AlderneyBrew's Brewdays.

[Little Rock Brewing]

I haven't posted on my brew day thread for a while, but today is a special day. I found some wild hops yesterday. Oddly they were in the ruins of a Victorian era ammunition building. As they were in perfect condition for harvesting I went back today after the funeral and picked them all, with owners permission. I figured they must be an English hop and they smell great!
So an English IPA for her Majesty is just coming to the boil. Bittered with Challenger pellet as FWH. The green hops, 300g of them will be late addition, probably as scientific as a handful every couple of minutes with 15 mins to go, kind of 60 minute IPA style.

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

That's the rest of them going in. Nice hopstand for 20 mins whilst I went picking fennel seed heads for curries. I've gone all hunter gather!

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Ended up with 24 litres in the fermenter with an OG of 1.060.
Going simple and pitching harvested US-05.
Bargain brew!

 

[Metman79]

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I haven't posted on my brew day thread for a while, but today is a special day. I found some wild hops yesterday. Oddly they were in the ruins of a Victorian era ammunition building. As they were in perfect condition for harvesting I went back today after the funeral and picked them all, with owners permission. I figured they must be an English hop and they smell great!
So an English IPA for her Majesty is just coming to the boil. Bittered with Challenger pellet as FWH. The green hops, 300g of them will be late addition, probably as scientific as a handful every couple of minutes with 15 mins to go, kind of 60 minute IPA style.

Same here in Jersey, foraged 1.2kg of hops today from 1 of my 4 known spots. Just gonna have to dry them and freeze them though until I'm ready for the next brew. The house smells outrageous at the moment.

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Do you know what they are or have you used them before so know they taste good?
I've no idea what these are but like yours they smell great.

 

[Metman79]

Do you know what they are or have you used them before so know they taste good?
I've no idea what these are but like yours they smell great.

No idea on the type although I also have some prima Donna/First Gold growing in the garden. The wild ones smell a bit more citrussy/freshly mown grass with a hint of funk. I may well end up 2 or 3kg worth this year but obviously that's wet weight so more like 1/5th when dried.

 

[Metman79]

No idea on the type although I also have some prima Donna/First Gold growing in the garden. The wild ones smell a bit more citrussy/freshly mown grass with a hint of funk. I may well end up 2 or 3kg worth this year but obviously that's wet weight so more like 1/5th when dried.

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

If these wild ones I found are any good I'll see about looking after them a bit next year to try and increase the yield. But they are North East facing, which isn't ideal.

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Just mashing the Wreck the Halls kit from BrewUk. After a long spring and summer making pale ales and saisons it nice to see some colour!

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

All done. 24 litres at 1.062, so a couple of points above. These are the flavour spices left after transfer. Still smelt amazing!

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Mashing in my second Christmas beer, Black Magic Biscotti Breakfast Stout. Lovely free running mash despite 750g of flaked oats.

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Also I was very suspicious that the grain supplied could give the quoted 20 litres at 6%.
So I ran it through Brewersfriend and it came out at a lowly 4.64%.
I've added another 1kg of pale malt to boost it up to 5.78%.