Graham Wheeler, still relevant?

[prog99]

So I've fancied getting a nice strong malty lager on the go over the festive period. Wheelers european beers book as a recipe for The Kulminator at around 8% which I've actually had (although maybe a stronger incarnation).
He always goes for the keep it simple approach rather than some of the more modern recipes that seem to attempt to add every hop & malt sold at the home-brew shop... It is just munich, caramalt & northern brewer, too simple or worth a shot?

Also what yeasts are good for whatever cold temps our house will get to whilst away, I reckon it'll struggle into double figures.

Thanks.

 

[Ghillie]

Lagers are simple in their nature - so best to keep it that way. So nothing wrong with your recipe at all, the caramalt will make it interesting.

For lagers you should really go with two packets of lager yeast, you need the higher cell count for the cooler temperatures seen with fermenting lager. You can get away with one, but two is advised. I use this stuff (and just one packet last time):

https://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Saflager_S-23_Lager_Yeast.html

There is also this:

https://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Saflager_W-34_70_Yeast.html

 

[IainM]

Sure is relevant. Some of the best beers are simple.

 

[Drunkula]

I'm doing Exmoor Gold right now - It's scarily simple. Just base malt and three hops. I feel like I've forgotten something but loads say it's the best in Wheeler's book.

 

[Zephyr259]

I'm doing Exmoor Gold right now - It's scarily simple. Just base malt and three hops. I feel like I've forgotten something but loads say it's the best in Wheeler's book.

Might try this one, always find it weird how few hops he adds late in the boil.

It's not just lagers that are simple, Belgians can be pilsner and sugar and Styrian goldings and/or saaz then the yeast does it's magic.

 

[MyQul]

Like Drunkula, lots of people say that the landlord reciepe in GW's book it a blinder, and that's pretty simple too

 

[Slid]

I'm doing Exmoor Gold right now - It's scarily simple. Just base malt and three hops. I feel like I've forgotten something but loads say it's the best in Wheeler's book.

The Exmoor Gold and Hop Back Summer Lightning are very similar recipes and make a nice beer. If the GW recipes are all much of a muchness - variations on a theme - then so was the beer available in pubs back then.

 

[prog99]

Like Drunkula, lots of people say that the landlord reciepe in GW's book it a blinder, and that's pretty simple too

It was my first ever AG.
Anyway, I prefer simple was just checking that there wasn’t anything that’s superseded nowadays with more modern techniques.

 

[MyQul]

It was my first ever AG.
Anyway, I prefer simple was just checking that there wasn’t anything that’s superseded nowadays with more modern techniques.

If this is your first AG GW is and excellent starting point with the simple recipes. I tend to try to get a bit more hop flavour in by adding a hop tea to my bitters or for tonights brew I'm trying a hop stand for the first time. But GW's book is great and I dont think you'll be disappointed

 

[Slid]

It was my first ever AG.
Anyway, I prefer simple was just checking that there wasn’t anything that’s superseded nowadays with more modern techniques.

As far as I can see, the "modern technique" involves buying another 200g of expensive US "C" hops and bunging them in 5 days before bottling. Chacun a son gout, as the French say.

 

[Slid]

If this is your first AG GW is and excellent starting point with the simple recipes. I tend to try to get a bit more hop flavour in by adding a hop tea to my bitters or for tonights brew I'm trying a hop stand for the first time. But GW's book is great and I don't think you'll be disappointed

The GW book is very useful, especially if you are a beginner. The late hop additions are a bit on the mean side, but a brewery would always have had first pick of the best and freshest hops, so adding a fair bit more is a good plan for a homebrewer.

 

[aamcle]

Relevant? only if you like brewing beer.

I've done several now all good and I'll do Elephant beer between Christmas and New year.


Aamcle

 

[IainM]

The Gales Festival Mild is a corker too. This thread reminds me, I've been meaning to do the Timothy Taylor Landlord for ages. Think I'll put it on on Sunday to test out my new shiny ss fv from black Friday.

 

[prog99]

If this is your first AG GW is and excellent starting point with the simple recipes. I tend to try to get a bit more hop flavour in by adding a hop tea to my bitters or for tonights brew I'm trying a hop stand for the first time. But GW's book is great and I dont think you'll be disappointed

First as in the landlord clone was my first ever AG a long time ago. I picked the book up recently out the cupboard to look for inspiration.

 

[prog99]

Relevant? only if you like brewing beer.

I've done several now all good and I'll do Elephant beer between Christmas and New year.


Aamcle

I'd quite fancied the elephant beer one too. How good is it, been a long time since I had the original so memory is a bit hazy (I probably had a few)

 

[prog99]

As far as I can see, the "modern technique" involves buying another 200g of expensive US "C" hops and bunging them in 5 days before bottling. Chacun a son gout, as the French say.

Surely the 200g of citra is after the 50 hop additions and a pinch of every malt in the HBS?

 

[prog99]

Onto the subject of hops, Wheeler has northern brewer for 24 ebus. That'd be fine except the HBS looks to be out of stock.
Whats on their website doesn't always match reality (too late to phone) but any idea what a suitable replacement may be?

 

[AdeDunn]

Onto the subject of hops, Wheeler has northern brewer for 24 ebus. That'd be fine except the HBS looks to be out of stock.
Whats on their website doesn't always match reality (too late to phone) but any idea what a suitable replacement may be?

the-home-brew-shop.co.uk has northern brewer pellets (2016 harvest) in stock, £2.40 for 100g, you just sometimes have to shop around for your hops is all.

 

[prog99]

Yes, so do plenty of others but i've left things a tad late!

 

[AdeDunn]

True, but I managed to get some Citra and a pouch of Omega Hothead Ale delivered from Brew UK the other day... So might work out... lol