Keeping it local

[SiHoltye]

I just found out that malting barley is grown in Sussex on the Goodwood estate, and I'm collecting a sack from a local brewery next week. So I plan to use Sussex malt, homegrown Challenger from here in Sussex, and Brewlabs Sussex strain yeast to make a pale ale all from my home county. Anyone else have brainwaves to base their recipes around?

100% pale malt to 1.050
challenger to 30 IBU's bittering
20g challenger flavour
20g challenger aroma
Sussex 1004 yeast

[Invalid Stout]

What about trying to obtain some yeast from a local brewer rather than some that's been to Sunderland and back?

[Dennis King]

Think Harveys do some bottled conditioned beers might be worth looking into.

[SiHoltye]

I've used Harvey's yeast direct from the brewery 9 times and had 3 infections so am reluctant to re-visit that idea. I had 2 of my beers examined under microscope by brewlab at the Skipton Comp just gone, and they confirmed the beer using Harvey's yeast was riddled (with what tasted like acetobacter) and the one using US-05 was clear. Anecdotally I've had a twang develop in all the beers I've made with Harvey's yeast, not always reaching a unacceptable level but there nonetheless. Have heard their brewery harbours brettanomyces which gives Harvey's beers their house flavour.
I've used the Brewlabs Sussex 1004 strain once before. Apparantly it is from a Sussex brewer though they wouldn't tell me who (King & Barnes maybe?) and it produced a best bitter 1.045 to 1.011 with a good level of diacetyl. I'll treat it with this in mind when using it by making sure I pitch cool and ferment at 19°C, also giving it a couple of days post primary ferment to clean up after itself.

[Gricey]

Love the idea of a locally-sourced beer, got me thinking now.

Maybe I'll raid some of the student houses in Sheff to get myself some indigenous yeast

[dave-o]

It's a local beer for local people.




Great idea though, if you are able to do it.

[SiHoltye]

We'll have no trouble here...
Picked up the malt this morning from my new favourite brewery man. £20 for 25kg
Here's the tag off the sack.


For subsequent brews once I've used up my homegrown Challenger, I spoke to Charles Faram Hop Merchants who tell me that 4 of the hops they supply come from Sussex; Admiral, Progress, Pilgrim, and Bramling Cross. So will be trying these out.

[Gricey]

I've heard good things about Bramling Cross.

[Invalid Stout]

I've heard good things about Bramling Cross.

I've heard that it makes beer that tastes like Ribena.

[dave-o]

I wouldn't say it's like ribena. It is quite characterless though.