Woodforde's Admiral's Reserve

[Whrrr]

I've made up an Admiral's Reserve kit and all seemed to go well during first stage. The instructions advise ABV should be about 5% with a FG below 1020 being advisable (this seemed high to me, other kits being around 1012 and 1014). Anyway, my OG was 1042 and FG is stable at 1018. This gives a rough ABV of 3.15%! Any idea what the problem could be? The airlock bubbled away well for 5-6 days and has now just about stopped. I put less water in (21l rather than making it up to 23l in the hope that it would be a little stronger - not weaker). Or have I just mis-read the scale? An OG of 1052 would make more sense...

Thanks!

[AdrianTrace]

I made one of these in February - It's just about ready to drink. Had a tester last night and thought it was far better than Wherry

I've got the front of the box (used for notes) and it says approx abv 4.5%. Mine went from 1042 to 1013 or ~4%, plus a little for priming, probably 4.2%. If you can get it down to 1010 then you might get 4.5% as per the box, but I haven't yet got a 3kg kit down that low.

I would say that 5% is not possible without brewing very short or adding more fermentables. I think the makers list the highest possible abv, not the likely abv.

[Whrrr]

Sorry - yes, 4.5%.

Would rousing the yeast help get that bit more out of it or is it too late or risking infection?

[onehtlead]

I made one of these kits in two 10 ltr batches as i only had a small FV available. first one, 1043 to 1010, with t58 yeast, needed rousing, bottled 29/01/10, very nice, 4 bottles left, which will be supped at the family carry on this weekend. second one, 1045 to 1014, with windsor yeast, again needed rousing, barrelled 13/02/10, then bottled 15/03/10 as I could not stop the tap washer leaking. the barrel mating surface had a high spot on closer inspection. Each had 14 days in the FV. How long has it been in the FV?, 14 days is ok and a gentle rouse with a sterilised spoon will not do any harm, bye the way, what temp have you got?.

[bigdave]

I made one at the end of last year and it stuck at 1016(ish). 2-3 days of rousing dropped it to 1012 and that was as far as it went.

[phillipjohnson]

I've just done an Admirals Reserve and it was down to 1010 after 6 days. I have seen a lot of posts on this forum about Woodfordes kits sticking high though and Woodfordes response seems to be that this is not a problem and can happen. Maybe they have changed their packaging to 1020 because of this issue?

[Whrrr]

Thanks for the helpful replies. It's at 21 degrees and now on day 8. I've just given it a gentle stir with the sterilised spoon so we'll see how it goes. Judging by the above posts, it sounds like I've got something fairly typical and a few more days might help. I normally leave it for 10 days, but may be a few more would help.

[Naich]

I've been leaving my Muntons/Woodefordes kits for up to 14 days, stirring around the 7 day mark, and they usually end up at around 1010-1012. The last one (Ruby Red) started off its fermentation by going nuts and blowing out of the top, but that was only down to 1014 after a week and it took another 7 days of occasional bloiking through the airlock to get down to 1011.

[legion]

I brewed this about 6 weeks ago and I couldn't get to drop below 1018, kegged it and it overly sweet due to the unfermented sugar. It is still a tasty pint.

[Whrrr]

Well, I've put it into a keg today (day 12) at 1015. I plan to leave it for 5 or 6 weeks to try and get the best from it.

Thanks for the advice and tips - much appreciated.

[Whrrr]

It's just about had five weeks conditioning and I tried it last night. To be honest, I must admit I'm disappointed. It's a bit sweet and quite watery and weak. I actually used less water than the kit suggests so I really wasn't expecting that, especially for the approximate ABV and extra hops powder. A few more weeks perhaps?

[Naich]

It's just about had five weeks conditioning and I tried it last night. To be honest, I must admit I'm disappointed. It's a bit sweet and quite watery and weak. I actually used less water than the kit suggests so I really wasn't expecting that, especially for the approximate ABV and extra hops powder. A few more weeks perhaps?

Must be quite variable because mine's just clearing and isn't too bad at all - better than the last Wherry I did. Certainly not the best kit I've done (that would be the Brupaks Birkby bitter) but reasonable flavour and strength. What temperature have you been conditioning it at? How soon did you move it somewhere cooler to mature? I tend to condition at about 20C for 4 days and then move it outside and start sampling a couple of weeks later to keep tabs on it's progress.

[Whrrr]

It had 4 days at 20 degrees with 80g of sugar. It was then in a fridge at 5 degrees for 5 weeks. It's now in the kitchen at around 16 - 17 degrees for serving (haven't really got anywhere cooler unless it's outside!). I noticed the pressure in the keg isn't that great - there might be a slight seal leak in the budget barrel lid, but it's pouring ok without extra CO2 at the moment.

[Naich]

Sounds about right to me. I was wondering if there was some residual sugar remaining, making it to sweet, but 4 days at 20C should be enough. I guess 1015 is a little high for an FG, although I think their instructions say anything under 1020, IIRC.

It's always a bit sad when a brew doesn't come out as well as you hoped. The best thing to do is get another one on

[phillipjohnson]

I think they say anything under 1020 because they have had a few complaints about kits sticking and not going to a very low FG.

I did an Admirals Reserve and it went down to 110... left it for about 10 days in secondary firmentation and it tastes pretty good... it is taking ages to clear though... its been maturing for about 6 weeks and is gradually clearing but still has a little way to go.