July Competition - Freestyle

[ProperJobHomebrew]

Thanks @strange-steve! What a confidence boost!

 

[An Ankoù]

Thanks for the feedback Steve, big congrats to @-Bezza- @An Ankoù, @ProperJobHomebrew and @stigman!

Thanks pilgrimhudd.

 

[Gulpitdarn]

Lotta fun! How were the Judges afterwards? Did they stagger home?

 

[user 23602]

Well done everyone!

 

[-Bezza-]

Err, WTF!?

Thanks @strange-steve. Glad you liked it - over the moon that you liked it that much!

 

[strange-steve]

Okay I've sent about half of the feedback, the other half will have to wait till tomorrow evening I'm afraid.
@ProperJobHomebrew because you're a new member I can't PM you yet, I think there's a minimum post count before PMs are allowed but I don't know what it is!

Lotta fun! How were the Judges afterwards?

Something like this

 

[strange-steve]

Err, WTF!?

Thanks @strange-steve. Glad you liked it - over the moon that you liked it that much!

It was a great beer, not just perfect to style but delicious also. And considering that two of the judges claimed they aren't huge fans of IPAs it's testament to the quality that the first and second placing beers were IPAs. Bezza PM me your email address and I'll send you your gift voucher prize :hat:

 

[Chippy_Tea]

@ProperJobHomebrew because you're a new member I can't PM you yet, I think there's a minimum post count before PMs are allowed but I don't know what it is!

I cannot find the thread now but think its a 24 hour block, as PJHB registered a while ago i assume its timed from the first post so try this time tomorrow. :thumba:

 

[Leon103]

Well done all

 

[ProperJobHomebrew]

Good stuff, well done. I would be interested in the chocolate stout recipe if you don't mind sharing. I plan doing a stout soon and have all grain ready.

Hi Samale,

Of course...
https://share.brewfather.app/wohKTbLdCW5Lqu

This brew was my first re-iterative mash and I could not find a decent calculator out there. As such, the numbers came out much higher than the recipe.

Just shout if you have any questions m8!

 

[user 18729]

Hi Samale,

Of course...
https://share.brewfather.app/wohKTbLdCW5Lqu

This brew was my first re-iterative mash and I could not find a decent calculator out there. As such, the numbers came out much higher than the recipe.

Just shout if you have any questions m8!

Just so happens I’m under orders from she who must be obeyed to brew something similar for Christmas. Just curious, I’ve not used cocoa nibs before but most people chuck them in after primary fermentation a bit like a dry hop. Do you get a nice chocolate hit by putting them in at the end of the boil?

 

[Gulpitdarn]

I didn't have any success with cocoa nibs, I reckon they were to blame for lack of head on beer because of oiliness, hardly any chocolate taste. What I did find successful is 100g in 20 Litres, of Coco Baking powder half way through the boil and then 20ml cocoa essence mixed in with priming sugar prior to bottling.

 

[SteveH]

Well done all, and thanks @strange-steve for the feedback!

 

[strange-steve]

That should be all the feedback sent, if anyone hasn't received it then let me know. Well done again to everybody involved and thanks for sending your beers. I think we'd all like to see the top scoring recipes so unless thy're a closely guarded secret please post them. Also don't forget this month's competition which is open right now :hat:

 

[ProperJobHomebrew]

Hey @mozza, It is the first time that I have used cocoa nibs too! I did roast them to help to release the flavor and probably some of the oils too. I did not notice any oils during the brewing process.

With regards to the flavor, I found cocoa nibs are much more bitter that normal UK chocolate. They added a lovely rich bitterness to the brew!

@Gulpitdarn with me being a stout boy I am sure that I will be trying you suggestion in the future, thanks!

 

[-Bezza-]

Well here's my recipe: https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/stone-self-righteous-black-ipa/

And some more details of the brew, including everything that went wrong: https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/bezzas-brewdays.78208/page-2#post-823078

So whilst it wasn't an original recipe, I'm pleased I managed to execute everything well based on the feedback.

Aroma - 10/12
Lots of citrus fruits, restrained roastiness as per the style, clean fermentation profile. Very inviting.

Appearance - 3/3
Great looking beer. Excellent clarity and a beautiful deep red/black colour with huge foamy head.

Flavour - 17/20
Complex layers of flavours, lots of fruity and resinous hop flavour, very well balanced malt background with subtle chocolate hints and a smooth, lasting bitterness.

Mouthfeel - 4/5
Silky smooth, coats the tongue nicely, helped by the hop resins.

Overall Impression - 9/10
An absolute belter. One of the finest BIPAs I've tasted, spot on to style and deliciously enjoyable to drink. A worthy winner, well done :hat:

Score - 43/50

 

[strange-steve]

@-Bezza- thanks for posting that, will defo give it a go soon. Also PM your email address so I can get your prize sent over :thumba:

 

[An Ankoù]

Thanks for the feedback strange-steve, and for the kind comments of the judges. I'm so glad the bottle even made it in one piece, let alone win a place. If anyone wants to try this, here's the recipe. It's based on the description page for Stone Brewing Pataskala Red-X IPA: https://www.stonebrewing.com/beer/stone-seasonals/stone-pataskala-red-x-ipa#ageGatePassed
interpreted thus for 5 gallons (23l):

Target OG 1060
75IBUs
75min boil
Overnight mash at 64C
Soft water with ½ tsp CaCl2 and 2 tsp CaSO4

14 lb Bestmalz Red-X malt

24g Magnum hops 12.5% alpha, full boil 34.5 IBUs

1 oz each (28g each) Amarillo, Cascade, Mosaic for last 15 minutes of boil 40.5 IBUs + ½ tab protofloc
Same again 15 minutes steep <80C
US-05 yeast
Dry hop with 2oz each of Amarillo, Cascade, Mosaic last 3 days of secondary then bottle with 2g sugar per 33cl bottle.
FG was 1006 so abv about 7.25%

I made a half-batch of 2½ gallons as a trial. Might make some more as it's turned out ok. I've never tasted Pataskala and wouldn't even know where to start looking for it so I don't know how close a copy it is.

Congratulations Bezza. I'm going to knock up your recipe, can't wait to taste it.

 

[An Ankoù]

This is very weird. Just checked out Bezza's recipe and it seems it also derives from Stone Brewing!!!
Must try and get hold of some of their stuff.

 

[-Bezza-]

Overnight mash at 64C

Mine was an overnight mash. Maybe we've hit on something here...?