Gardeners' Mild - Brewday 22/09/08 (gloomy photos added)

[adm]

That seal generator is pretty neat. Thanks!

[ChrisG]

Nice scope!

I'm into astronomy too.

Thanks!

Sadly, it doesn't get out too much at the momet as it's a right pain to move and set up. however - I just ordered a ScopeBuggy from the US, so once that arrives I can leave it permanently set up on that and just roll it out on a whim! I can't wait - as the nights are drawing in....

Here's some pics (kind of repetitive.....just Saturn and Mars):
astroclicky

And here's a ScopeBuggy:
buggyclicky

Great pictures, like you I havent been out in a while, but I built an observatory so if I feel the need its easy just to roll the roof back. See my link below.

[adm]

Love the observatory. I wish i had one, but it's a big project.....and i think a brewery is next on the list!

Great pics as well. i need to get my DSLR hooked up to my scope....maybe I'll get that done this autumn.

(I've still got a Meade Deep Sky Imager in the box thati bought three or four years ago and haven't got round to using yet!)

[fivetide]

Meanwhile, I skimmed all the trub and break material that had formed a muesli style cap on this brew. It looked like flat Coke afterwards. By the end of lunch a nice yeast head had begun to form and the airlock started gurgling comfortingly. Ace.

[fivetide]

Yeast head all back now, covered in blackness, which is all a new experience for a golden ale chap like me.

Still gurgling along happily - I hope to move this into secondary at the weekend if it has reached 1.010 by then. Still rebuilding a yeast head right now though, so I've black bagged it and left it alone.

[fivetide]

Head has now subsided, so I gave it a quick look-see today. It's down to 1.014 for a target 1.010, so I'll probably wait until Sunday before transferring into a secondary. It's still bubbling healthily (and tastes great out of the FV!)

[coatesg]

Ah-ha more astronomers!

Yum - looks a tasty one - putting the homegrown fuggles to good use too!

[fivetide]

I hope so - it's a little daunting using homegrown as copper hops because of the unknown AA, but I've guessed low and thrown in a fair chunk, so should be okay I hope.

Must find a use for WGV too I guess!

[fivetide]

This is now 1.012, maybe 1.011 and with a target of 1.010 and a busy day tomorrow I've pushed it into secondary for a week or so to clear. I must say it smells and tastes great - not like a porter, but somewhere between a mild and a stout, and not a million miles away from Over the Moon, which is my goal one day.

Anyway. Pics.

Going...


Going...
g

Gone!

[mixbrewery]

Looks to be a good drop of the black stuff.
I can taste it from here

[fivetide]

Quite looking forward to it actually. Back to lighter ales soon though - via a red.

[fivetide]

After a few days away, I transferred this from secondary to keg last night. It had dropped nicely and smelled good.

I have to say, that although I usually choose light hoppy beers on tap, this is potentially the most successful beer I've made to date, because from the fermenter it already tastes just like I intended (always a bonus!). It appears clean and clear; a strongish mild full of malt layers and hop notes. I'll be good and let it condition, but if it continues the way it has started out, I'll be dead pleased and could brew a stronger strain for Christmas.

Rah!

I managed to fill a Corni under CO2, a couple of swingtops primed with just a small amount of glucose, and um, a pint glass...

It'll sit here next to my desk for a week then go out to the shed until Bonfire Night.

[fivetide]

Now dubbed Dark Garden, I tapped this one yesterday, earlier than planned, because some friends came over to help me drink it.

Success! Tastes great; lots of flavours but extremely drinkable. Certainly the match of many commercial milds / porters.

I'm dead pleased - especially because I grew the Fuggles - and I will definitely brew this again as soon as I have some grain again.

My most satisfying end-to-end brewing experience to date. Rah!

When I pour another pint this evening I'll post a photo.

[Chemo]

Is it possible to have a 'hoppy' mild?
it sounds nice- but I always thought that milds were traditionally low hopped
anything dark and hoppy is better as far as I'm concerned- my last mild was very disappointing as it was neither dark nor hoppy!

[fivetide]

Popular modern milds like Pressed Rat and Over the Moon are far more hoppy than the old style like Batemans DM or Green King style malts.

I know which I prefer too!

By the way, here's the finished pint. I need some more malt, and another brewday, fast!