Christmas 2012

[cask is best]

Not a spelling mistake but i was just wandering when folk start there Christmas brews. I started mine for this year around mid to late October. Next year could anyone tell me if i start a brew a stout or dark ale around July will it still be okay for Christmas/New year 2012.

My second question is if i buy a kit and it has a sell by date on the base of the can and it says best before or use by date for instance Sep 12 will it be okay to use that and for Christmas/new year 12/13

The trouble is of course not to drinlk it before then :wha:

 

[graysalchemy]

The beer once it is brewed will be fine but make it as strong 7+ %

 

[Essex_Lad]

I shall be kicking one of these off next week for Christmas 2012

http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/aca ... s_Ale.html

: : :

 

[cask is best]

Hi grayalchemy. Make it 7% plus is that in case of any infection to maybe kill it off.

Hi Essex lad. Next week for Christmas 2012. So that's over a year in the barrel It really keeps that long

 

[graysalchemy]

I would bottle it and make it above 7% it will age and mature nicely plus you need a hefty beer for Christmas. My barley wine is 9.5%. I brewed that in august but I didn't bottle until november so it sat in a closed FV for 12 weeks. It probably won't have comdition by Christmas but i will sample a few, and it certainly will be coming into its own for Christmas 2012. I will do another in spring for 2013 and also an elderberry stout for 2012-13. :thumb: :thumb:

 

[cask is best]

Thanks for that. Wasn't show how long beer would keep. I have a couple of bottles of lager stored from May to try next summer. I made them from a Coopers pilsner kit [i think] and it said hold a couple back for a year or two and i thought two years thats a long time. But now every time i bottle i hold a couple back.

Bottling is no problem i have enough but will it also keep for a year and beyond in a barrel.

Also i agree you need a hefty beer for crimbo.

Thanks for the infor

 

[klaus]

My oldest brew was about 6 years old - and it wasn't a Christmas beer - just a cheap lager kit with pineapple!

 

[cask is best]

What did it taste like. Was it ok

 

[Essex_Lad]

Hi grayalchemy. Make it 7% plus is that in case of any infection to maybe kill it off.

Hi Essex lad. Next week for Christmas 2012. So that's over a year in the barrel It really keeps that long

Should be fine mate, It will go into bottles so reckon it will have a good few years onit.......................it will be a big mission for me not trying any during the year :party: :party: :party:

 

[ricardo]

I would bottle it and make it above 7% it will age and mature nicely plus you need a hefty beer for Christmas. My barley wine is 9.5%. I brewed that in august but I didn't bottle until november so it sat in a closed FV for 12 weeks. It probably won't have comdition by Christmas but i will sample a few, and it certainly will be coming into its own for Christmas 2012. I will do another in spring for 2013 and also an elderberry stout for 2012-13. :thumb: :thumb:

Which Barley Wine did you use ????

 

[klaus]

What did it taste like. Was it ok

It was very good, crystal clear, good fizz and head, good lager taste with a hint of pineapple. Good alcohol level (taste wise) maybe the reason it kept well.
Enjoy Christmas!

 

[graysalchemy]

I would bottle it and make it above 7% it will age and mature nicely plus you need a hefty beer for Christmas. My barley wine is 9.5%. I brewed that in august but I didn't bottle until november so it sat in a closed FV for 12 weeks. It probably won't have comdition by Christmas but i will sample a few, and it certainly will be coming into its own for Christmas 2012. I will do another in spring for 2013 and also an elderberry stout for 2012-13. :thumb: :thumb:

Which Barley Wine did you use ????

I did an AG brew based on robinson Old Tom, originally posted here.

:thumb: