Admirals Reserve - different colours ?

[Wherrypuzzled]

Did 2 of these in a row - almost at the same time (2 FVs of course)

The first was really dark conker coloured and was a great beer. The second is (was) noticeably different.

As the first was nearly empty (KK) I let my neighbour have it and I cracked the 2nd one and the two just did not look the same in any way - so I am wondering if anyone has seen this before ?

Also any suggestions - as Mrs WW suggests I have put a Wherry in instead (I have but its in Barrel 3). Is it something I could have done and how, or something that could occur "naturally" . Genuinely would like to see what may have happened

Cheers WP

 

[terrym]

LME darkens with age. If one of your kits was old stock that might explain the difference.
It would be interesting to know if the darker version had traces of the dreaded homebrew 'twang' if it is old stock since some including me believe it is a characteristic of old (and/or cheap) LME. Personally I found the all of the Muntons kits I did a bit twangy including Wherry so stopped buying them

 

[Wherrypuzzled]

Terrym - another good, thought provoking answer

Thinking back (only prompted by your reply) I recall I think - its an age thing - that I noticed there had been a packaging change and I did buy these 2 kits from different vendors

So I think that your suggestion is very very likely. I am unsure though which of the kits would be the older (although now I have started a diary noting down various criteria and may add more bits now I know that)

Ironically I expected the ARes to be a really dark Pint and the 1st was indeed and for good measure was a classy drink - even my Lage brewing mate was "hooked" on the taste

The 2nd brew is more like a Wherry in colour but I dont know which was which. In future I will note the BB date as well but maybe with the "run" on the older stuff has now been cleared out

I have bought another and it has BB Dec 2021 so will see what Colur that turns out to be - and the one other thing I now remember is the Hop sachet question where the Hop sachet said add before the yeast but the box said add Hop sachet after 4 days. We had a thread on here and someone suggested try it 2 diffrent ways if you had 2 kits and I did but again cant remember which way round

Wouldnt imagine that would affect the colouration too much and again I cant remember which way round I did the first one anyway Looking at Youtube there is a guy reviewing Woodfordes kits and the ARes looks he has looks dark red which was very very similar to what I got and indeed what I hope my 3rd attempt turns out like

Once again Many thanks JT

 

[Wherrypuzzled]

https://www.woodfordes.com/beers/admirals-reserve/
Update - this is the link to ARes on Woodfordes site and the colour stated as Copper and photo looks representative. Mine was darker than that though but 2nd one is paler than that at the moment

 

[DavieC]

This is the Ad Reserve I brewed last year and a good photo of the true colour. How does that compare to yours @Wherrypuzzled ? Malty,nutty taste and better now than when first brewed.cheers

 

[Wherrypuzzled]

Hi DavieC

My current Barrel looks remarkably like that but the first one now finished was much darker and ironicalIy I think had a better taste

Maybe that was "darkened" LME as suggested by TerryM

I have 2 more kits ready to go and it will be interesting to see what I manage to conjur up lol

Many thanks for the reply Wp

 

[Wherrypuzzled]

Photo below