AG#10 "Pylon Hit" Pale Ale

[matt76]

Thanks to everyone who gave me some advice and tips regarding the grain bill.....

In the end I went with:
1.28kg MO
420g UK Munich
210g UK Caramalt
190g Flaked Barley

10g first gold 9.16% 60 mins
20g first gold 9.16% 5 mins

8x2L = 16L Tesco Ashbeck water

Half a protofloc tablet for 10 mins

Mash at 67degC.

15L went in the brew kettle and 11.4L came out. OG 1.046.

Feeling like I've really got my process dialled in now.

I made a starter of Wyeast 1028 using a third of the original pack that I'd kept in the fridge. There was loads of yeast in there but it seems a little slow so far, though I'm sure it'll pick up.

Excited to see how this turns out

 

[Zephyr259]

A bit like a pale version of my bitter due to the caramalt instead of medium crystal, First Gold hops are awesome!

 

[matt76]

A bit like a pale version of my bitter due to the caramalt instead of medium crystal, First Gold hops are awesome!

Thanks! Choice of first gold is simply what I had in stock but interested to see how this turns out.

Do you have a recipe for your bitter? I was just mulling over what to make next.....

 

[Zephyr259]

Sure, it's on my brew day thread, post #14 farther down mentions my 2nd brewing which swapped out 20% of the base malt for Weyermann Munich II and scaled the whole thing up to 23L from my usual 15L.

The munch made it maltier and gave the extra body I wanted but for some reason it took an extra month to hit it's peak. The first batch was more refreshing in the heat but the second had a lovely honey flavour, not better, just different, and I did do a side-by-side test on my family who were mostly blind to what I was asking them to do, they could pick out the subtle difference.

 

[matt76]

Update:

After 19 days in the FV, just checked the gravity and it's bang on 1.011 as predicted by Brewers Friend. Tastes amazing, a gentle bitterness from the hops balanced against the sweetness of the malt.

Bring forth the sacred bottling bucket!

 

[matt76]

20 X 500ml bottled. Really looking forward to trying this once it's ready - bring on the Easter holidays

Noticed a few small flakes floating on and just below the surface - assume it just remnants of the yeast. I'm getting the impression this is just par for the course with some strains (1028 in this case, 2274 also did something similar)

 

[Gulpitdarn]

Well done Matt, looks good! would like to see your bottle lable...

 

[matt76]

Oh yes, that's very yum!

Seems to have picked up a bit of chill haze in the fridge, it was clear before - I took it out to let it warm up a little before drinking.

Decided to reward myself as I've been good and not touched this since I bottled it exactly 4 weeks ago.

As noted before, it's really nicely balanced with the bitterness of the hops against the sweetness of the malts.

I'm getting honey and peppery, with perhaps just a hint of orange marmalade suggested of first gold hops. I wondered if it might be a bit sweet but the finish is actually quite dry and refreshing.

Yep, pleased with this one

 

[Zephyr259]

Looks great, folks at a local homebrew club also got honey from my 2nd batch. Maybe a combo of Munich and first gold?