Brupaks BOTW Old London Porter

[BazC]

I started this kit last night and deviated from the instructions slightly. I attempted a kind of mini mash by steeping the grain bag in a saucepan on the stove and adjusting the heat to stay around 67ºC for half an hour. Didn't smell particularly lovely kind of a burnt toast smell - is that Black Malt? Then I ditched the bag and brought my wort to the boil, left it to cool a little and then steeped my hop pellets for half an hour. The result went in the fermenting bin and the rest of the kit made up as usual.

I'm also trying out a technique from Graham Wheelers book where he suggests aerating the wort 24 hours after pitching, the theory being that the yeast is still multiplying at that stage presumably. So I gave the wort a good thrash last night after I pitched the rehydrated yeast, then this morning I gave another good thrash and then I'll give it one more tonight. Then leave it to do it's thing.

The only snag I've hit is this is a 10ltr kit and I'm fermenting in a 25ltr bin. The problem with that is the wort isn't deep enough to float my hydrometer and with such a small batch I don't want to waste sample jars of beer! So I'm going to wing it with this one. I'll leave it to ferment for two weeks then take a sample and if that's at a sensible gravity I'll bottle. If I get a stuck ferment I'll just have to accept wasting a few samples.

[ajclarkson]

I've found that I'm wasting a lot less beer now that I am using a wine thief for sampling. I only need roughly 1/4 of a pint or less to get a reliable hydrometer reading now. Though I can appreciate the sentiment with the 10L brews. My Brewferm Diabolo is only 10L and has been fermenting for 3 weeks now, I'm fairly sure it's finished but left it as long as I could. I'll take another sample tomorrow and mini-keg it if all is well as expected!

(...also it's not wasted if you drink it! haha)

[BazC]

Cheers mate, yes I've been meaning to get a wine thief. I think it will be OK though provided I take at least one gravity reading before bottling. I don't think I'd want to sample it right now, doesn't smell as appetising as the other beers I've done!

[ajclarkson]

If you do get one, I've found there are a few questionable instructions on the net as to how to get the beer into in in low depth situations like you mention.

One guy says absolutely DO NOT suck on the end of it to create a syphon and draw the beer in, he instead advocates shaking it to open and close the valve quickly essentially creating a syphon by changing the pressure inside the thief. He also doesn't seem bothered by the fact that this also means you end up with a lot of oxygen being introduced into your beer. It seems he is saying no to sucking on it because he actually puts the sample back in, which is a bad idea as far as I am concerned anyway.

I simply place it in, give it a suck ( ) up to a line that I drew around it, based on the minimum amount I need to fill to get a proper reading and it's a job well done.

Empty into a glass and test how it's coming along!

(end post full of too much sucking on things...)

[BazC]

I agree returning a sample to the FV is too risky! Thanks for the tips!

[Monkeybrew]

I use a 75p Turkey Baster from Wilkinson.

But on the subject of brewing I use.......................................

[kebabman]

What about a refractometer, you "waste" just a couple of drops to get a reading. Around £18 on ebay.

[Monkeybrew]

BTW, I forgot to suggest investing in a 10L FV for smaller brews and experiments.

My LHBS sells them for £5.49.

I know when I have done 9L Brewferm brews, that the hydrometer bobs about nicely for taking SG readings

[BazC]

All good suggestions, cheers guys! I was thinking about getting a 10ltr FV for future small brews - I'd like to try several of the BOTW kits! I just wonder how much head room there is in them for aerating the wort and kreusen. Probably not much? There are 15ltr FVs too but they look to be the same diameter as the 25ltr bins so that wouldn't help. I'll have to pop in to my local homebrew shop and see what's what. You can't tell from pics on the web!

A refractometer is an interesting suggestion, I had no idea they could be bought so cheaply! How skilled do you need to be to use them with accuracy?

[bazookajoe]

I'm on my fifth BOTW kit and bought a 10 litre FV especially for doing them. Didn't have any problems giving it a good thrash to aerate, and krausen generally stayed in (stout and Old London Porter were pushing against the lid as expected, and oozed out a bit overnight at 1 day in, but that wasn't a problem). Meant to bottle the porter last weekend but didn't get round to it, so will do it shortly. Followed instructions, smells fantastic, can't wait for a try of it when I do get round to bottling it.

[Monkeybrew]

I'm on my fifth BOTW kit and bought a 10 litre FV especially for doing them. Didn't have any problems giving it a good thrash to aerate, and krausen generally stayed in (stout and Old London Porter were pushing against the lid as expected, and oozed out a bit overnight at 1 day in, but that wasn't a problem). Meant to bottle the porter last weekend but didn't get round to it, so will do it shortly. Followed instructions, smells fantastic, can't wait for a try of it when I do get round to bottling it.

I don't suppose that you have tried either of these?

http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/brubox/botw-witbier.html

http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/brubox/bo ... sbier.html

[BazC]

I'm on my fifth BOTW kit and bought a 10 litre FV especially for doing them. Didn't have any problems giving it a good thrash to aerate, and krausen generally stayed in (stout and Old London Porter were pushing against the lid as expected, and oozed out a bit overnight at 1 day in, but that wasn't a problem). Meant to bottle the porter last weekend but didn't get round to it, so will do it shortly. Followed instructions, smells fantastic, can't wait for a try of it when I do get round to bottling it.

Thanks for the info, I think I'll be grabbing a 10ltr FV in that case. I have my eye on the BOTW Christmas Ale, Dubbel, Trippel and Stout. Maybe a few more besides!

[bazookajoe]

I don't suppose that you have tried either of these?

http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/brubox/botw-witbier.html

http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/brubox/bo ... sbier.html

Sorry, not tried those ones yet. In my world tour so far I've been the US (San Francisco Steam Beer), England (Yorkshire Bitter and Old London Porter - still to be bottled), Scotland (80 Shilling) and Ireland (Stout). The four I've tasted so far have tasted great so I've high hopes for the other beers in the range, Yorkshire Bitter was particularly impressive. I'll be crossing on to the continent soon methinks, just can't decide between Belgium or Germany.

[BazC]

Well this didn't smell particularly enticing when I started it but after a week fermenting it smells FANTASTIC! Sort of like an alcoholic fruit cake Very different to the pale ales I've done which probably isn't surprising! I'm guessing it's pretty much finished fermenting now but I'm going to leave it another week before I take a gravity reading and think about bottling.

I have a feeling this one would be better kegged but that's not possible. I might think about getting a small pressure barrel at some point for these small speciality brews, I'm the only one likely to drink these darker beers whereas the missus and friends will happily tuck into the pale ales.

[bazookajoe]

I finally got round to bottling mine last night, and the sample I had was superb. Looking forward to tasting this a few weeks down the line. I'd also say it smelled absolutely amazing.