Woodfordes Admirals Reserve....?

[The Seer]

This one is in the fermenter now.
I presume its a good brew,any one tried it?
Taste like any of the other Woodfordes kits? If not similiar to anything else?

 

[rickthebrew]

I brewed one last year and kegged it - nice pint I actually preffered it to the wherry it was more drinkable if that makes any sense :?

good luck with it :

 

[Bass_Beer]

Just finished a barrel, my first one after returning to homebrew after some 25 years!my Son bought me the kit and all the equipment for Christmas. i used to "Wet Brew" from ingredients, with a wet cloth over the barrel, so, a sealed bucket and a "Kit" is all new to me. did not know what to expect, but have to say how easy I found the process, and REALLY happy with the results. i thought the taste was actually close to that sold in pubs, and it was really clear. WILL make another at some point, but lots of others to try first as people recommend them to me. Currently drinking Woodfords Nelsons revenge, and although stronger than The Admirals, I prefer the Admirals.
also doing a Victorian Ale from Brewmaker but the guy in the shop advised half spray Malt and half brown Sugar, that has been conditioning 3 weeks now, is drinkable but I feel it will improve with a little longer! Also got a Coopers IPA on the go, also with Spray Malt.
Going to make a Hamleton bard Old English Ale today. Enjoying my return to Brewing, and the drinking, but it soon became apparent that about 5 barrels were required to get anything like a constant supply, lol.

 

[snail59]

I brewed one last year and kegged it - nice pint I actually preffered it to the wherry it was more drinkable if that makes any sense :?

good luck with it :

Interesting. In what way do you find it more drinkable Rick?. Im strugling with my Wherry. It's been in the bottle out in the garage for 6 weeks now hasnt cleard and is very bitter. Not sure if it's the beer or my taste. If the Admiral's is less bitter might get one on the go.

 

[rickthebrew]

I just found the wherry a bit of a funny flavour after a while - the bitterness almost too grapefruity in taste, the admirals was a cleaner beer flavour - hard to explain but just found the wherry to much after a couple of brews, also about eight weeks before it was clear - i never did but maybe try changing the yeast for S-04 as this has never let me down with clearing issues :thumb:

 

[The Seer]

Just finished a barrel, my first one after returning to homebrew after some 25 years!my Son bought me the kit and all the equipment for Christmas. i used to "Wet Brew" from ingredients, with a wet cloth over the barrel, so, a sealed bucket and a "Kit" is all new to me. did not know what to expect, but have to say how easy I found the process, and REALLY happy with the results. i thought the taste was actually close to that sold in pubs, and it was really clear. WILL make another at some point, but lots of others to try first as people recommend them to me. Currently drinking Woodfords Nelsons revenge, and although stronger than The Admirals, I prefer the Admirals.
also doing a Victorian Ale from Brewmaker but the guy in the shop advised half spray Malt and half brown Sugar, that has been conditioning 3 weeks now, is drinkable but I feel it will improve with a little longer! Also got a Coopers IPA on the go, also with Spray Malt.
Going to make a Hamleton bard Old English Ale today. Enjoying my return to Brewing, and the drinking, but it soon became apparent that about 5 barrels were required to get anything like a constant supply, lol.

Sounds like a pleasant return to homebrewing!
I use six barrels and 180 and Im still drinking it before its ready!
Sounds like Admirals Reserve is a winner!

 

[The Seer]

I brewed one last year and kegged it - nice pint I actually preffered it to the wherry it was more drinkable if that makes any sense :?

good luck with it :

Thanks!
Its gonna have to be pretty damn good to match the Wherry.

 

[The Seer]

I brewed one last year and kegged it - nice pint I actually preffered it to the wherry it was more drinkable if that makes any sense :?

good luck with it :

Interesting. In what way do you find it more drinkable Rick?. Im strugling with my Wherry. It's been in the bottle out in the garage for 6 weeks now hasnt cleard and is very bitter. Not sure if it's the beer or my taste. If the Admiral's is less bitter might get one on the go.

Oh dear,not cleared in six when in bottles?Thats strange,and that it has a bitter taste.My Wherry was pretty close to that of the pub stuff.It should be slightly sweet and not all bitter.
I used to place my ales in the garage or tin shed outside.
Its too cold for em'.I found when I brought them indoors the taste was much better.I think ideally around 17 degrees is best for em'.

 

[Bass_Beer]

Oh, so, reading this, temperature affects taste! I currently leave my barrels in the kitchen for the first week or so, then move them out to the shed, (insulated and used as a workshop, or at least was, lol)This has a heater in it, set at 12 degrees, (the temp i was advised was best!) appears to work so far, any comments welcome. I am however concerned, and not sure exactly what to do when the weather starts to warm up, as it does eventually get hot in the shed!

 

[The Seer]

Oh, so, reading this, temperature affects taste! I currently leave my barrels in the kitchen for the first week or so, then move them out to the shed, (insulated and used as a workshop, or at least was, lol)This has a heater in it, set at 12 degrees, (the temp i was advised was best!) appears to work so far, any comments welcome. I am however concerned, and not sure exactly what to do when the weather starts to warm up, as it does eventually get hot in the shed!

Twelve degrees is a pretty damn good temperature I reckon. Well rounded for a decent taste for most Ale's.

I reckon when Summer comes along it might be best to move to a cooler area if one's available?

Yeah, temperature certainly affects taste.

 

[Growler]

Started one of these on Saturday and it is bubbling away nicely at around 20 degrees
Is this too warm? or are we talking about conditioning temp which to be honest hadn't really crossed my mind till now

 

[Bass_Beer]

Growler, I have only just started brewing, so not really the one to answer, BUT, the six barrels I have done so far have had the fermentation at 22 deg, using a heater and stat, then the next stage at what ever the kitchen is, and then moved to the workshop at 12 deg to clear!
Appears to work, lol

 

[rickthebrew]

fermentation at around 18 to 20 degrees is spot on, then bottled and left at the same temp for around a week then store somewhere a bit cooler - 12 degrees is spot on for serving as has been said. I store my bottled brews in the spare room cupboard which is at the back of the house and has no direct sunlight so is cool and shady, then 30mins or so in the fridge before serving works a treat - i chill some pale ales a little more but its all a matter of what you like and prefer :thumb:

 

[Growler]

Okay now I've bottled my Admirals and it had a week in the warm then moved to the garage last weekend but even though its been in the bottles 2 weeks it shows very little sign of clearing!

 

[Bass_Beer]

Growler, any improvement?

 

[Leglesstwot]

I have a woodforde Great Eastern on the go, trouble is its still in the FV after 15 days. First 9 days it was at 17-18deg but has since warmed up with the weather. It seemed to stick at 1014 having started at 1040, but I gave it a stir and its still bubbling slowly but the SG is now 1012. Has anyone else had one in the FV this long and should I be worried at all?

 

[Moley]

Two weeks in the FV is fine, but I wouldn't expect your gravity to change now, time to bottle or barrel.

 

[GazOC]

I made an Eastern Ale a couple of months ago. OG was 1038 and FG was 1010.

 

[unclepumble]

My Wherry was pretty close to that of the pub stuff.

I'm glad I don't drink in your local, the beer must be nasty if it tastes like wherry, I just could not get on with its twangy sweet flavour. :sick:

I gave 40 pints of it away, if the drinker hadn't took it It would have gone on watering the cabbages, & to be honest I am pondering on whether to do a wherry brew to use as food for some pumpkins I am growing I certainly won't be brewing any to drink. :sick:

UP

 

[Moley]

I made an Eastern Ale a couple of months ago. OG was 1038 and FG was 1010.

... and Leglesstwot's has gone from 1.040 to 1.012, which sounds like a slight variation in your hydrometers. It's done.

I don't know the Eastern, but I agree with UP about the Wherry, been there, done that, they can keep the t-shirt.