Erm 100% elder Spanishfaction

[prodigal2]

well one and all I'm now on AG brew 2.
Its a variation of brew 1
Target volume 15l
OG 1,040
FG 1,010

3Kg Pils pale malt
200 grms Crystal

30grms golding (5.6%) hops start of boil
10grms golding last 15mins of boil

20ish grams of freshly dried elderflowers, it was raining and the fresh elder is a tad wet

Mash time 90 min
Boil time 90 min

yeast, Safale 04 and 1 teaspoon yeast vit re-hydrated


I'm just uploading some photos as I write, and the mash is currently 20mins gone. the mash was a pig to get the temp right today, my water was @ 77C, i preheated the cool box, I used 10l of water and then still needed 2l from a freshly boiled kettle to get to 66C.

Hay Ho, any one have any thoughts on this recipe? and do I need more elderflowers (I am a elderflower junky)?

[prodigal2]

Ok photos as promised

I think I have everything


Water heating for mash


Just a bit more hot water and it will be there



its 25C in the kitchen but the coolbox still needs all the help it can get



Hm in about a hour it will be sparge'O'clock methinks

[Garth]

looking good prod, like the pics

[prodigal2]

I was thinking of switching S04 for Nottingham and then I realised I have made 2 changes to the original recipe, what do you all think?

[prodigal2]

Ok then I have found some nice fresh and dry elderflowers and I am throwing caution to the wind and adding 45grms.

More photos:

sparge 1 resting



oxtail soup anyone(sorry the boil)



spare wort




I think I may of added to much crystal, going on the colour. Oh well if you are going to experiment on brew 2 wadya expect. The only thing I will say is the crystal should add more woof to the pils malt.

final additions in 30 mins

[Vossy1]

Gr8 pics P2

I'll be following this one as with the other elderflower topics as it sounds like a really refreshing summer ale to me

Keep us posted

[prodigal2]

Cheers Vossy, If the elderflower does not read enough will be putting some in the secondry.

Well I got 1,051 @ 16.5l, some decided to jump onto the floor through a tap 1-2 litres I think . I cut it back to 1,046 and I have 17l in the FV.

The wort was very malty the goldings were there but the elderflower was not reading that much, we will see how this pans out. The colour is very red.

I will keep you all informed as this progresses, it now up to the S04

[AT]

Looking good P2 i like the piccies

[prodigal2]

Cheers for that DaaB,

It seems my hope for the best batch sparging technique is working. But then I am yet to taste a completed AG brew from my Bodgeit leggit scarpa setup.

What I have been doing is once sparge 1 is done each 5l jug load that comes off I put in a seperate small stock pot. take a sample off , chill and test. if its above 1,010 into the main or secondry stock pots.


This beer is going to be a shot in the dark, it is a total suck it and see. Although from what I have read here at Jims, I feel that there is a fighting chance for a drinkable beer. I did add tooooo much crystal but we will see.

[prodigal2]

The yeast head yesterday was thick and hearty.

Now the yeasty froth is subsiding the elderflower smell is rising, and there is a slight citrusy nose in there too. The beer is already starting to drop clear( god bless S04)

I hate to jinx this beer, but its showing promise

[spearmint-wino]

I don't hold with this only change one thing at a time nonsense anyway, if you have 4 bald tyres on your car and find it skids in the wet, you don't change one at a time to see where the problem lies

Some more excellent Daab wisdom

Good luck with the brew prodigal, sounding good

[DRB]

Hope it turns out to be your best ever brew.

[prodigal2]

Cheers DRB, heres hoping

Your brambling cross is in my mind at the moment, I just need to get some shipped over

I must admit I am suffering from recipe paralysis and then I need to order up some ingredients....mild?........Porter.......pale ale(and which one)?.......english bitter?........A belgian?....... Hefe?............. or.....or.......

To many tasty things all requiring ingredients shipping to my home.

[prodigal2]

UPDATE:

down to 1,009 S04 does it again

The level of elderflower is good, not to strong a light bittering from the hops in the background, clean flavours, the colour is lightening and is a slight redish.

The maltyness is a bit thin but that could be due to me not getting the mash to the right temp initialy, but hey once this is carbed up it should be a fine light refreshing summer ale. I will be bottling in 330ml and 250ml bottles, so I can carefully ration this brew. The hoppyness is there but not too heavy and overpowering the elderflower flavour.

Chuffed and learning from my mistakes, but this still shows signs of been the best brew so far including all my kits

[J_P]

I must admit I am suffering from recipe paralysis

Glad to see I'm not the only one! Marc Ollossen has been in touch to say my book has been posted today so I'll have more options to be paralysed with!