.
Almost straight away a piece of the (now well and truly wet) dried fruit got stuck in the tap. As a result I had to quickly start off a syphon and at this point I didn't even think about sanitation.
I managed to transfer my beer into the bottling bucket (which took longer than normal).
Once I started bottling, things were fairly normal although I did let one bottle slip (2 litre PET) and ended up spraying the kitchen with beer. I was able to clear it up okay though.
I think I should have waited until today to bottle. I wasn't feeling well (eaten too much and feeling the after effects). I was tired and just wanted to sleep. All combined I was just getting P'd off with the whole thing. Because of this by the time I came to syphoning, I didn't care. I sucked on the syphon tube which resulted in a spray (not used big tubes before so wasn't expecting the gush). The fact that I had to do this twice has increased the chance of infection.
Will be gutted (but not surprised) if I have ruined this beer.
Anyway, on a side note....
Changes for next time.
Will not be using the dried fruit at all. I have a feeling that this has caused some clarity issues - will find out in a few weeks.
More bittering hops. As it is there just isn't the bite that a beer needs.
I think that once it is carbonated then this will taste better than the flat version. I also think it will benefit from a slight cooling.
Overall I think this was a success but I still need to wait for it to mature first.....
Only a few weeks left before I can get a decent taste
Almost straight away a piece of the (now well and truly wet) dried fruit got stuck in the tap. As a result I had to quickly start off a syphon and at this point I didn't even think about sanitation.
I managed to transfer my beer into the bottling bucket (which took longer than normal).
Once I started bottling, things were fairly normal although I did let one bottle slip (2 litre PET) and ended up spraying the kitchen with beer. I was able to clear it up okay though.
I think I should have waited until today to bottle. I wasn't feeling well (eaten too much and feeling the after effects). I was tired and just wanted to sleep. All combined I was just getting P'd off with the whole thing. Because of this by the time I came to syphoning, I didn't care. I sucked on the syphon tube which resulted in a spray (not used big tubes before so wasn't expecting the gush). The fact that I had to do this twice has increased the chance of infection.
Will be gutted (but not surprised) if I have ruined this beer.
Anyway, on a side note....
Changes for next time.
Will not be using the dried fruit at all. I have a feeling that this has caused some clarity issues - will find out in a few weeks.
More bittering hops. As it is there just isn't the bite that a beer needs.
I think that once it is carbonated then this will taste better than the flat version. I also think it will benefit from a slight cooling.
Overall I think this was a success but I still need to wait for it to mature first.....
Only a few weeks left before I can get a decent taste
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Matt
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PieOPah
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oxford brewer
- Under the Table
- Posts: 1289
- Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:00 pm
- Location: oxford
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PieOPah
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PieOPah
Well I must admit that I am fairly dissapointed with this beer.
Apart from having way too little hops, there is a 'sheery' like taste which is more prominent when the beer is warm. I can probably drink it without too many complaints, but I don't think I would be happy letting others drink it (it is my reputation as a beer maker on the line!)
I think that the taste is due to the mixed fruit rather than anything else. This is something I will definately leave out for future brews if I was to make this again.
Ah well. I might throw most of it away keeping a few of the bottles as reference (might age well but I doubt it!)
Time to concentrate on the next brew.
Apart from having way too little hops, there is a 'sheery' like taste which is more prominent when the beer is warm. I can probably drink it without too many complaints, but I don't think I would be happy letting others drink it (it is my reputation as a beer maker on the line!)
I think that the taste is due to the mixed fruit rather than anything else. This is something I will definately leave out for future brews if I was to make this again.
Ah well. I might throw most of it away keeping a few of the bottles as reference (might age well but I doubt it!)
Time to concentrate on the next brew.
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oxford brewer
- Under the Table
- Posts: 1289
- Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:00 pm
- Location: oxford
.PieOPah wrote:Well I must admit that I am fairly dissapointed with this beer.
Ah well. I might throw most of it away keeping a few of the bottles as reference (might age well but I doubt it!)
Time to concentrate on the next brew.
Dont throw them away PoP,drop a few bottles into my depot at Reading and let me and a few friends 'critique' the brew for you
.Colin
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PieOPah
Well, rather than throwing anything away, I decided to give this beer another go. This time I didn't bother chilling it first.
While it is still a dissapointing beer, I am finding that it is more bearable than the first time I tried it. Two bottles of the stuff and I think I am actually enjoying it.
If making this again, I would definately leave out the fruit and would probably
a) increase the carapils to 1kg
or
b) swap the 500g carapils for 1kg of crystal
or
c) add 500g of crystal
I feel that the beer is too watery and needs more body. I want a slightly heavier beer!! Still, although I won't be taking this to my parents at christmas, it gives me something to drink until my next brew is ready
While it is still a dissapointing beer, I am finding that it is more bearable than the first time I tried it. Two bottles of the stuff and I think I am actually enjoying it.
If making this again, I would definately leave out the fruit and would probably
a) increase the carapils to 1kg
or
b) swap the 500g carapils for 1kg of crystal
or
c) add 500g of crystal
I feel that the beer is too watery and needs more body. I want a slightly heavier beer!! Still, although I won't be taking this to my parents at christmas, it gives me something to drink until my next brew is ready
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PieOPah