Challenger SMaSH

[JhnMcK]

I have finally taken the plunge and moved from kit brewing to all-grain. With it being the Bank Holiday weekend coming up, I've decided to get the first all-grain brew under my belt. I've gone simple in the hope there's less chance to balls it up.

My "planned" brew:

Original Gravity (OG): 1.052 (°P): 12.9
Final Gravity (FG): 1.013 (°P): 3.3
Alcohol (ABV): 5.11 %
Colour (SRM): 5.8 (EBC): 11.4
Bitterness (IBU): 44.3 (Average)

5kg Maris Otter Malt

35g Challenger (8.04% Alpha) @ 60 Minutes (Boil)
40g Challenger (8.04% Alpha) @ 15 Minutes (Boil)


Single step Infusion at 67°C for 60 Minutes. Boil for 60 Minutes

Fermented at 20°C with Safale S-04

What are your thoughts?

 

[Gunge]

Sounds great and very similar to something I made a couple of months ago. Seeing as Challenger was, is, and forever will be the finest hop known to all of humanity, you can't go wrong. Nice to have a change now and again though but I always go back to it in the end, like an adulterer always drops the mistress and returns to the wife.

 

[itry]

I've just started drinking a cascade smash I made with pretty much the same recepie. It's amazing!

 

[Nicks90]

I love challenger hops. Proper Yorkshire bitter style hop

 

[Bigd2657]

Sounds like this might be one that I am going to get on this weekend, can you tell me how it turned out.

 

[Slid]

Sounds like this might be one that I am going to get on this weekend, can you tell me how it turned out.

To be fair, BIGD (can we call you "Shirley"?), it matters scarcely one jot how any one single brew turns out. If you are going to do a SMaSH brew, then Challenger is going to be near the top of the list.

Great bittering and good flavouring. You can do a lot of very good English style beers using just Challenger and Goldings hops.

 

[JhnMcK]

This is going in the bottle this weekend. It tasted pretty good in the trial jar. I plan to do it again in the future and see how it compares with a 5 minute hop addition and maybe some more at flameout.

If I can come up with a good Challenger SMaSH, I plan to buy some plants for the allotment for a continuous supply

 

[cushyno]

Once you've drained the Smash, you may want to try something like the Cumberland Ale clone I have conditioning. Simple recipe: Malts are MO and a little each of crystal and black. Only one hop... Challenger.

 

[24902657]

Hi Slid, is BigDs real name " SHIRLEY" or am I missing a forum joke. As I have read the posts of the forum member before and believe it to be a male, but might be mistaken.

I think with some of the questions he asks he may be struggling somewhere in the brewing phase, as they are all to do with AG Matters.

 

[Oneflewover]

Hi Slid, is BigDs real name " SHIRLEY" or am I missing a forum joke. As I have read the posts of the forum member before and believe it to be a male, but might be mistaken.

I think with some of the questions he asks he may be struggling somewhere in the brewing phase, as they are all to do with AG Matters.

Big Daddy, British wrestler, 80's fame. Real name Shirley Crabtree?

 

[foxy]

Old thread, taste test tonight of my Blue Bird Bitter, all Challenger hops and I have found a new favourite hop.

 

[Cwrw666]

I did a challenger smash recently and didn't like it much - it was ok to start with but after longer conditioning became very `grapefruity', a bit like cascade really.
Much prefered an admiral smash I did earlier, but to be honest you can't beat goldings.
Just my opinion of course.

Currently enjoying a goldings pale ale to which I added some prima donna (homegrown) at flameout. Very marmaladey, but there again I do like marmalade.

 

[Zephyr259]

Much prefered an admiral smash I did earlier, but to be honest you can't beat goldings.

Oh, Admiral is my standard bittering hop, how did you find it in late additions? There's a couple of threads about it out there but it seemed a bit hit or miss with folks.

 

[Cwrw666]

Oh, Admiral is my standard bittering hop, how did you find it in late additions? There's a couple of threads about it out there but it seemed a bit hit or miss with folks.

Well when the brew was quite young I didn't like it at all but after a few weeks conditioning it was really nice. Of course with 40 bottles to work through I might just have gotten used to the taste!

 

[Davvy]

Yes : I love challenger , it is superb. you will not be disapointed.
Four of my recent brews have had 50% Challenger, and 50% EKG and have been exceptional in delivering that "English bitter style.
I am personally wanting to try something else which gives "English" notes but but am open to suggestions based on experience (Bramling cross, Fuggles, Admiral...etc ?)

 

[user 18729]

Yes : I love challenger , it is superb. you will not be disapointed.
Four of my recent brews have had 50% Challenger, and 50% EKG and have been exceptional in delivering that "English bitter style.
I am personally wanting to try something else which gives "English" notes but but am open to suggestions based on experience (Bramling cross, Fuggles, Admiral...etc ?)

Challenger is really nice. I really like Target actually for anything English (late in the boil as well as for bittering)

 

[Davvy]

Yes Target seems a good proposition, I really want "Traditional / English" notes, but have been looking to get other people's experience of the results - many thanks Hopsteep.

 

[Nicks90]

I love target. Great hop! So versatile

 

[foxy]

Target is my go to for bittering never tried it as a late hop. Pilgrim is also another good one. I haven't tried Progress hops yet but I have recently received some, going to make an English bitter Pilgrim as the bittering hop and Progress as the late addition.