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

[Matthew]

Brewing Alchemy, that's what I think ;-)

[Matthew]

Ordered one of those Craftbrewer hop socks today. Hoping it's going to revolutionise my brewing experience. Essentially, more hops!

[Mike Neilson]

Shit should of saved your cash, and spent it on hops!!

[James P]

Swiss voile from material store, a little bit of sowing and a stick.... hop sock.... done.

[Matthew]

I wanted a nylon one. I've been using a DIY steeping bag but it was starting to get real manky and difficult to use. Hanging it on the boil pot also appealed.

[jt]

Filters the run off from the kettle really well, leave me with minimal hop / trub / liquid left usually <600ml

[Patrick]

Brewing this one on Saturday, sort of a scottish amber ale, hoping for fairly high SG (~1.060). Something a little different for me anyway.

4.50 kg Maris Otter
0.50 kg Munich Malt
0.10 kg Caramelmalt
0.05 kg Roasted Barley
0.03 kg Chocolate Malt

20.00 gm Imp Fuggles(60 min)
25.00 gm Imp Fuggles (15 min)
20.00 gm Imp Fuggles (5 min)
15.00 gm Imp Fuggles (0 min)

Safale SO4 Yeast

Mash temp: 66C
Boil Length: 70 min
Batch Size: 22L

[Patrick]

testing - weird, the post above doesn't appear until I add a reply to it?

[jt]

Masho !
683 underway, Moueka light brown repeat
67% Malturop
25% Global Kolsch - affectionately known here as Special K for it's great breakfast taste
5% dark Crystal
2% pale crystal
1% Chocolate

1.040 and 25 IBU Super Alpha (nearly finished the kg bag, good job Santa's bringing some more) and Motueka

Spuds are looking good, tentative date first harvest is New Years Day

cheers chaps, enjoy the sunshine

[Patrick]

My brew went really well, no dramas, and managed to hit my volumes pretty much spot on so I didn't need to add any water at the end. Got 22L of lovely dark red wort at 1.044. How low do you think Safale S04 will take this if fermented at ~22C?

[jt]

How low do you think Safale S04 will take this if fermented at ~22C?

I'm surprised you didn't cop some stick for using SO4 - tee hee

I don't have any experience with a 1.060 beer, but it motors through a 1.040 in three to four days at 18+

22 is pretty warm to ferment at, unless that's the pitching temp and the lag time brings the temp down, or if you want it at that temp.

[Patrick]

The recipe was actually supposed to use a liquid yeast, Wyeast Scottish Ale (can't remember the number) but I couldn't get it so I had to substitute something. I have used US05 for the last 2 batches so thought I would try something different.

I will check the temp at the hottest part of the day and if it is too high I will half fill my aluminuim stock pot with water and put the fermenter in there with a wet towel over it. The garage stays pretty cool though.