AG #4 - Courage Directors variation

[klaus]

Haven’t done an AG brew since last year and had ingredients ready and waiting for eight months now!
So this one is a variation on the Courage Directors recipe from page 140 of the *the book*, can’t find it just now after having moved my home office again ….
Anyway, the boil is just starting so time to record the recipe. I varied mainly the hops as I didn’t want to open new packets.

For 23 litres (5 UK Gallons):
4000g Maris Otter
300g Crystal Malt
50g Roast Barley
355g White Sugar

Start of Boil: 12g Northern Brewer & 18g Galena
Last 10 Minutes: Irish Moss
Post Boil Hops: 5g East Kent Goldings

Mash: 60’ (started @ 70C finished @ 65C) - Boil: 60’
Recipe specifies 90’ mash and boil but I think this should be ok.
Yeast: Lallemand Danstar Nottingham Ale
OG: 1.043 (sorry no money shot or other pictures)
FG: tbd

Let’s see how this works out!

 

[caerleon]

Any photos? I hope you had a good brew day!

Im the same i have had a kit sitting there for about 2 months now - going to get it done in the New Year.

 

[klaus]

Any photos? I hope you had a good brew day!

Im the same i have had a kit sitting there for about 2 months now - going to get it done in the New Year.

Sorry mate no photos ... I try to keep distractions to a minimum.
I use the BIAB method, with a 50 litre stock pot with ball valve.
Plus a wort chiller, has served me fine so far. The brew is progressing nicely so hopefully by the end of January this will be ready!

 

[klaus]

Has been in the FV for six days now (at about 20 C) and the FG reading is approx 1.006 which would suggest an ABV of c. 4.8%. Quite a respectable result, even if you assume the reading is at 1.008 that's still 4.6%. See the snapshot below,
I haven't tasted commercial Directors Bitter in years so I can't compare, however tasting the sample gives you the full AG experience, a full bodied beer, good level of bitterness, perhaps the colour is a bit too light, and a hint of nuttyness (I think). I will leave this for another three or four days before kegging.

Next brew planned, already awaiting delivery of ingredients, for a Belgian Blond.

 

[PD]

quite a nice beer to make and drink, although for some reason mine turned out a little too bitter for my taste, but still very drinkable.

 

[klaus]

quite a nice beer to make and drink, although for some reason mine turned out a little too bitter for my taste, but still very drinkable.

The original recipe lists bitterness units as 33 which I assume is quite high so it's probably personal preference. I'm quite a fan of high bitterness.

On a different topic, for the first time I put the the spent grains on the compost heap and after a few days it was literally steaming. When I put more vegetable stuff on I dig a whole in the heap to bury it. The heat coming out was amazing. Presumably there is enough sugar left to accelerate the composting of the material. The worms will probably get a bit tipsy on whatever alcohol is produced.