decisions decisions...

[Gurgeh]

All set up for a brew day tomorrow...

I'm going to do a Nelson-Sauvin (13.3%AA) based brew.

5.5 Kg MO will give me 1.047 @ 23L

the boil - 60 mins

25g N-S (FWH)
25g N-S 15 minutes

will give 37.6 IBU (Tinseth)

I want to really suss out this hop, hence the basic grain bill. but on the other hand if i chuck in a bit of crystal (say 300g), it will be more interesting and probably a nicer beer...

I've been trying to decide, but just can't reach a conclusion. Help!

[Dan]

nelson sauvin I'd be very interested to hear your opinions of this hop. Clive at brupaks is aparently keen to promote this one.

At my LHBS its selling for £4.75 per 100g

I doubt the 300g of crystal will mask the flavours of a 13%A/A hop to any degree. Ive used the Green bullet 12%a/a and Pacific gem 18%a/a
pacific gem was pungent piny resinous woody blackcurranty and powerfully present after 60mins boiling! i would chuck the crystal in as a safeguard to add a little balance to the brew

[prolix]

You'll have to let us know what those hops taste like

[Gurgeh]

nelson sauvin I'd be very interested to hear your opinions of this hop. Clive at brupaks is aparently keen to promote this one.

I've just got DE's recommendation to go by, I know some others have used it and i'm keen to hear about it too.

At my LHBS its selling for £4.75 per 100g

i got from H&G for a lot less than that...

I doubt the 300g of crystal will mask the flavours of a 13%A/A hop to any degree. Ive used the Green bullet 12%a/a and Pacific gem 18%a/a
pacific gem was pungent piny resinous woody blackcurranty and powerfully present after 60mins boiling! i would chuck the crystal in as a safeguard to add a little balance to the brew

No longer sitting on the fence... Thanks Dan!

[Vossy1]

Enjoy the brew day G

[monk]

Good call adding the crystal, in my opinion. A little soft caramel flavor will complement whatever the hops deliver.

[steve_flack]

Maybe some lighter coloured crystal would be nice instead of the normal 60L/120EBC stuff?

[Gurgeh]

I love my PID!

I've just packed the wife and kids off for the day and i can see through the shed window that the strike water is at 78.1C

I've only go the standard crystal, steve. i think you're thinking the same thing as me though - if i had it i would definitely use it.

I'm also going to try that finely ground ounce of black patent in the last 10 minutes trick.

SF - I know you're underletting too, do you think that if i add the liquor for the second batch at the top instead then that will prevent me from just draining off plain liquor from below the false bottom when i start the 2nd running?

[steve_flack]

SF - I know you're underletting too, do you think that if i add the liquor for the second batch at the top instead then that will prevent me from just draining off plain liquor from below the false bottom when i start the 2nd running?

I stir my second 'batch' so the only plain liquor I draw off is that which is knocking about in the pipes. If you add at the top then you're going to have to stir it in anyway. It depends what set up you have - if you have a false bottom then it might be worth it - otherwise not.

[steve_flack]

I doubt the 300g of crystal will mask the flavours of a 13%A/A hop to any degree. Ive used the Green bullet 12%a/a and Pacific gem 18%a/a
pacific gem was pungent piny resinous woody blackcurranty and powerfully present after 60mins boiling! i would chuck the crystal in as a safeguard to add a little balance to the brew

Depends on the hop variety. I've used some of the 'clean' high alpha varieties (Horizon and Magnum mainly) and you'd never know they were high alpha. Very smooth. Interesting you mention green bullet - I used that in a Duvel-style beer for bittering as a Styrian sub with Saaz for finishing. Came out great.

[Gurgeh]

well.... only had 200g of crystal so that was that!

to make matters worse/better i had more malt left than i thought - looks like i'm doing an IPA then

should come out at around 1.060, 44IBU and a colour of 8 (SRM)

I wanted to hit a mash temp of 65C and - for the first time - the mash is totally spot on. looks like i've got the measure of my new brewery at last

pH is bang on 5.3

My stepped up starter from a bottle of TEA is raring to go and my hops are all measured up too.

This is great

btw I could show you photos, but it look exactly the same, whether it's boiling, mashing, fermenting, sanitising or empty...

[Dan]

i hope it all turns out well

I doubt the 300g of crystal will mask the flavours of a 13%A/A hop to any degree. Ive used the Green bullet 12%a/a and Pacific gem 18%a/a
pacific gem was pungent piny resinous woody blackcurranty and powerfully present after 60mins boiling! i would chuck the crystal in as a safeguard to add a little balance to the brew

Depends on the hop variety. I've used some of the 'clean' high alpha varieties (Horizon and Magnum mainly) and you'd never know they were high alpha. Very smooth. Interesting you mention green bullet - I used that in a Duvel-style beer for bittering as a Styrian sub with Saaz for finishing. Came out great.

I was grouping it with the other newzealand high alpha hybrids but It was really the Pacific gem that had the power aroma. TBH I was using green bullet with other hops at the time. on its own ive seen it recomended for lager styles, Thanks for the info, it sounds like its quiet clean in its self.

[Gurgeh]

all done - most amazing cold break!





and my aeration system kicks up an impressive amount of foam!