" Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....

[Goulders]

Ah, but not far from 'Ditch's Stout'. There is a thermostat in the room which says 18 overnight, but I think I'll invest in a heater.

I can then put under the stairs, away from the moans of the missus. Also, the thrashing was to stir the yeast up again to finish it's business. If nothing happens? Then I'll keg at the weekend and enjoy!

[crafty john]

Guys; What ever ye do: Don't Buy Cheap, Chinese Heaters Off The Bay!

Go to a local, family run pet shop ~ if one still exists these days? Buy a 50 Watt one with integral thermostat which ye can very easily set by an external knob, while viewing a clear, sliding panel on the 'side', telling ye what temp' ye setting to.

Won't be half as cheap as Honk Kong Charlie's. But, nor will it be a piece of total crap!

Now don't say I didn't warn ye.

I'll second that, I bought a cheap heater off ebay which came from China, it lasted one brew and then crapped out

[hong]

Right guys, the ten days will be up tommorow and my first ever Ditches stout will be ready for kegging. I know that ditch never primes, but does anyone else & if so how much sugar do you add? Also, this is my first ever beer and never used a keg before, so i`m a little anxious about co2 and all that. So, do i simply syphon from my FV straight into keg and once all in simply screw the lid on then leave?
Hope these questions dont sound too silly, just want to get this so right so i can enjoy a stout from home and show it off to my mates!

[Ditch]

I must say, I'm rather amazed to realise there's no 'FAQ' thread, on this board, to cover such essentially basic information.

Hong; I shouldn't worry about gas for a good while yet, mate. Priming the keg with sugar will produce enough of that as it is. Ye only 'need' to add gas once ye've poured off some.

Surely there must be a link to the bog basics round here somewhere? I never really leave this board so I'm probably missing it

[hong]

Cheers for the fast reply Ditch, so you reckon to simply syphon into barrel and leave? Forget about adding sugar yeah?

[Paddy Bubbles]

Finally got my first batch of Ditch's on. Couldn't resist adding a little extra Fuggles for flavour. (I LOVE the hops...) Hey, it ain't a true Ditch's stout, but should be damn good.

Some more info on my "brewday"... Had some issues with clumping of the amber spraymalt, but eventually got them sorted by sieving them out and boiling in a little water. I had a spare sachet of Coopers ale yeast, so I added 1.5 sachets in total, giving about 11g, equivalent to a Safale. Should be enough to give all that sugar a good kick. Now the interminable wait.... I'm just not cut out for the wait....

[Goulders]

Well... just over 7 days in FV and kegged my Ditch's stout this afternoon.

Tastes flippin lovely (had a little taste before syphoning off). I was surprised how it fermented so quickly and was 1010 when kegged. I have primed with 70g sugar (not true ditch style) and looking forward to getting tucked in!

[hong]

So those of you who use hydrometers, how strong is this brew turning out?

[Paddy Bubbles]

I got me a 1.048 OG. That's made with 1kg of amber spraymalt and 200g sugar. Not sure what the FG might be but 1.010 sounds respectable.

[Paddy Bubbles]

Well... just over 7 days in FV and kegged my Ditch's stout this afternoon.

Tastes flippin lovely (had a little taste before syphoning off). I was surprised how it fermented so quickly and was 1010 when kegged. I have primed with 70g sugar (not true ditch style) and looking forward to getting tucked in!

I had a taste before I even pitched the yeast. Really nice, and it can only get better!

[Ditch]

Cheers for the fast reply Ditch, so you reckon to simply syphon into barrel and leave? Forget about adding sugar yeah?

Not necessarily, Hong. Not by any means.

A friend of mine said to me, only the other day, how she really must come round and sample some of this 'legendary' stout I'm said to be producing. We then fell to discussing it. I having to point out that it was too cold yet to taste my gear at its best, and so on.

Somewhere along the line, I pointed out that ~ as I niether prime nor gas my stuff now, it doesn't hold a head like the Guinness' sat in front of us. Her face dropped like a stone! Like; 'What? No ever lasting, glass staining, thick and creamy head?!'

So, I defied her to blindfold her damn self and drink some Guinness. If she wasn't primed to look out for the vague sensation of her top lip being covered by foam, a split second before she tasted the beer? What earthly difference would it make?

But, some people just Like to see head. Fine. Then use sugar / gas. I imagine either will give ye a head.

Will it be 'proper' " Ditch's Stout " with / without? Read this full thread. See how this thing's evolved. My stuff's organic, in that sense. I've used gas and no sugar. I've possibly used sugar and gas. Now I use neither ~ for priming / heading. But, I originally never added any sugar to the FV either. Now I do

'Aha!', ye say. 'But you're a right crotchety old bastard when anyone dares deviate from ye norm!'.

No. I'd repost; I'm only ever concerned that anyone may make some slant on what ever I've ever done ~ sling in a tin of treacle or a pound of hops ~ then start declaring they tried this " Ditch's Stout " and it was f**king Vile!

That's what I'm touchy about. Made my way(s), this stuff wears my colours and most (Not All) people find it gorgeous. But, start messing with my own recipe(s) and please don't go around saying ye made " Ditch's Stout " and then slating something I've never even made myself. See? Be like blaming my Dogs for something. Just because I keep Dogs

I've used CO2. I find it a bit touch and go, frankly. Can take ten minutes to get a pint, all that damn froth! But, that's a 'Legal Ditch's'. Mk 1 ? I've never used sugar to Prime. But, I now add a mug to the FV. (Ditch's Mk 3 ?)

Bottom line is: Do ye want a head that ye can look at till it's sat in the bottom of the glass? Or do ye want to Drink the f**king stuff? That's how I see it, anyway

[Ditch]

Well... just over 7 days in FV and kegged my Ditch's stout this afternoon.

I have primed with 70g sugar (not true ditch style) and looking forward to getting tucked in!

I can live with that, Goulders I'll attack mine in five days, under emergency measures. It's never at its best. But, it's still better than much else!

Priming sugar? * Shrugs * Dunno. How much is 70g, compared to a mug full? What sort of sugar?

I hear them say 'priming' sugar hardly effects flavour? Wouldn't know. Can a mug of raw cane in the FV of 20 L's make that much difference either?

[Goulders]

Good question ditch. I put a mug of dark muscovado sugar in the FV with the yeast...it was all I had that wasn't normal white.

Don't think the priming sugar will affect flavour (it didn't on my Wherry) but may help it keep longer in the barrel. Don't drink as quickly as you I don't think !

[Paddy Bubbles]

This bad boy is "braining" all over the kitchen!!! SWMBO is going mad!

[Ditch]

You were warned! I hope ye have it on some non porous surface, or something?