YeastFace Brewdays

YeastFace · Aug 23, 2024

Brewday was fine and fairly relaxed. I sorted out the water and salts last night which always helps.

Mashed in

Mash pH came out at 5.6. Target was 5.45. Despite testing my water and adjusting in Brewfather, I can never get this quite right and always need to add an additional bit of lactic acid.

Pre-boil gravity was 2 points down, but I had 0.5l extra runnings.

A whopping 15g of Northdown really testing the capacity of the hop spider.

To account for the slight loss of gravity and additional wort I boiled more vigorously than usual for the first half hour. All ended well and and hit target post-boil gravity.

Looks copper but should be red once fermented.

This in in the ferm fridge at 19°. Pitched White Labs WLP004, which I'll repitch into next brew (a stout).

Have a dedicated nitro tap now and am toying with doing half and half Co² and mixed gas, as I think it would be interesting to do a side-by-side. Likely thoughthis will just be carbonated, and will leave the mixed gas for the stout; which shouldn't be too far behind.

I'm off the drink for at least the next 3 weeks (and possibly 5), so hopefully I'll have both ready for sampling once that's over.

YeastFace · Sep 6, 2024

Brewed an Extra Stout yesterday. Was quite pleased with my last attempt, although that was a bit of a user-upper and was possibly fermented slightly too warm.

Grist was Golden Promise, Flaked Barley, Pale Chocolate, Chocolate, and Roast Barley.

I stupidly missed a 0 off the Roast Barley in my recipe builder on TMM, but the additional 260g bag turned up in time.

I added half the roast barley during the mash, and the other at mash out. I didn't update Brewfather and this decision meant I was a bit higher on Mash pH, so had to add some additional lactic during the mash.

Hops were Northdown at FWH, and EKG at 15 mins.

Ended up with more wort, but missed my OG by 4 points. I've got my process on full batches down to a tee, but always struggle withe reduced size batches. Think I'll have to check my notes and adjust my equipment profile.

Collected some WLP004 Irish Ale yeast from the conical prior to kegging my Red, and added this to a vitality starter and pitched to wort at 19.5°.

All being well, this will end up around 5.5% and will be going on mixed gas.

YeastFace · Sep 19, 2024

Brewed my now-annual Pumpkin Pie beer today. Have opted for a strong Brown Ale this time.

Was originally going to be a smaller batch but as I'm probably going to drain pour my American Amber (too bitter) I went for a full 20l batch.

Grist was a mix of Golden Promise, Imperial, Biscuit, Special B, Pale Chocolate, and some malted oats.

I roasted 2 cans of pumpkin with brown sugar, half of which went into the mash half way through, and half into the fermenter (this was meant to be at flame out, but I forgot).

Gravity came bang on as intended at 1.065, have pitched a mix of Nottingham and Windsor. Should be looking at around 7% for this, but wouldn't mind it being a bit lower.

Should be ready for Halloween.

YeastFace · Sep 26, 2024

American Amber poured down the sink.

Strong astringency and has almost no hop aroma (despite 50g Simcoe dry hop). Isn't clearing despite 4 weeks in the keg.

This batch is where the iSpindel flooded, so wonder if an infection took hold.

Tasted fine on brewday and mostly throughout fermentation, but before kegging it did have the astringency. I thought perhaps polyphenols which would drop out, but probably should have tipped it away then.

YeastFace · Oct 4, 2024

Just dumped some pumpkin trub. Might try a spoonful.

YeastFace · Oct 9, 2024

One of the prizes for my second BOS at LAB Open was a brewday at Southwark Brewing, which I did today.

They aren't geared towards lagers, so instead of my Munich Dunkel, we agreed on an Altbier.

I had a read of the Dornbusch book and came up with a recipe that leans more towards some more modern examples.

They typically use dry yeast, I'm not a fan of K97 and whilst a clean ale strain would likely have been fine, I thought Novalager would be interesting. A hybrid yeast for a hybrid beer. I've also got some red fruit esters from it which I think will work well with the grist.

Conor and Sam couldn't have been more welcoming and hospitable. Got to try a couple of beers before I left and have a few bottles to try too, including a Russian Impy.

Hopefully I'll be able to get my local craft beer bar to order a cask when it's ready.

All in all, a great day. Thanks to Southwark for having me, and to LAB for organising the comp and such a wonderful prize.

Photo dump

Twostage · Oct 10, 2024

YeastFace said:
One of the prizes for my second BOS at LAB Open was a brewday at Southwark Brewing, which I did today.

They aren't geared towards lagers, so instead of my Munich Dunkel, we agreed on an Altbier.

I had a read of the Dornbusch book and came up with a recipe that leans more towards some more modern examples.

They typically use dry yeast, I'm not a fan of K97 and whilst a clean ale strain would likely have been fine, I thought Novalager would be interesting. A hybrid yeast for a hybrid beer. I've also got some red fruit esters from it which I think will work well with the grist.

Conor and Sam couldn't have been more welcoming and hospitable. Got to try a couple of beers before I left and have a few bottles to try too, including a Russian Impy.

Hopefully I'll be able to get my local craft beer bar to order a cask when it's ready.

All in all, a great day. Thanks to Southwark for having me, and to LAB for organising the comp and such a wonderful prize.

Photo dump
View attachment 104670

View attachment 104671

View attachment 104672

View attachment 104673

View attachment 104674

That must have been a fantastic day.

YeastFace · Oct 18, 2024

Today is a Best Bitter and the mash is on.

Grist is Golden Promise, Imperial, and a blend of 3 Cara/Crystals.

Hops are Sussex and EKG.

Yeast-wise, I'm taking inspiration from @Sadfield and trying my hand at a house blend - Equal parts Notty, Clipper, and S-33.

YeastFace · Oct 18, 2024

Transferring now. Hit all my numbers. Sample tasting good. Was aiming for lighter end of amber so think that's about right.

Let's see how this yeast blend works.

YeastFace · Oct 30, 2024

Yeast blend expirement with the Bitter seems to have gone well. Has produced some really pleasant esters.

I think I need to up the Nottingham % as at 33% of the blend its flocculative effects don't seem to work too well. We will see how the clarity is after cooling.

YeastFace · Nov 17, 2024

Brewed a strong/extra special bitter last week, which is fermenting now. MO, Chevalier, Biscuit, & 3 Crystals.Hopped with Admiral, Sussex, and Styrians. Will dry hop with a small amount of First Gold. Fermenting with WLP041, supposedly the Gale's strain (or mutant thereof).

Hoping for something fairly rich and fruit-cake like, ready for the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Having brewed more classic British styles recently, I've treated myself to a Pint365, so will serve through that.

dave_77 · Nov 17, 2024

YeastFace said:
Brewed a strong/extra special bitter last week, which is fermenting now. MO, Chevalier, Biscuit, & 3 Crystals.Hopped with Admiral, Sussex, and Styrians. Will dry hop with a small amount of First Gold. Fermenting with WLP041, supposedly the Gale's strain (or mutant thereof).

Hoping for something fairly rich and fruit-cake like, ready for the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Having brewed more classic British styles recently, I've treated myself to a Pint365, so will serve through that.

Sounds like that could be a lovely beer

YeastFace · Nov 23, 2024

She is here and I am i love

Manxnorton · Nov 24, 2024

wow m8 bloody nice.
I feel a knobba, as i have two draught laddo's collecting dust under the stairs. :coat:

Least you reminded.
Take m8.
Bri

YeastFace · Dec 4, 2024

Brewed a dry stout today.

Grist was 74% MO, 12% Flaked Barley, and 14% dark malts (about 2:1:1 Roasted Barley, Chocolate, and Pale Chocolate).

Admiral for bittering and a handful of Styrians I had left at 10.

Yeast is CML Atlantic (first time using).

Will be going on mixed gas and hopefully be ready for when my brother comes to visit between Christmas and New Year.

YeastFace · Dec 16, 2024

Today's brew was another batch of my Irish Red.

I've had to put this into the FermZilla at room temp, so will ferment under a bit of pressure. I was meant to be kegging my stout this morning but have completely run out of Co2 and mixed gas, so the other fermenter is still occupying the ferm fridge.

Grisp is MO, Imperial, Crystal, touch of wheat, and some Roasted Barley

Have tried a few different hop combinations but have gone back to Progress which my original recipe used as was able to buy some 2023 crop.

Yeast is WLP041. Built up a starter yesterday, and has been very active overnight. Thought I'd try this as looks to be related to a Smithwicks strain.

Edit - looks like I can maintain this at 19°c with a damp towel over the fermenter, so no need to pressure ferment at the moment.

YeastFace · Jan 3, 2025

I managed to fit another brewday in on 23rd December. A Frangelico-Choco Pastry Stout (think Fererro Rocher, Nutella, or Bueno). Brewed a similar beer last year, which was received very well, but have increased the gravity on this one.

Fermentation seems to be done, so today have started dry-nibbing with 250g of cacao nibs. These were baked at 150°c for 15 minutes and theb into a hop sock and weight and into the FV.

Separately aging some Frangelico on French oak. Will add some liquer and some more lactose (did not have enough on brewday) to keg and then rack beer on top once nibs have been drained of their goodness.

YeastFace · Jan 3, 2025

Sampling the v6 (I think) Irish Red now before kegging on Sunday or Monday.

Aroma I think is slightly too fruity, despite the apparent provinence of WLP041. This was never a Smithwicks clone, but probably not as clean on the nose as most Reds.

Flavour is missing some of those toasty notes I feel Golden Promise (my normal base malt for this recipe) gives.

It's a fine enough beer, and can see going down very easily, but on first taste my previous attempts were more to my taste.

Think I will put it on mixed gas as stout nearly done.

YeastFace · Jan 12, 2025

Kegged the choco hazelnut pastry stout today. Added some vanilla and roasted cacao nibs to the fermenter, and kegged onto Frangelico which has been resting with some oak honeycomb and staves for the past month. Added more lactose and vanilla at kegging.

YeastFace · Jan 13, 2025

First brew of 2025 was a rebrew of my mostly British ingredient Dunkel, which I've renamed "Share the Darkness".

Grist is Munich, Dark Munich, Imperial, and Carafa Special 1. Have dropped Melanoidin from v1 as did a decoction.

Hops are Fuggles FWH, Strisselspalt leaf at 60 (for head retention and because they're takin up freezer space) and EKG flavour.

Yeast is The Yeast Bay Franconian Dark Lager. V1 used 34/70, but this strain sounded just the ticket. Will harvest and use the slurry in next brew (a Märzen).

Sorted the liquor out last night - mostly RO cut with 3l Council Juice.

Hochkurz mash with a single decoction.

Fermented low and slow, will spund towards end of fermentation and lager for 6-8 weeks.

YeastFace Brewdays

Help Support The Homebrew Forum:

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Senior Member

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Landlord.

Similar threads