Woodfordes Sundew

[ificouldbrew]

I kicked this off this morning and the house is smelling delicious! Want to get a couple of brews ready for my sons first birthday in June and hoping this and the Admirals Reserve will be a good selection for our guests.

Brewed to 23L SG 1040.

Learning from my other brews I wanted to give this one a couple of months. The coopers blonde flavours really developed over time and have gotten to their best with the last few bottles. The wherry which was brewed during January has only just started to hit the spot. The cold weather is helping with the conditioning! I love an outdoor fridge.

 

[winelight]

Talking of outdoor fridges, I loved that advert. What it was for I can't remember, but you know the one I mean.

Anyway, what did you do with your Sundew? I know you don't have to do anything (or even "shouldn't" do anything), it comes complete, but I couldn't resist adding 680g (two jars) LME for luck.

Then I made hop tea with Ella, about 25g boiled for 30 mins, then added another 25g boiled for another 15 mins.

Finally after a week of fermenting I dry hopped with yet more Ella.

 

[ificouldbrew]

I haven't experimented with it this time, I'm not quite that bold yet. Reading reviews, people say this lacked some of the hoppy bite of other woodfordes kits so it sounds like your additions will be welcomed.

I think the advert was Smirnoff Ice? I've searched youtube for a link but can't find it.

By the way I've just posted in the ebay and limited offers thread, you can get Sundew for £9.99 @ Dunelm Mill at the moment.

How's the Admirals reserve?

 

[winelight]

I saw that but I have a cupboard full of kits already, enough for about a year!

The Admiral's Reserve is very nice, I brewed it to a full 40 pints because people said it was a bit heavy. I added 500g Demerara (if I remember correctly) and now it's had a bit of time conditioning it's great.

 

[ificouldbrew]

Bottled this today with half a teaspoon of Demerara sugar. Smelt quite pleasant although it did look very light en route to the bottle.

FG was 1005 which makes it 4.6% but I think a reading must have been off somewhere as I thought this was meant to be a <4.0% brew. I'll sit on this one until June and see how it is.