Brew 2 - Youngs American Amber Ale questions

[tefkab]

Hey all

So I've finished my 2nd ever kit and it's turned out really well! It's the American Amber Ale by Youngs and I have to say, it's one of the nicest beers I've ever tasted. Very fruity (not sure if you'd call that 'hoppy' as I'm still learning lol) and the depth of flavour is great. I used the priming sugar supplied for half of it and golden sugar for the other half.

I do have one question though; according to the instructions this beer should be should be served at between 8 and 12°C but it tastes really nice out of the fridge i.e. 5°C or so. Is that OK or am I committing some kind of treachery drinking it that cold?

Also, so far I've given Coopers Mexican Cerveza and the above a go and both worked really well. Was thinking of giving stout a go next, has anyone got any suggestions?

 

[sausagefingers]

I'm in the same boat, I prefer my beer chilled straight out of the fridge.
definitely prefer it over being served 'warm'.I'm sure we'll both be shot for saying it but cheers to a chilly pint :

 

[DoctorMick]

Another one drinking from the fridge here, don't mind cool but can't stand warm beer.

 

[Yeastmaster]

Hey all

So I've finished my 2nd ever kit and it's turned out really well! It's the American Amber Ale by Youngs and I have to say, it's one of the nicest beers I've ever tasted. Very fruity (not sure if you'd call that 'hoppy' as I'm still learning lol) and the depth of flavour is great. I used the priming sugar supplied for half of it and golden sugar for the other half.

I do have one question though; according to the instructions this beer should be should be served at between 8 and 12°C but it tastes really nice out of the fridge i.e. 5°C or so. Is that OK or am I committing some kind of treachery drinking it that cold?

Also, so far I've given Coopers Mexican Cerveza and the above a go and both worked really well. Was thinking of giving stout a go next, has anyone got any suggestions?

I've done two stouts so far (both with 1kg BKE): Coopers and Wilko. They're both really good - the Coopers one is nice and malty with a depth of flavour and the Wilko one very smooth.and easy drinking. If I would have to choose it would be the Coopers - with 1kg spraymalt instead of BKE to give it even more depth.

 

[Rickous]

Ah you're brewing along the same lines as myself!

I've started off with the Woodforde's Wherry, almost ready to put in to my pressure barrel...counting down the hours haha. I've got the Wilko Cerveza ready to go straight in to my FV once that's all washed out and sanitized, and debating which to get on third in a few weeks. Of which I've narrowed it down to the Young's AAA or do a stout. I'm torn between the two, as I've heard nothing but good things about the AAA, but I'm wanting to experiment with the stout and do a chocolate and vanilla one (stole the idea from an Australian chap, doing a Coopers stout with extra chocolate malt and vanilla pods).

How long did you condition the AAA for? And have you bottled or barreled it? I'm picking up 80 PET bottles soon, so that's the Cerveza and unknown brew 3 sorted. Hopefully by then, the wherry will have come in to its own and shortly be decimated by all and sundry so I've got my PB back! Though I'm hoping to keep it conditioning for a while....May have to invest in another barrel!

Cheers!

 

[Covrich]

It depends for me what type of beer it is, I normally store mine in the fridge but say if and when I know I am going to have one I take one out the fridge 15 or so minutes before.

Over the winter I have kept the ones I am going to drink at conservatory temp, but it depends on the drink for me. I find sometimes the fridge will slightly surpress some of the flavours of an ale.

A blonder ale I may leave in or drink from the fridge.

 

[tefkab]

How long did you condition the AAA for? And have you bottled or barreled it?

Cheers!

I bottled it pretty much as per instructions; mixed it all on 27/11 and bottled it 14/12. Just started drinking it as I couldn't wait any longer! It's come out at 5.3% ABV, I put a little less than 25 litres into my FV, maybe 22/23. I used a different sugar for half of it, the same I used on the Mexican Cerveza, which tasted great.

 

[tefkab]

I've done two stouts so far (both with 1kg BKE): Coopers and Wilko. They're both really good - the Coopers one is nice and malty with a depth of flavour and the Wilko one very smooth.and easy drinking. If I would have to choose it would be the Coopers - with 1kg spraymalt instead of BKE to give it even more depth.

Thanks, Yeastmaster, I'll take a look. Quite intrigued by the mentions of chocolate stout in other posts???

 

[pms67]

Rickous,the AAA is very,very nice.
There are time for stouts later

 

[Rickous]

Haha that's what I was thinking, from what I've read the stout conditions fairly quickly anyway so it would be nice to get the AAA on and conditioning for a while. So many kits I want to do, and only one FV....Debating getting a whole new kit from ebay that includes the AAA but I'm not sure the missus would approve haha. She's happy I'm brewing, though if I start taking over the flat it may become an issue

 

[sausagefingers]

I caved in yesterday and bought a new FV and heater so I can have two brews going at the same time. I almost worked through all my stash at Christmas so need to build it back up again, fingers crossed I should have s nice collection again with two going at the same time.
That's the problem with looking on here , every time I visit I spot another kit that I want to try

 

[Wolfracer]

Ive just started an AAA off, and havr several wherrys and a cerveza conditioning.
The wherry will be ready first. Even if you set it off today....
Wilko cerveza takes a good 6 weeks conditioning. Wherry more like 2....
Brew and drink the wherry, save the cerveza and look forward to the AAA. woodefordes nog is an excellent dark ale if you are that way inclined....

 

[Rickous]

Well today I've just transfered my Wherry to my pressure barrel...first time siphoning, that was fun! And when I'd cleaned all my equipment I decided I may as well sanitize and get the Cerveza straight in the FV, but brewed it slightly short at 21L. Had a SG of 1042 which seems fairly good.

I had a small sup of the Wherry as it was going in to the barrel, and I must say for my first time brewing I'm very impressed. I have a feeling this will turn out to be a very nice brew. Just need to get myself an AAA kit and have that ready to go in two weeks time before my first bottling session!

 

[Gingerbrews]

After reading a few reviews here, have bought Young's AAA to start at weekend as have bottled my Coopers tweaked stout. The shed in the garden is rapidly turning into a Microbrewery. Now have 160 pints in bottles (still hunting for more) and planning a wee drinking session with a few pals.
Have high hopes for AAA

 

[Rickous]

Haha funny you should post this today, I've literally just come back from my LHBS and picked up their last AAA! Was popping down to get the Festival Golden Stag kit, but saw this and caved as it's one I've wanted to get on for a while. My wherry is bottled now, didn't risk the new keg. Will save for a stout I'm going to get on after the AAA.

S.G of 1.050(ish slightly higher possibly, but bubbles) Smelled lovely, better than the Wherry actually. Going to add the hops on the 23rd, and then bottle not long after F.G permitting. Have high hopes for this kit, hoping I won't be disappointed but by all accounts it's a cracking brew.

Will keep you updated! Hopefully we can compare around the same time if you get it on at the weekend.

 

[Gingerbrews]

Slight delay in starting this brew due to various demands on time, principally being watching 6 Nations and drinking excessively.
Anyway, today is the day for Young's AAA to commence.

 

[Gingerbrews]

AAA underway and fermenting already after 4 hours!!

 

[Rickous]

Bottled mine yesterday, bit of an experience! First time siphoning with hop residue everywhere. Word of advice, get a muslin bag or something over your siphon. Thinking I may have to pour through a tea strainer when this has conditioned haha. But it did smell, and taste, rather good so still have high hopes for this one. Going to get through my wherry over the next few weeks so I've got some spare bottles for another cerveza I'm getting on.

 

[tefkab]

Splendid news! Taste should be great, I had the same problem; there was a lot of sediment in the bottle after a few weeks. If I was careful most of it stayed in the bottle but it was hard not to let at least some cloudiness seep in. Was your tea strainer comment a joke or is this a method for preventing this? Sorry if it's a noob question but then I am a noob!

 

[Gingerbrews]

Added the hops a couple of days ago. Put them in a muslin bag as couldn't face having to strain it when bottling. Hope that it won't diminish the flavour. Bottling tomorrow.