Been meaning to attempt a brew with a bottle of fizzy pop for a while, just for the hell of it. Then the posting re root beer appeared and I knew then that I had to get my arse in gear. It was Martial Ant's mention though of wanting to try an alcoholic Irn Bru that was the push I needed, so I've made this. Oor Wullie Ale. As any true fan of the wee fella knows, dandelion and burdock is his favourite drink, so for a grown up how about an alcoholic version?
Now I know this may not come out tasting too nice BUT if I follow basic brewing procedure then taste can be it's only downfall.
It's pretty much made on the cheap.
1 bottle Morrisons Dandelion & Burdock (the with sugar kind - less of a preservative issue) 44p
250g Black Treacle (just over half a tin) 47p a tin (Morrisons offer)
300g Dark Spraymalt (this was what was left in an already opened pack) about £3 for a 500g pack
Fifth of a teaspoon of Young's yeast food and heading compound (why not)
1 teaspoon of Young's yeast nutrient
1 6g pack of yeast from a kit (always handy to keep these yeasts - think this was from a Sampson's Newkie Brown)
Boiled up the pop, treacle, and malt. Cooled, added to demi (1 gallon), topped up with water. SG1046. Added the food stuff, nutrient, and yeast, bloody good shake. Next day bubbling like a goodun.
What joy awaits?
Oor Wullie Ale
Re: Oor Wullie Ale
Hope it turns out a good un, BB. 
-
GlossopTiger
Re: Oor Wullie Ale
Along with the Vimto experiment i have going
I would be interested in knowing what the OG/Palch from Sir Kens D&B
This is getting serious
We initially had alco pops
Now us middy's are havin a go
I must admit that as a just teenager i would only drink Vimto
I have always liked D&B
Is this Middy heaven, alcopops od our youth
I'm still waitin to see how the IrnBru turns out
Ohh happy days
I would be interested in knowing what the OG/Palch from Sir Kens D&B
This is getting serious
We initially had alco pops
Now us middy's are havin a go
I must admit that as a just teenager i would only drink Vimto
I have always liked D&B
Is this Middy heaven, alcopops od our youth
I'm still waitin to see how the IrnBru turns out
Ohh happy days
-
BlackBag
Re: Oor Wullie Ale
Time for an update.
After the first 2 days of frenzied fermenting activity it stopped. I left it another 2 days then took a reading, 1016. Also had a small taste, very very sweet. I believe all the fermentable sugars have now been fermented out and what's left are the nasty unfermentables (artificial sweetners / preservatives). Regardless I soldiered on. Added 1 teaspoon of Young's super wine yeast compound stuff, just in case the original yeasties had knocked themselves out. Bloody good shake (by the way this was still quite highly carbonated). There was bubbling for another 24 hours, but I'm almost sure this was down to the shaking and not any new fermentation.
My options are either 1) Bottle it as is and hope the taste matures with age or 2) Add some Dry Beer Enzyme in the hope that the unfermentables will get fermented. Unfortunately I aint got any, and even if I had I don't think they would work on this.
If in doubt, do nowt. It'll not do any harm sitting there for a few more days until I can get my hands on DBE to try. In the meantime I'll do some research and see if it is indeed worth trying anyway.
After the first 2 days of frenzied fermenting activity it stopped. I left it another 2 days then took a reading, 1016. Also had a small taste, very very sweet. I believe all the fermentable sugars have now been fermented out and what's left are the nasty unfermentables (artificial sweetners / preservatives). Regardless I soldiered on. Added 1 teaspoon of Young's super wine yeast compound stuff, just in case the original yeasties had knocked themselves out. Bloody good shake (by the way this was still quite highly carbonated). There was bubbling for another 24 hours, but I'm almost sure this was down to the shaking and not any new fermentation.
My options are either 1) Bottle it as is and hope the taste matures with age or 2) Add some Dry Beer Enzyme in the hope that the unfermentables will get fermented. Unfortunately I aint got any, and even if I had I don't think they would work on this.
If in doubt, do nowt. It'll not do any harm sitting there for a few more days until I can get my hands on DBE to try. In the meantime I'll do some research and see if it is indeed worth trying anyway.
-
BlackBag
Re: Oor Wullie Ale
Bottled this tonight. FG1012.
I'm going to leave it a couple of months before trying one though, we all know how long treacle can take.
One positive I'll take from this experiment so far is that It managed to get down to 1012. At one point I was seriously considering DBE. Just goes to show a little patience can go a long way.
I'm going to leave it a couple of months before trying one though, we all know how long treacle can take.
One positive I'll take from this experiment so far is that It managed to get down to 1012. At one point I was seriously considering DBE. Just goes to show a little patience can go a long way.
-
arturobandini
- Under the Table
- Posts: 1212
- Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:14 pm
- Location: North London
Re: Oor Wullie Ale
Hi Blackbag,
There is no shortage of fun threads to read in "other brews" here on Jim's. How is this chugging along?
There is no shortage of fun threads to read in "other brews" here on Jim's. How is this chugging along?
Planning - Not for a long while
Fermenting - I'm Done
Bottle Maturing - Hobgoblin, Fullers ESB, American Stout, TOP, Fullers London Porter, Bandini Black IPA
Drinking - Still...Whiskey
Fermenting - I'm Done
Bottle Maturing - Hobgoblin, Fullers ESB, American Stout, TOP, Fullers London Porter, Bandini Black IPA
Drinking - Still...Whiskey
-
BlackBag
Re: Oor Wullie Ale
I'm holding out until new year. I just know that it's going to taste far too sweet and I'll be gutted. On the other hand if it works, well, the supermarket shelves beckon!
-
BlackBag
Re: Oor Wullie Ale
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
Words can't describe the sheer horror of this foul concoction. It's not just that it's too sweet, that I could live with, it's the god awful "wrong" aftertaste. There's just something not right here. Please, good people, save yourselves the heartache. There aint any merit in trying to recreate this foul abomination. No amount of time conditioning can save such a pestilent pot of piss.
NASTY
Words can't describe the sheer horror of this foul concoction. It's not just that it's too sweet, that I could live with, it's the god awful "wrong" aftertaste. There's just something not right here. Please, good people, save yourselves the heartache. There aint any merit in trying to recreate this foul abomination. No amount of time conditioning can save such a pestilent pot of piss.
NASTY
-
MartialAnt
Re: Oor Wullie Ale
I made a D&B with black treacle around the same time as you made yours. Mine came out quite well, as long as you like a pint of bonfire toffee with the faintest hint of D&B. Its an acquired taste. Defo a half pinter at a time.
-
WishboneBrewery
- CBA Prizewinner 2010
- Posts: 7874
- Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2008 9:06 pm
- Location: Keighley, West Yorkshire
- Contact: