CS8 - Totally not an Irish red

[Richard Jack]

So, apologies for the late post. The reason is I bottled the wrong bloody beer and only noticed last minute, and I've had to reconstruct the recipe from bits of paper lying around the place :)

I was supposed to be entering an Irish red, a style I really want some guidance and feedback on, but instead I bottled a wild stab in the dark that might be described as a new world bitter. Then I left it on tap and my flatmates demolished it on "dangerous Tuesday", so it's all gone now and I'm not that sure how it actually came out... I have one bottle left.

Pretty epic fail huh?

Anyway, what I was going for was a malty, Englishy grain bill and ferment character with some big NZ hops. For inspiration I was thinking about Townshend Bandsman, Garage Project Trip-Hop and Ian from Wellington's Nelson ESB I tried last year, but it's not a clone attempt of any of them.

OG:1.053 FG: 1.011 IBU:45 SRM: 8.3

Grain:
83.8% Maris Otter
5.2% Flaked Maize
5.2% Carared
4.2% Carahell
1.6% Dark Crystal

Hops:
15g pac jade @ 60
15g motueka, 15g pacifica, 10g riwaka @15
10g motueka, 10g pacifica, 10g riwaka @ 10
10g motueka, 10g pacifica, 10g riwaka @ dry

Yeast:
Thames Valley 1, 2nd gen built up from slurry. pitched 17°, rising to 21°.

Bottled from the keg so should be bright but I think I spotted a couple of hop particles that half escaped the gelatin, it was pretty fresh into the keg when bottled.

[Matt Smith]

Looks awesome in the glass, nice and clear, a good little head and lacing. I get some nice caramel malt, followed by subtle tropical hop aromas and a touch of what I can only describe as alcohol, which is interesting considering the lowish abv.

Medium bodied with a firm bitterness which I really liked. The hop flavour made me think of orange marmalade, although that could be because my mind is conditioned to think that when I see pacifica in the recipe.  

I know its kinda lame to describe a beer as "drinkable" but this was just that, It went down real fast while cooking dinner.

As it warmed I found the aroma to be almost candylike, perhaps from a mix of the caramel malt and fruity hops.

Really nice beer, enjoyed it alot. Thanks !

[Adrian Tayler]

second beer of the swap for me..

I have been drinking a few craft beers in the past week that have been purchased from New World as I do..

Presentation: nice amber color, a little head, nothing major but mouth feel is reasurring that it is perfectly carbonated..

Aroma: georgeous grassy aroma, GOD I LOVE RIWAKA!!!!

Flavour: Awesome.. The balance of hops is sensational, I will be taking something from recipe for sure..

I love this beer.. so far this is the best beer of the swap, and better than anything I have bought from New World in the past... my only gripe would be that the the ABV should be higher !!

 

 

[SR]

Before reading the recipe & description, we tasted the beer....

Light copper/orange/amber... slightly hazy

Small head... fine bubbles

Lovely aroma - citrous/malty/sweet

Nice body...

Bitter, finishes dry with a grapefruit bitterness and astringent aftertaste which lasts... long after ther beer is gone

A touch of dark crystal?

Malty, slightly tangy

Fresh

Yeast very estery?... almost a touch Belgian

Fruity burps

Yum

Thanks very much, it's a very nice beverage... I'll drink the last wee bit after this!

[John H]

Nice one Richard

Awesome clear copper colour. Fruit salad on the nose.

Great balance and mouthfeel. I like - a lot.

As it warms up I get a slight estery Belgiany aroma and flavour which I didn't expect, adding to the complexity. Great beer.

Please Richard - Can I  have some more?

[Dan]

I'm gonna start with ...I LOVE THIS BEER SO FREAKING MUCH!!!

Awesome aroma. Almost belgian bubblegum spice that carried through to the flavour.

Really clear, copper/amber colour.

Perfect carbonation, good lace.

A nice lingering bitterness - not over the top. Well balanced.

I thought at the beginning that maybe it was a little thin in the finish. But the more it warmed and the more I drank - I decided that was spot on.

What mash temp did you use??

I am so going to make this recipe! I need more!!!

Cheers :)

 

 

[Tilt]

A style hybrid beer that I've been looking forward to - but with the recent lurgy my palate hasn't been in a state to do this beer justice.  But now I'm able to taste and smell again this is the first one off the rack.

A clear light amber colour with a thin tight head that lingers long and laces the glass nicely.  Caramel malt and candy citrus fruit are the first aromas I get. Mild orange fruit flavours front the taste as the malt recedes into the background while the accompanying firm bitterness keeps it all together.  I don't get that much from the yeast - unless the flavours are well integrated into the fruitiness that I'm mistaking them for the hops.  Either its a pretty seamless beer!  This one is in my CS8 top three and seems to take the best from a couple of styles - nice!!

[Stu H]

I feel I can't really contribute much than what has already been said, but I'm really enjoying this. Thanks heaps Richard!

[Martin Bridges]

Enjoyed last night with the recorded ABs game. Didn't type the notes up straight away but my memory is pretty clear.

Pours a lovely pale amber, nice & clear with a creamy head. My wife could smell it across the room as I poured it, and it does have a beautiful hoppy aroma.

Superb balance on this beer, and I think New World Bitter nails the style. Malt, hops, yeasty notes all in harmony. Really great drop, I can see why your flatmates demolished the keg - I would have done too. Cheers man, could be heading for my beer of the swap here.