CS10 Biere de Stu **NOT Kolsch**

[Stu H]

Okay apologies, this is not a Kolsch as I thought, it's an English IPA with a NZ/English dry hop... Got super confused there for a minute!!!

Biere de Stu

English IPA

 

OG: 1.057

FG: 1.015

Colour: 27EBC

IBUs: 52

 

Ingredients:

87% Golden Promise

3.5% Wheat Malt Pale

3.5% Biscuit Malt

3.5% Crystal Malt 40°L

2.6% Dark Crystal Malt II

mash @ 67

 

up to 52 IBU Challenger 60m

2g/L  Fuggle 10 m

2g/L East Kent Goldings (5.8%) 0 m

1g/L Riwaka dry hop

1 g/L (9.0%) East Kent Goldings dry hop

 

Water profile: Ca 128 Mg 9 CaCO3 Na 27 Chl 55 S 179

Wyeast 1028 London Ale @ 18ish degrees.

[G S]

My first time as a "taster" and also not a lot of Kolsch experience, so not sure what this feedback is worth.

The bottle was labeled "bierre de Stu" and Stu H so gues this is it.

Appearance
Little head pouring to jug, a higher pour from jug to glass got a coarse foamy head which didn't last long.
Fairly clear, dark amber.

Aroma
Malt, and more malt. Don't take this the wrong way but brought back a childhood memory of my father opening a can of mc Ewan's export on a hot day.
There's something to be said there about the difference between perception of childhood memories and reality, there's not many hot days in Scotland, but that's another day!


Taste
Not nearly as sweet as I expected, in fact not too sweet at all. Refreshing.
Half way through the glass the bitterness begins to linger in a very nice way.

Overall
Am intrigued to broaden my tastes into something like this, a very pleasant summer time quaffer.
The fg of 1020 can't be right ??
doesn't taste sweet to me, finishing the 2nd glass and hoping there were 2 bottles of this one.

[Tom C]

Appearance Deep amber/copper with moderate carbonation.  Light, fleeting head.  Impressive clarity.

Aroma Light honey malts, mild floral/herbaceous hop.

Flavour Caramel malts, little hop.  Pleasantly dry finish, balanced bitterness.

Overall NZ Draught?  Drier and fuller malt than big commercial brews.  Carbonation was spot on, but needs better head retention.  Very clean and easy drinking.

Ah-ha, now I read it's a Kolsch.  Not that I know them well, but I would expect a lighter coloured brew with a corresponding shift towards the light crystal/honey notes rather than the caramel you have here. Still good drinking though, shame about the lack of head.

[Tom C]

Second bottle:

Looking at the last notes I wouldn't think this was the same beer.

Sweet toffee malt and dusty, dry hop on the nose.  Very good, English style.

Warming sweet, clean malt balanced by hops.  ('Yummy, golden syrup' says the wife)

Fantastic beer, on the sweet malty side with lovely hop notes.  Wish I had lots more, Cheers!

[Stu H]

Ah wow shit dudes, if it's "Biere de Stu" it's an English IPA!!! 

I'll update this thread when I get a chance!!! Whoops!

[Richard Jack]

A - murky gold, thin but persistent head. Good carb.

A - Jellytip iceblocks and fruit jubes. Quite floral. Maybe a hint of musty-dusty oxidation creeping in? Definitely some yeast character happening.

F - Good lingering bitterness, clean, nice finish.

O - We've swung from not liking this at all at first sip to pouring a second glass and deciding it's pretty good. So, good overall I guess? Raffe concludes it's pretty tasty and he will refrain from hasty judgement on future beers. 

[Tilt]

A caramel pleasant mildly estery bitter. I had this after dinner and the bitterness lingering long on the palate was just the right digestif. Sorry Stu, there wasn't much hop aroma left in my bottle by the time I got to it - the danger in leaving these swappas too long . Having said that I enjoyed this one and am looking to brew a house English IPA so here' s a starting reference for me. Thanks mate.