South Cheshire Bottle Swap

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

I do have a carbonation cap

What is that Phil and how does it work?

 

[NPi]

Hi Nick

Ahhhhh, a willing victim brave sampler ... ... some people just have no spirit of adventure ... I do have a carbonation cap and could transfer some beer into PET bottles, I'll have to have a dig around in the garage to see how many PETs I have. I'll report back tomorrow.

In the meantime ... I've opened another bottle of the Smoked Beer ... after all, I would never expect anyone to sample something I'd brewed without sampling it myself first ... this was brewed to the Greg Hughes Smoked Beer recipe, back in Sept 2018, but like I say, I think I was delivered peat smoked malt in place of the oak-smoked malt that I ordered, which I didn't realise till after it was brewed, fermented and conditioned ... this is how it's now looking ...
View attachment 39725
... basically like a brown ale. Having been in the bottle two and a half years it was a bit more carbonated than I'd have wanted, so I had to pour carefully, but I was able to get most of a pint into the glass. And taste wise, well it's unusual, but it's drinkable now, I think ... but I'll leave detailed considerations up to anyone brave enough to try it :hat:

Cheers, PhilB

Looks like beer to me

 

[PhilBrew]

What is that Phil and how does it work?

...
Cheers, PhilB

 

[DavidT]

Hi all,

I'd be happy to bottle up some ale and share it out Would also like to attend a meet up etc. Sounds great. Any of it will need to wait until the current restrictions ease however.

 

[cjibbo]

I would also be happy to get involved.

Similar to OB I only Keg , but I do have a capper and some caps from my previous bottle days I could resurface. I did a Red IPA this weekend that's in the FV so ill get some bottled up for conditioning.

Like others I'm no tasting expert, but i think it will not only be useful in identifying new styles and sharing recipes, but also help benchmark how our brews compare to one another and share best practice to improve them.

When are you thinking of starting it?. It may be better to set a date in the future when restrictions may be lifted and we have had time to stockpile some.

Thanks

 

[PhilBrew]

If you are interested, please let me know how many multiples of the same beer you could likely offer.

... coming back to this original question Nick ... I've been able to find 3x500ml PET bottles so I can now offer for swaps ...

• Up to 16 x bottles of Smoked Beer (for anyone feeling brave enough)
• Up to 3 x bottles of one of the beers I currently have kegged (sorry, but I just can't face the faff of cleaning the carbonation cap and jumper leads multiple times to fill different bottles with different beer ... so someone will have to choose a beer to try (we should probably let Nick, since he asked first) and two others can also sample that beer) ... currently that means one of Mangrove Jacks Pink Grapefruit IPA, AG Best Bitter (with 50:50 MO:Chevallier Malt, First Gold Hops and Wy1469 (Timmy Taylor's) yeast) or an AG Patersbier (Pilsner Malt, Tettnang Hops and Wy3711 (Westmalle) yeast).

What are you offering Nick? Anyone else?
Cheers, PhilB

 

[chopps]

I have one just bottled a week ago, my attempt at a clone of Sierra Nevada. I’d gladly offer some of these for review but they need another couple of weeks conditioning.

Others are in kegs. I’ll be sure to bottle some of everything from now on.

 

[NPi]

@PhilBrew, that Best Bitter sounds great, I've always wanted to try a heritage malt.

Sounds like everyone is keen to take part, with there being some who are willing/able to now, and others who will be ready later.

For those who will be ready later, how does Easter sound (first weekend in April)?

Those who are ready now (please correct me if I'm wrong!):
@GeorgieV - Punk IPA clone
@Falco - Chocolate Orange Stout
@PhilBrew - Best Bitter
Myself - plum porter/various lagers (I'll send some selections )

 

[Falco]

Tried the Chocolate Orange Stout last night and the carbonation is poor after two weeks under the stairs which has been sufficient ordinarily, so going to leave it in my brew fridge with the Inkbird set to 20C controlling the heater for another week.

 

[chopps]

For those who will be ready later, how does Easter sound (first weekend in April)?

 

[GeorgieV]

...
@GeorgieV - Punk IPA clone
...

I can offer a couple of bottles of Belgian Dark as well.

 

[cjibbo]

I have one just bottled a week ago, my attempt at a clone of Sierra Nevada. I’d gladly offer some of these for review but they need another couple of weeks conditioning.

Others are in kegs. I’ll be sure to bottle some of everything from now on.

Sounds good, on my list of clones to do, keen to know how it goes.

 

[chopps]

You will find out shortly! :)

 

[NPi]

All

Just to follow up, I'm setting off tomorrow around 10:30/11ish, so if you could kindly have your bottles out in place prior. Swaps are as below:

Chopps - Sierra Nevada (to be held till conditioned!)
GeorgiV - Punk IPA, Belgian Dark
Falco - Chocolate Orange Stout (to be held till conditioned!)
PhilBrew - Best Bitter
Me - A lot of junk (I've tried the Plum Porter, its not good, but I could do with some help as to why)

Cheers, Nick

 

[Falco]

I’m also providing 1x Proper Job clone and a Greg Hughes Christmas Ale for your delectation , send me a text when you’re close

 

[NPi]

I'll have to update in the morning (by when it's likely a sludgy puddle) but at the moment snow is coming down in droves. Will see what sticks, but may have to delay till Friday

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

I'll have to update in the morning (by when it's likely a sludgy puddle) but at the moment snow is coming down in droves. Will see what sticks, but may have to delay till Friday
View attachment 39867

Sludgy Puddle - that's the name of my latest brew

 

[NPi]

Sludgy Puddle - that's the name of my latest brew

It's what my plum porter has become. I failed to cold crash (to see if it actually made a difference, it does...), the plum extract is far too present and I think it's also picked up a wild yeast infection.

... Enjoy you lucky tasters....

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

It's what my plum porter has become. I failed to cold crash (to see if it actually made a difference, it does...), the plum extract is far too present and I think it's also picked up a wild yeast infection.

... Enjoy you lucky tasters....

Ok, my view is that cold crashing achieves nothing that time on its own won't

How old is the porter?

 

[NPi]

Ok, my view is that cold crashing achieves nothing that time on its own won't

How old is the porter?

It's more the yeast in suspension prior to bottling. You'll see the difference between my other beers.

It will all drop out at some point, I just want it to drop before I bottle not after.