Pint_of_Bitter's Page

R u still in the country or in the UK at the mo?

G'day, judging by your online handle you're a bloke who enjoys a good English style bitter. Me, I've just begun full mash brewing and one of my favourite style to drink is Best or Special bitter (the likes of Fullers London Pride and Emerson's Bookbinder grab me hugely). So I'm looking for a fairly straightforward best bitter recipe to have a go at, and if you have such a thing that you wouldn't mind sharing, I'd be well chuffed. I live in the buzzing metropolis of Picton by the way.
Cheers,
Ian

Hi again and thanks for the response. The strange thing is that I had asked Stu McKinley whether he knew a good bitter recipe and at the time he said he didn't. Then I sent the message to you a day or so ago and almost immediately got a reply from Stu with the following recipe, prompting me to assume you were Stu writing on the forum under a pseudonum for some reason!
89% Baird's Maris Otter
7.5% Baird's Crystal 90
3.5% Baird' Amber

Mashed 60min. Boiled 75min.

24ibu Sauvin @ 60min
6ibu Sauvin @ 40min
5ibu Amarillo @ 10min
30g Amarillo @ 0min

1.042, 35ibu.

Anyhow, now I know that isn't so - bit of a daft assumption really, but it was such a coincidence.
I have personally fiddled about here and there over the decades with kit brewing and, since building my equipment, have done just one AG brew. It turned out OK and with no nasties but revealed that I needed to alter the false bottom in my mash tun somewhat. I have done this and just recived the ingredients from Dunedin Malt House to brew Stu's special bitter (I like the extra maltiness associated with the specials) and I'll give that a whirl. I have John Palmers book (got it recently and had Charlie Papazzian's book first) too but am trying not to get too hung up on technicalities yet.
I haven't met Stu or any of the other guys but it is apparent that there are some really accomplished home brewers (and some virtualy pro it seems) amongst them and I have found the guys really responsive and helpful. Anyhow, it would be good to hear how you get on. I'm in Picton by the way.
Cheers,
Ian