What are you drinking tonight 2023.

[Donegal john]

Yep they tend to do the hoppy ones mostly though, although when they did have the banana stout in Tesco I bought loads of it

'Life & Death' is also very good. A dank IPA. I know @Donegal john shares my like for this one.

My go to ipa. It’s an absolute belter. I usually buy a 24pack at Christmas
Having quite a few beers today but the house is packed with family and friends as my eldest is leaving for Australia on wed so no time to take pics but I’m having a few life and death now.
Retreated to the bedroom for a sit down for 10 mins as I’m knackered seeing to everyone’s needs. And the saision is taking a hammering

 

[dave_77]

Altbier is lovely and clear and crisp now...keg probably kick tomorrow

 

[LesTom]

Unusual one from Tennents, but strangely good.

 

[Leon103]

This is very nice. Like a strong hoppy Belgian ipa

 

[pilgrimhudd]

2 courtesy of @Alastair70 thank you. I know you said to wait a week for yours but I'm afraid a day at work and warm cycle home meant that a cold beer was what was needed. First off the Belfast Lager, a very nice thirst quencher.

Then your Helles, which is as you warned a little hazy but is a lovely drop. Nice bready spicy aroma and taste, perfect bitterness, could drink a lot of these.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

After Alistairs lagers I thought I'd try my own amber lager, only bottled 3 weeks ago so very young. I used iho33 hops which I have to say have given it a very unique flavour.... aroma of lemon definitely but not sure about taste, not off flavours all hop, not sure if I like it or not.... I think on balance I do, but it is a very odd beer.

 

[Alastair70]

2 courtesy of @Alastair70 thank you. I know you said to wait a week for yours but I'm afraid a day at work and warm cycle home meant that a cold beer was what was needed. First off the Belfast Lager, a very nice thirst quencher.

View attachment 86123

Then your Helles, which is as you warned a little hazy but is a lovely drop. Nice bready spicy aroma and taste, perfect bitterness, could drink a lot of these.

View attachment 86124

Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed your April comp winnings.
I’m not 100% happy with the Helles, and I’ve decided that it’s the last time a brew a lager with dried yeast. I’m sticking with wy2038 for German lagers from now on.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed your April comp winnings.
I’m not 100% happy with the Helles, and I’ve decided that it’s the last time a brew a lager with dried yeast. I’m sticking with wy2038 for German lagers from now on.

Ahh no, what weren't you happy with, thought it was lovely.

I'm defo sending you a bottle of my amber lager (reviewed above) for a 2nd opinion.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

An 8.4% cider at this time of night? I've had 3 gulps and I feel gut rot coming on already.

 

[LesTom]

And I'll finish the night with this cracker from LIDL

 

[Alastair70]

Ahh no, what weren't you happy with, thought it was lovely.

I'm defo sending you a bottle of my amber lager (reviewed above) for a 2nd opinion.

I’ve picked up on an estery type flavour in the background the last couple of times I’ve used W-34/70. Whereas Wyeast Munich Lager delivers a much richer malt character. I brewed a Vienna lager with White Labs version of W-34/70 and I thought it was missing something too so I’ve decided to stick with my favorite from now on.

 

[Donegal john]

I’ve picked up on an estery type flavour in the background the last couple of times I’ve used W-34/70. Whereas Wyeast Munich Lager delivers a much richer malt character. I brewed a Vienna lager with White Labs version of W-34/70 and I thought it was missing something too so I’ve decided to stick with my favorite from now on.

I think we are all very critical of our own beers. I’m not happy with. Bitter I have but it went down a storm here today with no issues. I taste some off flavours but no one else did. Possibly we know about the off flavours so pick them out when they are not a problem.

 

[samale]

I think we are all very critical of our own beers. I’m not happy with. Bitter I have but it went down a storm here today with no issues. I taste some off flavours but no one else did. Possibly we know about the off flavours so pick them out when they are not a problem.

No one tastes anything when it's free beer

 

[Donegal john]

No one tastes anything when it's free beer

That’s a factor as well

 

[Alastair70]

I think we are all very critical of our own beers. I’m not happy with. Bitter I have but it went down a storm here today with no issues. I taste some off flavours but no one else did. Possibly we know about the off flavours so pick them out when they are not a problem.

Yes I totally agree, you won’t get comments on specific off-flavours from mates. So it’s doubly reassuring when a learned taster like @pilgrimhudd gives one of your beers the thumbs up.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

How are they?

Really good! very refreshing on a hot day.
The altbier is served coldish with a fair bit of carbonation, medium body and lightly roasted malt. But a really distinctive clean finish :-)

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Never too early for a nice altbier…
This is the nicest one so far I think

 

[samale]

Never too early for a nice altbier…
This is the nicest one so far I think
View attachment 86132

How would you describe it, I have my second attempt at an Altbier in the keg. Same recipe as the first only I used a different yeast. This time I used a Cali common yeast. Undecided which one I prefer

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Family BBQ yesterday so no posts from me, normality restored today. The most popular beers at the BBQ yesterday were Czech lager, Porter, Stout, and Bitter. I think the stout might have just pipped the others.

Today I’m starting with a small stout to accompany a bit of salad for lunch.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

How would you describe it, I have my second attempt at an Altbier in the keg. Same recipe as the first only I used a different yeast. This time I used a Cali common yeast. Undecided which one I prefer

Describing flavours is so hard - one thing I would definitely emphasise is that one Altbier is not the same as another. We’ve been visiting the different breweries and whilst there are certain similarities, it’s like asking “what’s bitter like”.
From my perspective the distinctive characteristics are a medium to light body, very dry clean finish, and very light hops