strange-steve
Quantum Brewer
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Is that the same beer, the bottle says Nottingham yeast?I post all my recipes on my brewday post when I brew them, this one was listed in post #483.
Is that the same beer, the bottle says Nottingham yeast?I post all my recipes on my brewday post when I brew them, this one was listed in post #483.
Is that the same beer, the bottle says Nottingham yeast?
I enjoyed Mr H’s Summer Breeze as well. A lovely beerToday I'm finally getting the chance to try what has become a bit of a forum legend, @Hazelwood Brewery's Summer Breeze IPA. I've been reading about this for a while now so pleased to get the chance to try it...
Aroma
On opening I was immediately hit with a noseful of ripe mango which was lovely, also with notes of passionfruit, lemon, and grapefruit. Tropical and delicious as I'd expect from the hop bill. Also just a faint sweet, biscuity aroma.
Appearance
Deep golden colour with a bit of haze (probably my fault for being impatient and not letting it settle), a great fluffy white head which stuck around the whole way down. (Note it's nowhere near as dull as it appears in the pic below!)
Flavour
As expected lots of citrus fruitiness up front which, along with the sturdy (but not overpowering) bitterness, gives a lemon pith and grapefruit impression. A light and crisp finish, very clean indeed, with just a hint of nutty, biscuity malts coming through which gives an interesting counterpoint to the fresh hoppiness. The malts came through more prominently as the beer warmed.
Overall Impression
In short I would say this is simply a well made West Coast style IPA. It has everything you want from the style, from the punchy, fruity, citrusy hops, to the clean, refreshing bitterness, and dry finish that leaves you wanting more. What I really like about this though is that you haven't ignored the malt bill as often we do with this type of beer. You’ve used Vienna malt (have you used Vienna for all the base malt or just a portion?) which gives a bit more depth of flavour, kind of like you might get in an English IPA. Personally I really don't like one-dimensional IPAs that are all hops and nothing else (session IPA as a style can go fornicate itself as far as I'm concerned). I suspect also that, although this has a lovely hoppiness, you haven't gone too mad with the hops. It is balanced nicely without feeling like you're drinking hop juice, and not being the biggest hop head myself, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The only issue I had with it was that it was a bit overcarbed. It has that mouth-filling carbonation you get in a Belgian pale or the like, which I have a feeling lightened the body a bit more than you'd want. That being said, I think you probably normal serve this from a PB which I reckon would suit it beautifully, so ignore this comment! Anyway thanks for sending this mate, I'm glad to finally have tried it and I wasn't disappointed. Look forward to the next :hat:
Less crystal than I expected, but very dark which explains the fruitiness.Ah! Yes, I used Nottingham.
I had previously used SO-4 and decided to try Nottingham. I actually explained this in the next post #484 (and forgot, sorry).
That sounds right up my streetFirst up this evening is @dave_77's American Amber. It's not a style I've had loads of in the past, but definitely one I enjoy so looking forward to this...
Aroma
Deliciously fruity with ripe mango, pineapple, orange, and lemon, as well as a little nutty malt coming through and just a hint of alcohol. Really inviting.
Appearance
Unsurprisingly amber, with a little hop haze. Really good head retention, stuck around all the way down.
Flavour
Really soft, almost sweet fruitiness, bursting with a mango and orange juiciness, a little lemon zest also which fades into the dry, but again very soft finish, along with some subtle biscuity and nutty malts. Leaves a very pleasant lemon cookie effect on the palate.
Overall Impression
This is an interesting one, initially it has many of the characteristics of a NEIPA, with the full flavoured fruitiness and the really soft bitterness that just nicely balances the sweetness without lingering. The maltiness definitely plays a supporting role here with mostly a base malt nuttiness, and maybe for the style a little more caramel or toffee flavour might be expected, but it really doesn't need it. To me, these darker IPAs are so much more interesting than a typical IPA because there's more going on in the background. It's not just a one trick pony, the malt bill adds something extra, which for a non-hop head like myself is a good thing. It also means that when the hops fade with age there's still something interesting left. I really liked the body and mouthfeel you got in this, and it went down very smoothly. The hint of alcohol I got on the nose doesn't come through in the flavour, and it was extremely drinkable. Great job mate, I really enjoyed this and I appreciate you sending this one and I look forward to the next :hat:
It was really good, wish I had anotherThat sounds right up my street
Thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed it. It's a style a brew fairly regularly currently brewing version 7 as we speak.First up this evening is @dave_77's American Amber. It's not a style I've had loads of in the past, but definitely one I enjoy so looking forward to this...
Aroma
Deliciously fruity with ripe mango, pineapple, orange, and lemon, as well as a little nutty malt coming through and just a hint of alcohol. Really inviting.
Appearance
Unsurprisingly amber, with a little hop haze. Really good head retention, stuck around all the way down.
Flavour
Really soft, almost sweet fruitiness, bursting with a mango and orange juiciness, a little lemon zest also which fades into the dry, but again very soft finish, along with some subtle biscuity and nutty malts. Leaves a very pleasant lemon cookie effect on the palate.
Overall Impression
This is an interesting one, initially it has many of the characteristics of a NEIPA, with the full flavoured fruitiness and the really soft bitterness that just nicely balances the sweetness without lingering. The maltiness definitely plays a supporting role here with mostly a base malt nuttiness, and maybe for the style a little more caramel or toffee flavour might be expected, but it really doesn't need it. To me, these darker IPAs are so much more interesting than a typical IPA because there's more going on in the background. It's not just a one trick pony, the malt bill adds something extra, which for a non-hop head like myself is a good thing. It also means that when the hops fade with age there's still something interesting left. I really liked the body and mouthfeel you got in this, and it went down very smoothly. The hint of alcohol I got on the nose doesn't come through in the flavour, and it was extremely drinkable. Great job mate, I really enjoyed this and I appreciate you sending this one and I look forward to the next :hat:
Do you have a recipe posted somewhere I could see?Thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed it. It's a style a brew fairly regularly currently brewing version 7 as we speak.
That version had Columbus, Citra and a little Amarillo, tonight's version has got Chinook with a Mosiac and centennial dry hop with the same grain bill as the one you had.
Below is a link to the recipe, it finished at 1.012 on that batchDo you have a recipe posted somewhere I could see?
I must try this in the next swap, sounds deliciousBelow is a link to the recipe, it finished at 1.012 on that batch
https://share.brewfather.app/VD4CQv1zsxnYoQ
That's interesting, in contrast to Hazelwood's beer yesterday, your recipe has a lot more crystal than expected. Demonstrates how much the hops disguise the grainbill. Lovely beer though, thanks again. I'll get a couple sent in return after the holidaysBelow is a link to the recipe, it finished at 1.012 on that batch
https://share.brewfather.app/VD4CQv1zsxnYoQ
Definitely, I also have a pils to send in return.Will need to send you a bottle of my latest pils when it's ready. Send over your address.
@SteveH have you posted a recipe for the Belgian above?
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