Forum Christmas Brew

[gavp1979]

No, it's like most things in brewing. some add in the boil, some at ferm, and some after ferm. Probably doesn't matter too much.

Mine didn't taste very chocolatey but I still have 100g of nibs left so might boil then for a few seconds chuck them.in the fermenter for a few days then

 

[SamBrewster]

16 bottles at about 1018 with temp correction. Tasted the sample - not sure yet, looking forward to trying properly in a months time or so.

 

[Mrhandsome]

Checked mine yesterday and its down to 1.016. The yeast has mostly dropped but there's still some floaters in there. The sample tasted good apart from the chunk of yeast I got with it.

Cold crashing now ready to bottle on Saturday.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

Bottled mine last night, fg of 1022, making it 8.4%, seemed like it had stopped after 3 weeks so went for it. Not as sweet as I thought it might have been, choc aroma though and very full bodied!

 

[gavp1979]

I know it's not fully conditioned yet but couldn't resist having a couple if glasses last night. Mine finished high an only turned out at 4.9% but got to say that it is very nice. Gonna be a struggle leaving it alone til Christmas

 

[gavp1979]

I have got a video of it pouring using an intertap flow control with stout spout using only co2 put it is too big to post managed to get a little cascading effect and a nice head with it

 

[gavp1979]

Managed to compress it enough but can hopefully still see the effect. I left the restrictor plate in the stout spout but removed the plastic diverter

 

[pilgrimhudd]

Managed to compress it enough but can hopefully still see the effect. I left the restrictor plate in the stout spout but removed the plastic diverter
View attachment 35217

Got sound but no video, sounded like you were taking a leak.

 

[gavp1979]

Tried again but looks like it was going to do the same

 

[Clint]

I upped the temp on mine to drop it the last few points to 1.020.
Regards the MJ yeasts...I have a second batch of SAISON brewing with the MJ SAISON yeast...they both started off really well with a big krausen and loads of bubbling and lid pressure..then seem to slow for a couple of days...then take off again. The first batch went down to 1.000 and the beer was great.

 

[user 18729]

Managed to compress it enough but can hopefully still see the effect. I left the restrictor plate in the stout spout but removed the plastic diverter
View attachment 35217

Looks amazing- glad you enjoyed it!

 

[Falco]

Bit late to this thread and already brewed Hughes' Christmas Ale which is clearing and conditioning nicely in the bottle as I write, but I'll give this one a go definately

Not had this one before but I had a bottle of Black Sheep Choc & Orange Stout 6.1% ABV last night and it was gorgeous, don't usually go for dark beers but it was delightful. Label says they used dark chocolate malt, flaked oats, dark chocolate Cascade hops and orange peel so not unlike this @Hopsteep recipe.

 

[user 18729]

Well life has gotten in the way lately, so later than planned, but finally found the time to make some invert. Hoping to brew this one in a couple of days time once I’ve free’d up my fermenter

 

[SamBrewster]

Sampled my Christmas beer today. Nice and easy drinking but a little forgettable. Not sure if it needs more lactose? Interesting to see how this improves on the run in to christmas.

 

[user 18729]

Tucked up in the fermenter after a cold day in the garage. Ended up with 33L at 1.060, pitched the Ringwood at 19 degrees along with the cocoa nibs (boiled with 1L of the cooled wort). Hopefully this will be ready for the Christmas beer swap!

 

[user 18729]

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[gavp1979]

Everyone that tried this last year enjoyed it so much that my job for today is to brew up anoty batch for this Christmas. Sticking to the same recipe but going to try using dark Candi sugar instead of homemade invert this time

 

[UKSkydiver]

I'm very tempted . . . .

Prob won't be fannying about with invert this time either

 

[johncrobinson]

Sugar can be as big a subject as yeast.
Once you get those Manyard reactions going,Who knows what wonders lie in store,