55 year school reunion beer.

[John Holgreaves]

I promised to do a brew for my old school friends for July 2019. I know it is a few months away yet.
I am thinking 6% ABV heavily hopped. 6 different malts and 6 different hops. To be called obviously "6 of the Best". I plan to brew early enough to let the beer mature for 6 weeks then massively dry hop for 3 days, then bottle with sugar primer, then drink. The idea is to get a nice mature malt flavour with fresh dry hopping. Any ideas on the process, improvement etc. Guys, this beer needs to be top drawer as I was crap at everything at school and I want to show them at least I am a half decent brewer. Looking forward to your comments.

 

[terrym]

I was crap at everything at school

No you weren't, you at least learned how to spell properly and how to string several sentences together. Those are skills that sadly many people don't have, but would love to possess.
Hope the beer goes well

 

[Clint]

What he said!

 

[John Holgreaves]

 

[Clint]

Bloody swot....

 

[John Holgreaves]

Me swot!!!! Never.

 

[Ghillie]

I promised to do a brew for my old school friends for July 2019. I know it is a few months away yet.
I am thinking 6% ABV heavily hopped. 6 different malts and 6 different hops. To be called obviously "6 of the Best". I plan to brew early enough to let the beer mature for 6 weeks then massively dry hop for 3 days, then bottle with sugar primer, then drink. The idea is to get a nice mature malt flavour with fresh dry hopping. Any ideas on the process, improvement etc. Guys, this beer needs to be top drawer as I was crap at everything at school and I want to show them at least I am a half decent brewer. Looking forward to your comments.

If I was brewing for joe public, the beer would have to be:

-well carbonated, likely towards the upper end of the range
-crystal clear (cold crashed and fined with gelatin, etc)
-suitable for most peeople. Hoppy beers are absolutely banging IMO, I love them! But they're not for everyone... Maybe something a little more basic might work out better?

I'd love nothing more than to sit and tan hugely hopped IPA's with old school pals, but I know most of them would likely prefer something like a lager instead... So why not both?!

 

[Leon103]

Like the above post it's got to be something the joe public will drink
A nice pale ale with English hops should go down well

 

[John Holgreaves]

If I was brewing for joe public, the beer would have to be:

-well carbonated, likely towards the upper end of the range
-crystal clear (cold crashed and fined with gelatin, etc)
-suitable for most peeople. Hoppy beers are absolutely banging IMO, I love them! But they're not for everyone... Maybe something a little more basic might work out better?

I'd love nothing more than to sit and tan hugely hopped IPA's with old school pals, but I know most of them would likely prefer something like a lager instead... So why not both?!

Lager? Wash your mouth out!
It has to be 6% though, so it will need some flavour. Could do 2 different brews. A lighter one for the boys still wearing shorts (You know the ones I mean). and a 6%er.

 

[Ghillie]

Lager? Wash your mouth out!

Not to be knocked John, you can't beat a good lager! I've had some very nice ones before.

Lets not mess around then, DIPA - all out. Do it

 

[John Holgreaves]

I'm getting to like you Ghillie.

 

[Ghillie]

I'm getting to like you Ghillie.

 

[DavidDetroit]

As above, as nice as a hoppy beer is, would an average person like it? Almost all of my acquaintances wouldn't appreciate a well-thought out beer. Is making two styles for the event a possibility?

 

[-Bezza-]

If you want 6 different malts and 6 different hops, and for them all to serve some purpose, then you're going to be limited in style. Never made a DIPA but the hoppy maltiness there would make sense.

Perhaps use "straight C" hops - cascade, citra etc. to get in another lame school pun?

 

[Leon103]

Lager? Wash your mouth out!
It has to be 6% though, so it will need some flavour. Could do 2 different brews. A lighter one for the boys still wearing shorts (You know the ones I mean). and a 6%er.

What is wrong with lager

 

[Drunkula]

What is wrong with lager

It's crap?

 

[Leon103]

It's crap?

Really. Yes, most commercial offerings are but there are plenty of nice ones. Especially the continental ones such as Vienna lagers, bocks, dunkels etc

 

[John Holgreaves]

It's crap?

I have nothing against lager, millions of people enjoy it, but I'm a hophead so in comparison it's a lot blowsy for me.

As above, as nice as a hoppy beer is, would an average person like it? Almost all of my acquaintances wouldn't appreciate a well-thought out beer. Is making two styles for the event a possibility?

There will be John Smiths Smooth on tap.
All my old school chums are all hard as nails, we all played rugby, boxed and did cross country running in the snow etc. We all preferred the cane as a form of punishment instead of writing 100 lines.
I think I will do 2 brews a DIPA American hopped, and a nice not too hoppy best bitter.

 

[Drunkula]

I have nothing against lager, millions of people enjoy it

Enjoyed in ignorance.

I think I will do 2 brews a DIPA American hopped, and a nice not too hoppy best bitter.

You sound like you've got your head screwed on the right way round. I like those choices.

 

[Oneflewover]

Enjoyed in ignorance.
QUOTE]

lamented in ignorance?