Extract new recipe on the go

[pauljmuk]

Based partially on Graham Wheelers Strongarm recipe

2kg spraymalt (actually 1kg light, and 1kg medium)

300g crystal malt (whole) steeped for 30 mins in boiled water (70 degrees)

90 minute boil of the spraymalt, the crystal steepings, plus...

35g progress challenger hops
50g dried elderflowers
400g brew sugar
100g honey


last ten mins - 15g goldings added to boil.

Now fermenting well with Danstar Nottingham

Volume - 23 litres

OG 1036

[pauljmuk]

Seems to have fermented quickly. 5 days and down at 1006, and not dropping. Looks cloudier than other brews, and I'm putting that down to the elderflower.

[WishboneBrewery]

Give it the 10 days in the FV and is should clear more

[pauljmuk]

Yup - was planning to. Plan on bottling based on my normal turnaround time which is 9-10 days if fermentation has stopped. Into bottles next Tues.

Having done a cider with elderflowers, I bottled with same worry - supremely cloudy, but patience in the bottle for a week or two is rewarded by a lovely clear pint.

Not sure how much elder will come through on this due to it being pretty heavily hopped. Under the boil it's all I could smell, but I suspect it may sink into the background behind the hops

[pauljmuk]

Bottled yesterday, and had a quick taste - so surprised (pleasantly!)

Firstly, colour - I'm amazed at the "orangeness" of the brew - is that the elderflowers? (I used light and medium spray) - looks lovely, if a little unconventional.

Taste - early days, but wow! - elderflowers really come through with a lovely sweetness and aroma - rather reminiscent of the badger golden glory type beers - surprisingly, not too bitter despite using the progress challengers in the boil, but just enough bitterness comes through to take the sweetness away at the end.

Strength about 3.9 (perhaps up to 4.1 after bottle priming)

I SHALL be making this one again!

[pauljmuk]

Orangeness now settling into distinctly more amber colour!

[OldSpeckledBadger]

I'll have to try a challenger/elderflower brew some time.

[pauljmuk]

This one does look superb, and the first taste (never a good sign, I know - cloudy and warm) was really promising. Not a silly strength either - I think this one will be just right for the July / August part of summer.

[pauljmuk]

A follow up on this having had it conditioning for about 3 weeks now. The beer tastes great, light on alcohol, but great.

My only gripe is that it tastes a bit "thin" on the mouthfeel - was made totally with spraymalt, so not really sure why - is that the sort of thing that will improve with age, or is it just a sign of a low alcohol brew?

[OldSpeckledBadger]

I can't see any reason from your recipe why the beer would turn out very thin although I wouldn't have used quite so much sugar myself. Unless the honey is the culprit. I've never been tempted try it as a fermentable.

[KevP]

Sounds like a cracking pint! I too wouldn't have used sugar, just more spray malt.

[pauljmuk]

The sugar was as per the Graham Wheeler recipe from the Camra book (well, it said 500g white sugar, I used 400 and 100g of honey)