Suggestions please

[calumscott]

I've got a nice routine panning out with a couple of FVs on the go each being bottled and started (with kit beers) on alternate weekends.

I've also got a third FV which is currently maturing a TC - that's getting bottled around the middle of next month (to make sure it's carbed and cleared in the bottles for BBQ season). Next year's TC will be brewed as if it were from real apples - i.e. I'll start it at apple harvest time brew it to dry, rack it and leave it under airlock Grays stylee until about this time next year.

So, is there anything that you can suggest that would be good to chuck into the 3rd FV that maybe likes conditioning in bulk, isn't bothered about hanging around for ages, you get the idea...? So basically something I can start next month and pretty much neglect until the back end of August/early September?

I don't want to bring it into my kit beer cycle (lack of time and bottles!) but I don't want it sitting there doing nothing, that would just seem like a waste of brewing capacity!

Ta

C

PS - there isn't a forum for "I don't know whether to brew beer or something else" so it's in here...

 

[RobWalker]

Maybe an Xmas beer with spices?

 

[graysalchemy]

9% barley wine.

 

[calumscott]

9% barley wine.

Hmmmm.... :hmm:

I could probably do that with a sort of DIY extract, partial boil kind of effort couldn't I?

 

[calumscott]

Maybe an Xmas beer with spices?

Already got a Brewferm Christmas in the brewbox. I might jazz it up a bit this year though - what spices would you say? Just the same as goes in the christmas cake?

 

[graysalchemy]

9% barley wine.

Hmmmm.... :hmm:

I could probably do that with a sort of DIY extract, partial boil kind of effort couldn't I?

There is an extract version of robinsons old tom in GW's book. Sorry I can't post the recipie. Anyway It is a really good beer.

 

[calumscott]

9% barley wine.

Hmmmm.... :hmm:

I could probably do that with a sort of DIY extract, partial boil kind of effort couldn't I?

There is an extract version of robinsons old tom in GW's book. Sorry I can't post the recipie. Anyway It is a really good beer.

Well, there's the excuse to go and buy the book right there... :)

Thanks GA!

 

[graysalchemy]

Just sent you a pm

 

[RobWalker]

Maybe an Xmas beer with spices?

Already got a Brewferm Christmas in the brewbox. I might jazz it up a bit this year though - what spices would you say? Just the same as goes in the christmas cake?

Last years used allspice, ginger and nutmeg with good results :)

 

[calumscott]

Thanks Rob, what kind of quantities can you remember?

 

[RobWalker]

Brew Type: Partial Mash
Date: 10/09/2011
Style: Christmas/Winter Specialty Spice Beer
Batch Size: 2.00 gal
Boil Volume: 2.30 gal Boil Time: 60 min
Equipment: Brew Pot (2 Gallon)

Amount Item Type % or IBU
0.71 kg Light Dry Extract (15.8 EBC) Dry Extract 62.2 %
0.11 kg Lyle's Golden Syrup (0.0 EBC) Extract 10.0 %
0.23 kg Caramel/Crystal Malt - 80L (157.6 EBC) Grain 19.9 %
0.03 kg Oats, Flaked (2.0 EBC) Grain 3.0 %
10.78 gm Fuggles [4.50%] (60 min) Hops 16.5 IBU
5.39 gm Fuggles [4.50%] (30 min) Hops 6.4 IBU
2.16 gm Goldings, East Kent [5.00%] (10 min) Hops 1.3 IBU
0.28 tsp Allspice, Ground (Primary 5.0 min) Misc
0.28 oz Ginger Root (Boil 60.0 min) Misc
0.28 tsp Nutmeg, Ground (Primary 5.0 min) Misc
0.06 kg Brown Sugar, Dark (98.5 EBC) Sugar 5.0 %
1 Pkgs SafAle English Ale (DCL Yeast #S-04) Yeast-Ale

Thats for a 2 gal batch with a 2.3 gallon boil. I can scale it for you if you want quantities to work from. Flaked oats were useless as they wern't mashed so leave them out for extract, you will need 1.5kg of Pale Malt if you do AG. CaraPils is good because it works if you just steep it and adds loads of head and sweetness. I drank the last of this about 2 weeks ago and it was gorgeous by that time, that was with about 6 months of ageing! The nutmeg and allspice really came through but the ginger not so much, you really can go nuts on it if you're giving it time to age!

 

[BeerEagle]

I cheated a bit with last year's Christmas Ale. Added a couple of litres of grape juice to give a raisiny flavour and stuck a couple of Schwartz mulled wine "tea bags" in for the spices. Turned out quite well.

 

[calumscott]

Thanks guys! That's given me ideas for Christmas Ale mods for this year, I've got the Brewferm kit to start from, so those extra Christmassy spices and I'm liking the dried fruit concept too... eventual recipe to follow next week when it gets brewed.

GA has helped me put together an extract barley wine recipe which will be going on soon to condition for Christmas NEXT year!

: