Otter Ale

[smuggles]

I was in the pub with my family the other day and my sister decided she really liked Otter Ale and asked me to try to brew something similar. It's rare she actually likes an ale so I'm keen to try and do this, even though I don't think it's dramatically different to other bitters. I haven't been able to find anything through searching, so I was wondering if anyone here has a clone recipe for this, or otherwise knows what makes their beers particularly Otterish.

[jimp2003]

There is this recipe:

Otter Dark Ale

Does it sound close? I think it could be as reviews of the beer mention Fuggles.....

Jim

[ade1865]

my mate works at Otter. What makes their beers distinctive is the yeast. Its only used by them and no other breweries, and gives their whole range a certain homogeneity. I'll see if I can give you a rough recipe, tho we then may have to kill you

[mshergold]

My girlfriend likes Otter too and is disappointed that it's the yeast as she thought it was real otters!

[smuggles]

my mate works at Otter. What makes their beers distinctive is the yeast. Its only used by them and no other breweries, and gives their whole range a certain homogeneity. I'll see if I can give you a rough recipe, tho we then may have to kill you

Thanks, I thought it might be something like that. I'd definitely be interested in seeing a recipe though, if you're allowed to post one, even if my life is at risk!

[gnutz2]

Sorry to be a spoil sport but if its the yeast that gives it the taste then your only a third of the way there when you have the recipe.

One thing i have learned is that yeasts have a massive impact on the flavour of the beer.

Cheers Baz.

[Madbrewer]

If I was doing this beer I'd go with the following (have guessed at 32 IBU's):-

Mad-Otter-Ale
OG 1.043
92% Maris Otter
8% Crystal
Challenger (90 mins) 27 IBU
Fuggle (10 mins) = 5 IBU

I probable wouldn't select a Devon yeast. I would probably go for a proven yeast with my set up. (Brewlabs Somerset 1 for example) Who knows what they use? ... but "Brew Lab 2100 Devon 1" is a yeast from Devon that prefers beers of the strength you want to brew. (http://www.brewlab.co.uk/pdf/yeast_service.pdf). As I'm not sure who the donor brewer is, or how the Otter breweries 'Locally Produced' Yeast is done? I can't say how true to form it will be. As it is available on slant from the-home-brew-shop.co.uk it might just be worth a try?

It's described as low esterability and IMO would be a good start. If you haven't stepped up a slant before though, I'd recomment a packet yeast maybe Muntons Gold?

FWIW I was considering a low gravity Otter-Bitter-like brew something like this:-

OG 1.036
92% Maris Otter
8% Crystal
Challenger (90 mins) 27 IBU
Fuggle (10 mins) = 5 IBU

I think the 'sheet' I am working from was compiled from notes in the Real Ale Drinkers Almanac. It's not my work and I don't even remember how I stumbled accross it. From my Memory of tasting a swift half of Otter Bitter two weeks ago though, it doesn't sound like a bad start. Good Luck!

[retourrbx]

get a pint of it on cask and try and get a starrter going from a pint or try and find a cask that awaiting return and get the yeast that way - do-able i reckon

[pads72]

This reply may be a bit late for this thread, but while on a tour of the Otter Brewery last year, the co-owner Patrick McCaig said that when his Dad started the brewery he used a bottom fermenting lager yeast, the strain of which originates from an off-the-shelf Boot's homebrew yeast from years ago!
I was pretty suprised by that!