Bluebird is now go

[J_P]

Cheers chaps, I wanted to get my head around the challenger taste so this should be a goody. I think I will do about another7-8 single hop brews over the next few months to get to know the hops(this includes 3-4 lagers over the winter).

I have done single grain single hop brews with Styrians, Bramling X and EKG's and as my skills as a brewer have improved each brew has got progressively lighter and clearer, the SatisFECKtion is clear after 1 week in the bottles.



L-R we have

Styrian Stunner bottled 23/06 murky and dark but drinkable
Summer Acorn MkI bottled 07/07 Hazy not murky and with superb flavour
100% SatisFECKtion bottled 18/08 not hazy, not murky V pleased with appearance

[delboy]

Cheers chaps, I wanted to get my head around the challenger taste so this should be a goody. I think I will do about another7-8 single hop brews over the next few months to get to know the hops(this includes 3-4 lagers over the winter).

I have done single grain single hop brews with Styrians, Bramling X and EKG's and as my skills as a brewer have improved each brew has got progressively lighter and clearer, the SatisFECKtion is clear after 1 week in the bottles.



L-R we have

Styrian Stunner bottled 23/06 murky and dark but drinkable
Summer Acorn MkI bottled 07/07 Hazy not murky and with superb flavour
100% SatisFECKtion bottled 18/08 not hazy, not murky V pleased with appearance

Get those out of the sun before the lightstrike/skunking police see this thread

Thats nice progression there JP

[J_P]

Cheers chaps, I wanted to get my head around the challenger taste so this should be a goody. I think I will do about another7-8 single hop brews over the next few months to get to know the hops(this includes 3-4 lagers over the winter).

I have done single grain single hop brews with Styrians, Bramling X and EKG's and as my skills as a brewer have improved each brew has got progressively lighter and clearer, the SatisFECKtion is clear after 1 week in the bottles.



L-R we have

Styrian Stunner bottled 23/06 murky and dark but drinkable
Summer Acorn MkI bottled 07/07 Hazy not murky and with superb flavour
100% SatisFECKtion bottled 18/08 not hazy, not murky V pleased with appearance

Get those out of the sun before the lightstrike/skunking police see this thread

Thats nice progression there JP

Don't worry they're safely tucked up in the back room now

[prodigal2]

Update: this has dropped down to 1,007 so this should be about 4% ABV.
Its all tucked up in bottles now in the conditioning room(middle bedroom) at about 25C.
I had the obligatory taste and I must say, not yeasty like normal, the challengers there but I think 2-4 weeks of conditioning will lift, as the green flavour subsides, and yet again nice and clear I had to rouse some yeast into suspension to go into the bottling bucket, just a nats to get going on the priming.
SWMBO is very impressed with this one.

So far I will say a recommended beer, and thanks to Norman for his brilliant posts that are a inspiration, to newbie brewers like myself If you have not checked out his real ale almanac in the recipe section, do, its a great tool for people with some ingredients and looking for direction.

Cheers Norman

[Vossy1]

Great result P2

Awaiting maturation tasting

[prodigal2]

Awaiting maturation tasting

Aghhh yes, the tease or the taunt. Some beers like this and my ZDO are a real tease, saying drink me, but you know they will get better and you cannot resist they're charms And the taunters like my THA or your Old Rambler that don't taste great at first, but given the right amount of time will be crackers(I live in hope come crimbo)

[spearmint-wino]

I'm only brewing beers that are drinkable at 10 days from now on

Sounds a good'un P2

[prodigal2]

I think Bluebird is one of Road Runners favorites, I hope he turns up soon , i'm planning a most ever users part again

Well you can guarantee he won't be around for that day

I'll dig around for some of his old posts to compare to what I did. Hope he shows his face in the near future.

[prodigal2]

Found Tribs recipe for bluebird:

20L batch @ ~73% efficiency
OG 1.043
FG 1.011
IBU 35
SRM 10
ABV 4.2%


Malts
------
3.4kg Maris Otter
200g Crystal Malt
115g Torrified Wheat
15g Roasted Barley

Hops
------
25g Challenger (7.5%AA) 60 mins
7.5g Challenger (7.5% AA) 15 mins
7.5g Goldings (4.5% AA) 15 mins
15g Challenger (7.5% AA) 2 mins

Mash
------
@ ~66C for 90 mins.

Yeast
------
London ESB Ale Yeast: Wy1968

Quite a different recipe to what I did, hmmm I think V2 bluebird calling.Different OG the addition of roast barley and a sneak of goldings, and until winter sets in I am not taking the chance with liquid yeasts. For reference for Bluebird fans in the future the post is located here:
http://jimsbeerkit.co.uk/forum/viewtopi ... t=bluebird

In the post Tribs mentions fermenting at a higher temperature low 20C's, I brewed in the classic 18-19C range, another point to consider, when I make this again. Though in truth I am never really looking for a exact clone, just a good beer to enjoy, and that is the reason I will carry on brewing

[prodigal2]

At the moment I am using recipes as signposts to point me in the right direction. I still have so much to learn and clone recipes that fit with my need to learn the flavour of a certain hop are just that.
And at the end of the day commercial brewers cannot get a consistent flavour across their differing method of dispensing. Budvar in 500ml bottles tastes completely different to Budvar in 250ml bottles and different again on draught.
I think if you cook you understand that, when you eat say a steak and kidney pudding out, and when the mood takes you make a steak and kidney pudding, they will not be the same, and yet certain flavours will be the same the experience will be the different. And more than likely the one you make will be better or at least different and unless there is a elusive technique you must understand, there is no point in exact emulation.

[prodigal2]

It's not a bad idea to stick to clone recipes from a reputable source as there are some pretty strange home brewed recipes kicking around.

And that is why I have used Jims and posted my recipe choice, as it seems any clangers get picked up quickly. Thats the great thing with a active forum of fellow enthusiasts at various stages of learning, with the pooled knowledge that can only be accumulated by a group of people of differing backgounds.

Oh that reminds me I wonder if my peanut butter essence and hershy bars have been shipped yet?

[prodigal2]

No Lion Bars, it was a typo, though I understand picnic bars work just as well, though watch out for topics, they are not really a dry hoping chocolate bar

[prodigal2]

[prodigal2]

Update:
My will weakened and I popped a bottle to try(I think another week before it hits its stride), and all I have to say is it is good. Even the euro pilsner swilling wife is impressed
In another 7 days I will give a full honest appraisal, but for now I will say this is showing signs of being a corker

[Vossy1]

A great premature result P2