Milestone Crusader by accident

[fivetide]

After recording two readings of 1.011 24 hrs apart, decided to take the opportunity this evening to move this into secondary where it will stay for close to a week to clear before racking to a keg at around 1.010. I didn't take an OG but can only guess that it's dropped by around .03ish


Used the siphon which I've finally decided I definitely like more than taps and tubes because for me it gets more of the beer out with less air involved in the process.


Had a taste and it was very clean, no noticable taints to tell of. Added a weighted bag with just 30g Cascade to hop this one up a little in a short burst.


Looks a great golden colour - could be a nice cold beer just six weeks from now...

[buzzrtbi]

Have made 2 Milestone brews now The Home Wrecker and the Lions Pride.

Both of them have got off to a flying start (using the supplied Gervin yeast) but after 2 days all action subsides. This is despite giving the wort a damn good thrashing before pitching the hydrated (working) yeast and keeping the temperature around 23 degrees. The SG dropped on both from 1040 to around 1016. After a couple of days on the Lions Pride it dropped to around 1012 despite looking very sluggish throughout. I kegged it anyway and after about 4 weeks was absolutely spot on.

The Home Wrecker did exactly the same but I tried adding a second batch of yeast and vit (and rousing gently the sediment) - kept temp at about 23 and nothing spectacular happened - the odd bubble or two !!

Again - SG dropped to around 1012 (not the 1009 specified in the leaflet) and racked it (with priming glucose). Took longer to clear than the LP but clear it did and it was fine.

I was meticulous in the cleaning of the kit and tried additional aeration (after the LP experience) before pitching yeast.

My only conclusion is that my temerature is slightly on the high side (23/24) as I keep it in a warm kitchen (AGO on so no temp fluctuations) and fermentation seems to go mad until yeast burns itself out possibly?

need a yeast expert to advise?

enjoy the brew though - the 2 that I have made have been very tasty.

On to AG now though.....

[fivetide]

Had the evening to myself tonight, so took the opportunity to rack the Crusader following six days in secondary with the Cascade. Hoiked the hops. Tested at 1.010 which will do just fine. I used my new pal the Little Bottler straight away this time and filled six pint swingtops containing a half tsp glucose each. Next I filled a Corni I haven't used before (one with a continental tap) with a blanket of CO2, released the pressure and siphoned 19 litres in to it up to the gas tube limit.

All went very smoothly actually, probably my calmest racking yet. I also got a nice few tasters of the brew and it's shaping up really well and tastes like it is - a pale ale with a Cascade kick. So, a week in the warm under two pounds of pressure then out to the shed/garage with it for another three weeks.

Hohum, still no beer to drink, but another step towards the Spring Shedstival...

[fivetide]

Haha!

[fivetide]

Just seen on JBK that Milestone is defunct - terrible news especially for people on their first brews. My experience has been of excellent kits and instructions and I was readying myself for more orders. Must have been a terrible business plan because it was marketed well, I'm the target audience, and I have bought product and suggested to friends to buy product. Madness!

[JohnJeye]

its madness, I'm pretty upset as its done me very well for starting out. The lady in the shop has said they fly off the shelves as well. Going to have to go in on Tuesday and pick some up. I guess this means that malt extract and spray malt is also going to be very hard to find and probably of a lesser quality

[PMH0810]

Milestone out of business??? I've only just bought their Olde Homewrecker, not put it together yet.

They looked so professional and I've not read a bad word about them.

Gutted.

[fivetide]

I've only done this one - weirdest ferment, cleared in stages, but always smelled great and I think it's going to turn out really well. I'm dissapointed about the news too, but hopefully they'll have a few kits out there in the market. My brother is currently doing the Imperial Pale Ale, so if that one and the Crusader turn out well maybe we'll invest in more. In the meantime I'll put these bottled Crusaders in a dark cupboard until they're worth millions on eBay...

[fivetide]

Banished to the shed today to condition - really fancy this one, but a few weeks to wait yet.

[PMH0810]

Just seen on JBK that Milestone is defunct - terrible news especially for people on their first brews. My experience has been of excellent kits and instructions and I was readying myself for more orders. Must have been a terrible business plan because it was marketed well, I'm the target audience, and I have bought product and suggested to friends to buy product. Madness!

Possibly old news but Milestone have not gone out of business; I queried with the site and quote the response below (sic.)

"I CAN ASURE YOU WE HAVE NOT GONE IN TO RECIEVERSHIP THE COMPANY THAT PRODUCES THE MALT EXTRA FOR OUR HOME BREW KITS HAS GONE INTO RECIEVERSHIP NOT US "

Thank you Ken Munroe!

[fivetide]

Aha, which reminds me! The Crusader Belgian Blonde is absolutely gorgeous with a really creamy tight head to it. I've got it really cold out in the garage and it's fab. Pretty clear when poured (from a nice Norm continental tap as a touch) and brightens really nicely in the hand too as it warms up. Highly recommended, although maybe make it sober, unlike me.

[Beerwulf]

Does look good! Makes me fancy a polystyrene tray of roadside Frites and a blob of that yellow mayo.

[marky66]

Ive just tried 2 bottles of my Crusader tonight , a bit early I know , as its only been bottled 1 week , but I think this is the best kit Ive made, the addition of Cascade has given it a lovely citrus edge

[jonnyv]

I've dry hopped mine with Challenger hops after reading the tasting notes.

It's currently in secondary for a week then will be kegged when my new corni arrives

[fivetide]

I had a couple of pints the other night while brewing - I think it's a fantastic beer - bright, light, full of the dryhops! A top notch summer sup, but it really needs plenty of patience to ferment and even more to condition.