Nelson mini case swap (12th Dec)

[Dale]

OK Guys,

We are looking at doing a swap of 2 different beer types each. In 745ml ABC swapa crate bottles(or suggestions of different size/bottle). Let me know who's in and we can work out total bottles we all need and who's place we can meet, test what they have on tap and do the swap.

[Fraser Kennedy]

I'll pencil it in! just have to double check with work but should be sweet as

[Christian]

I'm in.

My beers will be 'Wrecking Ball' pale ale and 'New Hops on the Block' a single hopped ale with Rakau.

[Dale]

Christian I like the names.

I'm doing either a NZ APA or a US APA with a UK Bitter. I'll have to think what to call them!

[Greydog]

Hi Dale, Yep I'm in.

Probably only one brew though, (in 500ml bottles). Also, my roster that covers December doesn't come out until the end of next week. If I have the afternoon or evening of the 12th free you are all most welcome out here for the drop off and bbq.

Cheers. John

[Greydog]

Ok,

Here is my report on the first 2 beers I have tried from the Nelson swap . (Thanks Dale & Christian).

I thought both were better than my contributions, (in volume and quality!)

Dale's APA 11/9

Faultless. Showcase of hops in the aroma. Mix of citrus (Motueka?) & honey (1056). Sharp bitterness which I liked. (There was a lingering 'sourness' though.) Good malt back bone.

Overall, delicious.

For me, (and this is minor) I would prefer more colour, it was very pale. I like a deep golden colour for APA's. But that's just me.


Christian's WB 7/11

Great colour and inviting fresh hop aroma. I also liked the bitterness. I am having a wild stab here, super alpha for bittering and citrusy mot', ns sav or riwaka, for the dry hop? I was farting hops after this one.

There was for me (and again minor) an underlying burnt flavour coming through that masked some of the malt and hop flavour though.

Thanks for the beers guys. I am looking forward to tomorrow nights sesh'.

[Christian]

Hi Greydog,

I had your Summer Haze Pale Ale yesterday and was very impressed - a very well put together and complex ale. I picked up some interesting malt flavours - earthy and well cooked toast. Also the hops really worked well - I hear that this was just bittering and dry hops. Picked up some subtle US character - Cascade?

Tried Dale's APA tonight and again it was a very enjoyable Pale Ale - nice showcase of NZ hops - good to taste a Mot / Cascade combo in someone else's beer.

My 'Wrecking Ball' Pale Ale is bittered with Southern Cross (first batch has some Super Alpha but ran out and didn't use any in this batch). Additions and dry hopping are equal amounts of Mot and NZ Cascade.

The burnt flavour is probably from the Mac's Pale Ale kit - it's a good kit but I do occasionally pick this up - especially when I used S-04.

About to bottle another batch for Christmas - no dry hopping this time and experimenting with fining for the first time.

Cheers.

[Greydog]

Only cracked one bottle tonight. (Thanks again Dale)

10 US APA 12/9

Similar light straw colour to yesterdays brew.

Very little hop aroma on this one for me, more of a diacetyl thing going on.

Slight citrus and delicate malt flavours trying to break through, but again suppressed.

Still finished the bottle!

I would be interested to know your thoughts on this one.

John

[Dale]

Hi John,

Thanks for the feedback. Yes both APA's have the same malt base and your right are at the bottom of the colour band. I used cara-Pils and cara-malt so all malts were light in colour. After doing these 2 brews I think I'm the same would like more colour in my future APA's

The low hop aroma I think was me dry hopping to early. The fermentation was over (just) but I have read since that if the CO2 is still coming out of the beer it takes the aroma with it?

The diacetyl I think will also be the last 2 brew that I did the temp in Nelson was quite hot and I wasn't able to get the temperature below 21-23C. This makes me think a fermenting fridge would be a good move.

Haven't been able to try any of the swaps beer yet but I do have a Summer Haze sitting in the fridge for tonight. Can't wait.

Dale

[Dale]

Just sitting down drinking Greydog's Summer Haze. Thanks John.

Opened bottle and get a nice hop aroma with passionfruit coming through. Nice clear beer in the glass but got no head.
First mouthful and nice and crisp with a nice lingering bitterness on the tounge. Nice malt balance and is a very enjoyable drink.

Not sure if this is in my head John because you said this beer only had bittering then dry hopping but the middle of the beer seems to be missing some body/hop flavour.

Thanks again John I'm really enjoying this beer and you have set a very high standard for the rest of us.

[Dale]

Greydog this is your night. Just opened Mile High.

Wow pour into the glass and get a nice mellow wheat smell, first mouthful and a great balanced beer. Great balance of wheat and a lovely lingering taste staying on the taste buds. Love, love, love this beer. Man John I wish this came in a much bigger bottle. I also wish I could brew a beer half as good as this.

[Christian]

Thanks again Dale for organising this and playing host on Saturday - sorry I had to rush off at the end for baby duties.

Not sure if anyone has tried by other ale yet (NH on the cap) but if you haven't, you may want to let it age a bit longer. It's single-hopped with Rakau and it's currently tasting a bit funky. Lots of people are a bit iffy on this hop but I really loved it in Renaissance MPA. I'm picking out some of that character (sweet, juicy-fruit) but it also has a tart, citrus finish that's not quite working for me. Anyway, I'll let you make up your own mind on it.

Cheers.

[Dale]

No Worries Christian was great to finaly meet you and Mike. I have your Wrecking Ball in the fridge cooling down as we speak but will keep your New Hop on the Block to the last. Also have Mike's Red Fox in the fridge too.