My second attempt at MJ Pink Grapefruit IPA. My first (review posted in this thread) was a huge success, but I just felt it needed a bit more grapefruit flavour.
Kit started - 21st February. Used 1kg of light malt extract, and Tesco Ashbeck Mineral Water. Added 1 litre of Tesco Pink Grapefruit Juice. Brew fridge set at 20.5ºC.
Hops added - 6th March.
Bottled (with one sugar stick per bottle - mix of white and brown) - 9th March. Brew fridge set at 20.5ºC.
Moved to outside shed - 23rd March.
First pint - 30th April.
There were two differences between this brew and the first one. First I used DME rather than LME, and secondly, in order to try and up the grapefruit a touch, I added 1 litre of Tesco Pink Grapefruit Juice (with bits, so I strained it through a piece of muslin into the FV).
I really like Elvis Juice, but whenever I have it, I'll only have a couple because for my tastes, the grapefruit is a bit too strong. What I was looking for was a bit more grapefruit flavour from the first time I did the kit, but not quite as much as Elvis Juice.
Complete success! This is gorgeous. Almost certainly the best brew I've ever done. Beautiful colour, nice head and perfect carbonation. It's very smooth, with a really nice grapefruit flavour and a perfect bitterness at the end. Like everything in life, it's all down to personal taste, but for my palate, this is better than Elvis Juice. There, I said it, it's better than Elvis Juice. Using DME in place of LME has made no difference to the quality of the beer, in fact it may have improved it. There's absolutely no twang of any kind. I will definitely do this again and I'll do it to the exact same recipe. I love trying new kits but the way I feel right now I might just brew this for the rest of my life! I have a mate who likes EJ, so will invite him round for a pint in the garden and see what sort of reaction I get.
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