Fullers Bengal Lancer

[DarloDave]

Currently drinking a bottle of this, and really impressed.. Lovely spicy hopiness. Anybody got a recipe?

[coatesg]

Pale malt, goldings (according to label), but don't know if there's any crystal in there too. WLP002 probably a good bet for yeast strain

I'd perhaps try 1060, 50% hops bittering, 25% each for flavour and aroma. Work it out to 50IBUs?

[DarloDave]

Ah I didnt notice anything on the label, I was wondering about the hops. I think it tastes dry hopped too, might stick 50 grams or so dry hop! hmm..

[coatesg]

Ah - but a bit more digging reveals this on Zak Avery's blog: linky.

Summary:

Bengal Lancer for cask is brewed with Goldings and Fuggles in the copper, and then dry-hopped with Goldings and Target in the fermentation vessel. An identical version is brewed for bottle, but slightly stronger, and it is chill-filtered and pasteurised before being bottle-conditioned.


Wouldn't have thought that there was target in the dry hop there. And kinda puts my first recipe stab out the window... (but you could always start with it, and go 50:50 fuggles goldings on the bittering perhaps. Then fiddle with the dry hopping...).

[DarloDave]

Ahh excellent!

Cheers!

[naffolddog]

As Bengal Lancer is bottle conditioned you could even rescue some of the yeast from the bottle and grow a starter from that for your yeast strain? I used some for a Chiswick clone and it worked a treat.

[coatesg]

I found there was bugger all yeast in my bottle really. Plus, I had three failures with the 1845 yeast too - I'd personally just go and buy a tube of WLP002, but your milage may vary!

[steve_flack]

I had zero success with 1845 as well.

[naffolddog]

I agree there is only the faintest trace of yeast in the bottle, but it was enough to get a 300ml starter going before stepping up a couple of times to a decent pitching amount.

[Scotty]

I've just poured a bottle of BL and noticed the lack of yeast, although it is there.

I tried this beer when it first came out and I wasn't too impressed but it is growing on me, and is now a regular buy (along with Youngs Special LA) when I go to my local Sainsburys.

A one for the brew schedule I reckon

[Normski]

Hi DarloDave
Did you make this? If so how was it?
Is there anything you can add to the recipe suggestion?

[micmacmoc]

Has anyone got anywhere with cloning this wonderful ale?

[Normski]

Has anyone got anywhere with cloning this wonderful ale?

Hi Mmm

I havnt done the recipe above exactly, but after drinking Bengal Lancer I wanted to make something in that style. I make an IPA that I've called Splitter and its is of a similar brew. I've used captured yeast from Bengal Lancer.
It tastes better than Bengal lancer to me. But then I would say that. Its all in the yeast. I do love that yeast.
I didn't use crystal.

[micmacmoc]

Thanks Normski! I have'nt the skill to do captured yeast...or the time. Is there a preferred dry yeast option? I'd imagine windsor is probably the least bad?
Thats lots of fuggles! I'm assuming a 23 lt length? Looks like a proper IPA, just the ting with a Chicken Madras.
I suppose I could venture into liquid yeasts, not tried them yet.
Thanks again, its added to the list.

[Normski]

Thanks Normski! I have'nt the skill to do captured yeast...or the time. Is there a preferred dry yeast option? I'd imagine windsor is probably the least bad?
Thats lots of fuggles! I'm assuming a 23 lt length? Looks like a proper IPA, just the ting with a Chicken Madras.
I suppose I could venture into liquid yeasts, not tried them yet.
Thanks again, its added to the list.

Hi Mmm

You could buy a WLP002, It’s the Fullers strain.
Im no expert and even I can get the Bengal lancer yeast going. It’s really easy. And it’s virtually free. You need some malt or extract. I always save the last runnings from the previous brew to use for yeast propagation. You can practice on one of your own bottle conditioned beers. To see how easy it is. I add more and more wort until I have about 2l or Im about ready to brew. Then I stop adding wort for a few days. Then I pour away most of the used wort and keep the yeasty bottom of the bottle. I pour half into my FV with the new brew, and keep the other half to continue propagating.

And as for the load of Fuggles. I live in Hereford just up the road from a several Hop farms (all Fuggles). I bought a load last September and thought I'd use some of them up on a nice IPA. Well worth it to. Hops are good and cheap at the moment; this is the time to use them.

Think I should add that. Mine isn't a Bengal Lancer clone. It’s just my homage to an IPA that uses Bengal Lancer yeast. Don’t want to send anyone up the wrong way. But it’s a mighty fine brew that I have made again and again. I think I'd better buy a bottle of Bengal Lancer and do an AB comparison.