Upcoming Competition 21-08-10: Category 8A. Standard/Ordinary Bitter

[JoKing]

It's been a long time between beers - and sorry to all you guys that I wasn't able to make it. Last minute family comitments unfortunately. At least I had a good time - as did everyone who was able to attend.

 

Congrats to Garick for taking this last competition out with none other than yours truly. Here is my recipe for the co-winning brew for anyone who is interested:

 

Nutty Brown
11-C Northern English Brown Ale

Size: 24.24 L
Efficiency: 81.0%
Attenuation: 78.0%
Calories: 173.64 kcal per 12.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.052 (1.040 - 1.052)
Terminal Gravity: 1.012 (1.008 - 1.013)
Color: 34.82 (23.64 - 43.34)
Alcohol: 5.36% (4.2% - 5.4%)
Bitterness: 27.0 (20.0 - 30.0)

Ingredients:
4.4 kg Maris Otter Pale
.500 kg Caramunich® TYPE II
.35 kg Biscuit Malt (Mout Roost 50)
.15 kg Pale Chocolate Malt
.014 kg Black Malt
22.0 g Target (10.1%) - added during boil, boiled 60 min
20 g Willamette (5.0%) - added during boil, boiled 10 min
20 g Fuggle (4.8%) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min

Thames Valley II Yeast.

 

Barry took out the coverted title for the selector of the next brew which is ordinary bitter.

 

Thanks again to Hallertau for hosting us - this event is getting bigger and bigger - and that lounge upstairs is perfect. And also thanks to Graeme Mahy for offering his expert palate along with Master Brewer Albrecht Von Walmoden and Vince Sexy Face and Richard Pegleg.

 

Cheers!!!

 

8A. Standard/Ordinary Bitter

Aroma: The best examples have some malt aroma, often (but not always) with a caramel quality. Mild to moderate fruitiness is common. Hop aroma can range from moderate to none (UK varieties typically, although US varieties may be used). Generally no diacetyl, although very low levels are allowed.

Appearance: Light yellow to light copper. Good to brilliant clarity. Low to moderate white to off-white head. May have very little head due to low carbonation.

Flavor: Medium to high bitterness. Most have moderately low to moderately high fruity esters. Moderate to low hop flavor (earthy, resiny, and/or floral UK varieties typically, although US varieties may be used). Low to medium maltiness with a dry finish. Caramel flavors are common but not required. Balance is often decidedly bitter, although the bitterness should not completely overpower the malt flavor, esters and hop flavor. Generally no diacetyl, although very low levels are allowed.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium-light body. Carbonation low, although bottled and canned examples can have moderate carbonation.

Overall Impression: Low gravity, low alcohol levels and low carbonation make this an easy-drinking beer. Some examples can be more malt balanced, but this should not override the overall bitter impression. Drinkability is a critical component of the style; emphasis is still on the bittering hop addition as opposed to the aggressive middle and late hopping seen in American ales.

Comments: The lightest of the bitters. Also known as just �bitter.� Some modern variants are brewed exclusively with pale malt and are known as golden or summer bitters. Most bottled or kegged versions of UK-produced bitters are higher-alcohol versions of their cask (draught) products produced specifically for export. The IBU levels are often not adjusted, so the versions available in the US often do not directly correspond to their style subcategories in Britain. This style guideline reflects the �real ale� version of the style, not the export formulations of commercial products.

History: Originally a draught ale served very fresh under no pressure (gravity or hand pump only) at cellar temperatures (i.e., �real ale�). Bitter was created as a draught alternative (i.e., running beer) to country-brewed pale ale around the start of the 20th century and became widespread once brewers understood how to �Burtonize� their water to successfully brew pale beers and to use crystal malts to add a fullness and roundness of palate.

Ingredients: Pale ale, amber, and/or crystal malts, may use a touch of black malt for color adjustment. May use sugar adjuncts, corn or wheat. English hops most typical, although American and European varieties are becoming more common (particularly in the paler examples). Characterful English yeast. Often medium sulfate water is used.

Vital Statistics:	OG: 1.032 – 1.040
IBUs: 25 – 35	FG: 1.007 – 1.011
SRM: 4 – 14	ABV: 3.2 – 3.8%

Commercial Examples: Fuller's Chiswick Bitter, Adnams Bitter, Young's Bitter, Greene King IPA, Oakham Jeffrey Hudson Bitter (JHB), Brains Bitter, Tetley�s Original Bitter, Brakspear Bitter, Boddington's Pub Draught

 

[Andrew]

Not only am I coming I may even have chatted my good lady into being designated driver. I'll have my own wee Beervana because I won't have to worry about the Fuzz!

[Barry]

Little late now - the day before, but I'll be there to defend my title of loser, king loser last place LOSER. I hope the judges are kinder this time, you don't want me going back to the car to get my assault rifle and letting the judges have it for not writing NOTES.
I'm kidding of course. Or am I?

[DP]

I know you are kidding Barry; you don't have an assault rifle, you only have a shotgun, three handguns and a crossbow.

Looking forward to tasting The Long Arm 'o The Law tomorrow!

[Greig McGill]

Good luck all for today. I'll be there in spirit. In body, I'll be at the RCC drinking Hopwired, Emerson's Oreti Red, Epic Mayhem, and many other tasty treats! :)

[Reviled]

Sh*t is it today??? I completely forgot, and im working :o( Not sure if ill be able to make it and if I do ill definately be a late arrival :o( Stink... What times it kicking off?

[Martin Bridges]

I assume it's the usual 4 o'clock kickoff. I'll be there with my black cap on, dispensing justice!

Oh, and just to sidetrack things slightly, I have SOBA newsletters & NHC flyers which need to be distributed to:
Galbraith's
Brewcraft (just flyers)
Brew on Quay
Brewers Coop
Ashore

If anyone's going to be there today who can distribute these for me I'd be most grateful.

Cheers,

Martin

[Reviled]

Sadly I dont think im going to be able to make an appearance :o( But have a great time guys, best of luck to everyone entering..

[Greig McGill]

So... what happened?

[Andrew]

1st place was taken by Paul, 2nd...I can't remember (and I was sober) 3rd went to His Royal Joking-ness. Last place was kept under wraps as he/she wasn't there to defend his/her honour but must have had a feeling it wasn't going to fare well because a style was pre offered in case it bombed, which it did. Next style is a Belgian Dubbel.

[Andrew]

Oh yeah, and if you'll excuse the pun. The toilets crapped out; so there was some fancy tip toe dancing going on in waiting line.

[Barry]

Actually wasn't it Joking 2nd, Damian Peterson 3rd? Apologies if I got that the wrong way round, that's my recollection though.

I didn't taste all the entries but Paul Dunsmuirs winning bitter was the most flavourful, not quite there in terms of hops for my preference but a lovely beer - deserved winner on the day.

I had another awesome time followed by a pretty damn nice dinner with wife and friends. I fricken love Hallertau.

[DP]

Yes, mine was 3rd. A great afternoon and many thanks to the judges, especially for the useful comments on the scoresheets. And, yes, Hallertau rocks!