What are you brewing?

[nzbrewer]

Since this is the most popular thread on the RealBeer.co.nz forum I thought I would start it here just to see what happens

[jt]

Its thirsty work hanging out at hospitals y'know

Not to mention it can be a bit worrying and bit bloddy boring too

All well with your daughter though ?

[Bambule]

Not to bad apart from it being the hand she uses most. Not to worry. I found plaster casts always gave you a temporary coolness at school she will no doubt exploit.

[Stu McKinlay]

are you using the "rule of 30" (or whatever that crazy german rule is)

[Bambule]

The rule of 30 eh? - The Pitching Temp and the fermenting temp should add up to 30.
I wish I known about that. It was more like the rule of 38. Don't worry, I won't tell the germans.

[jt]

We have a family farewell coming up, brother going overseas for a few years.
Now one of our most memorable beer moments was the launch of the original PKB at Bar Edward
So I thought I'd attempt a batch of big black hoppy beer at home for a farewell - as best I can in the small scale

I'll only get a kegfull at 1.046 or maybe 1.047 if I have a good efficiency or 1.050 if I go with a real vigorous or longer boil
That's way short of 1.060 where the beer should be, so what would you do ?
I'm tempted to just hop it to balance it at 1.050 - but I may need to beef the grainbill a bit ?
Or maybe add LME to get the 1.060

Opinions ?

[Stu McKinlay]

It'll be a more "memorable" a farewell if you pull back to 1.046 and make it more sessionable. You know the recipe. I'd leave the late hops the same, or very similar, and just pull back the IBU to 36. I made a 3% version once and it was knocked off in a single sitting (literally!! - I don't think TheGrandMaster got out of his seat at that party... he was very strategically positioned... well he may have got up for a bite to eat and a toilet stop).

I'm flattered that you associate that launch as one of the more memorable beer moments. and that you used it to help educate family!

[jt]

No education involved that night Stu - just pure beer enjoyment !


Yes I've seen you mention the story of Sam several times in the past and wondered about that.
Is it just a straight scale back of gravity and hopping to the same ratio ?

[Stu McKinlay]

yep... 1.5g/L of late hops at 20 15 10 5 and 0.

[jt]

Beaut, I'll pencil that in for after a couple of pales.

Not been the best for brewing on the porch with all those Southerlies Stu - or have you set up an alternative venue for bad weather now ?

[jt]

yep... 1.5g/L of late hops at 20 15 10 5 and 0.

that's a big chunk of hops for 1.036 or so Stu, it'll give me more BU than OG - do you have 60 minute bitering addition in there too ?

[Chris Banks]

You could borrow my mashtun?

[jt]

You could borrow my mashtun?

Thanks, but then I'd need a kettle too ... and then probably an HLT as well