Sheperd Neame Christmas Ale

[Dave.T]

Hello All,
I've just tried a bottle of Sheperd Neame Christmas Ale, they tell you on the label which malts and hops they use. Doe's any one know what the colour and bittering units are, i should be able to work out the rest on the beer engine.

In hope,
Dave.T

[seymour]

This BJCP chart should help you estimate the color for yourself, visually. Bear in mind it's SRM, not EBC. I'm pretty sure SRM x 1.97 = EBC.

Color Descriptor: SRM Value
Straw: 2 - 3
Yellow: 3 - 4
Gold: 5 - 6
Amber: 6 - 9
Deep amber / light copper: 10 - 14
Copper: 14 - 17
Deep copper/light brown: 17 - 18
Brown: 19 - 22
Dark brown: 22 - 30
Very dark brown: 30 - 35
Black: 30 +
Black, opaque: 40 +

I haven't seen Shepherd Neame Christmas Ale, but for poops and giggles, let's pretend. If you'd call it brown (too dark to call it deep copper/light brown and too light to call it dark brown) that narrows it down to 19-22. Is it on the light end or dark end of that spectrum? Just a bit darker than middle, you say? Okay, 21° SRM it is. 21 x 1.97 = 41.37° EBC.

The IBU is hard to guess. You usually hope to find it revealed on their website, the brewer's description on sites like Ratebeer.com, etc.

[Dave.T]

Thanks for the SRM chart, it's a very moorish amber ale ABV 7% with Pale and Crystal malts on the label. I've read a Roger Protz review saying that they use Admiral and E K G hops. Well worth a try at £1.50 a bottle.