St Austell's Tribute

[chrisr]

It has to be said that Sharps is very popular in the SW. I think there's an element of anything-but-St-Austell in this - because StA have the area so well covered. For myself I've tried it a couple of times, down in the SW, where it should be at its best, and I don't like it at all. It was bland, and with a slightly unpleasant taste, to me. I made a mental note never to drink it again. I gave it two chances! But as I say, the locals seem to love it, so perhaps it's brewed to suit their tastebuds and not mine (a northerner).

As you may have heard, Sharps have sold out to Coors, so who knows what will happen to the brand and the beer. I can see it being brewed in Burton On Trent one day!

I do like Skinners (Truro) though. Several quite tasty beers. (I know the person that came up with the design for Happy Hosteller (a 'special' produced for the YHA))

You have to insist s-i-l tries Tribute - that will turn anybody to drink!

[weiht]

Doombar certainly have a strong following down south, but it seems that they are also doing well outside. Its pretty impressive given how sharp isnt a pub company as well.

Oh my s.i.l. knows about my obsession with cornwall and tribute. I'd be hoping she brings me back some bottles of proper job, admiral ale and id like to try the Proper black if its available. She would be pissed when she find out what i intend her to bring home for me, hopefully a beer engine lol

[weiht]

The hop aroma of this beer seem to go downwards after a month in the keg.

[Rubbery]

Yes, I am losing a bit of hop aroma. I wonder if the brewery cask beer does too? I doubt a barrel lasts more than a few days in a pub.

[weiht]

I'm guessing 2 weeks conditioning in the brewery then another 3 days in the pin cellar, and max 3 days serving till empty???

[chrisr]

I was down in Cornwall last week - sampled plenty of Tribute. I also bottled some, in crown cap bottles, and brought it home! The locals were most bemused. "Can't you get Tribute where you live, then?"

Comparing my latest brew (just started drinking): it's close. Mine does have all the same flavours. But...

Firstly the real Tribute is a bit hoppier to the nose, and a bit more citrusy, so I'll be upping the final Styrians.

Secondly, my experiment with melanoidin malt was successful to a degree. The colour of my brew now matches the real thing. However, it's overdone the sweetness. Mine is now too sweet and 'full'. So less melanoidin next time. So it seems Cornish Gold is important to this, and Munich isn't quite the same thing. (So how did he make Daylight Robbery, then?!)

Also, I think the mineral balance in the real thing is different to my beer. Mine seems 'muddy' and confused. All the flavours are there, but need sharpening up and separating, somehow. So a bit more sulphate and sodium next time, maybe.

[weiht]

did u try the new st austell beers as well? I think the shark thats been spotted in cornwall was there for the tribute...

One thing i always thought was the level of carbonation is really important. Too much and the beer is too fizzy and masks the hop aroma, think there is the magic of serving it through the beer engine.

I be getting my SIL to get me the properjob bottles, so i can cultivate the yeast

Oh one thing as well is that alot of things that's said abt this beer is on the willamette use in it, it seems that there is very little mentioned on the styrians, and seems to suggest most of the magic is from the willamette.

[chrisr]

The new ones aren't released yet, they were going to be premiered at the Cornwall Show, the weekend we were there, I think. We didn't go to the show. I have had the new one, Trelawny, I think it is, at the last beer festival. It was OK. Though I do (did ) like Tinners - it was a lovely session beer.

Absolutely - the CO2 level does alter the flavour. Mine is under slight pressure, in a polythene barrel. I don't deliberately 'gas it up', as I don't like a fizzy beer. So it's fairly close to how it would be served for real.

I stocked up on bottled Proper Job, Admirals and Clouded Yellow at Tescos at Padstow. It was very reasonably priced. I just checked a Proper Job and it says it is bottle conditioned and it has yeast in the bottom, so I hope you can resurrect the yeast successfully. Admirals also seems to have the yeast in, if you can't get Proper Job.

I wouldn't disagree with that, but the citrusy styrians are a counterbalance to the soft fruit and malt sweetness. My last brew is too sweet and fruity - it's not balanced.

[Russ]

I'm pretty sure my origional source of the St Austell yeast came from a bottle or two of Admirals. It seems to be a great yeast IMO, and propper top cropper that makes a massive yeast head. I've had it on slant fro over 12 months now and use it regularly. Just dont underpitch it otherwise it will sulk and not finish properly.

Cheers

Russ

[phatboytall]

FYI i've had it confirmed from the brewery that Clouded Yellow holds the main brewery yeast. Perfect capture point for future clones etc...

"Subject: Clouded Yellow
Dear Mr Murphy

About the clouded yellow , yes we use the same yeast for fermentation and for our bottle condition
Yes is standard St Austell yeast
I'm happy that you enjoy our products if you have more question, please let me know

Kind regards,

Paola Leather
Technical Brewer "

[chrisr]

I think that is confirmed somewhere back in this thread. They only use the one yeast strain for everything.

Paola Leather? Who?! What's a Technical Brewer?

[Bobba]

I'm pretty sure my origional source of the St Austell yeast came from a bottle or two of Admirals. It seems to be a great yeast IMO, and propper top cropper that makes a massive yeast head. I've had it on slant fro over 12 months now and use it regularly. Just dont underpitch it otherwise it will sulk and not finish properly.

Cheers

Russ

HAve any troubles with flocculation? My last batch using this yeast took frickin aaaaages to clear. Whacked some isinglass in there eventually, hopefully that'll cure it

[Russ]

Hi Bobba

No mine seems to floc great (I keg everything). 10 days in primary then into the keg, usually bright in 14 days or little more now it's warmer.

Cheers

Russ

[Bobba]

Hmm ok, will ahve to have another crack at it then. Obviously was a bit unlucky with the last go. Should really test these bottle conditioned yeasts out on a trial batch before committing to a full batch

[chrisr]

A slight digression: Pete Brown's beer blog video features St A this month.

http://vimeo.com/25741393