AG#1 Ringwood Porter -Update

[Manx Guy]

Hi Lupulin!

Thanks for the info.... I suspected as much...

Note to self avoid/substitute torri wheat...

Well this brewing lark is certainly a learning experince - I found a hop I didn't like (Bodecia - eurgh) and now an adjucnt/malt = Torrified wheat - double eurgh

I'm sure I'll be able to force it down..
Maybe if I dry hop in a Pressure barrell with some goldings that will soften the impact of the dreaded wheat.... (?)

Guy

[monkeyboy]

I did that Ringwood XXXX Porter as first AG too. It's been in the barrel now for about a month, and there's no sign of the 'wheaty' taste you're describing. I did probably go a little heavy on the hops, mainly cos i find i don't get anywhere near the utilisation the recipes are expecting (no idea why). What's i've got is a dark, sweet-ish beer. plenty of hop flavour, but nicely balanced. My guess is that either you need to give it some more time to mature, or perhaps it's not the wheat at all but something else... Can't think of any way to prove/disprove that - i assume you've chewed a bit of the wheat to see if it really is that taste. Torrified wheat is used in black sheep, so give that a taste and see if you get the same reaction.

[Manx Guy]

Hi,
Its probably just very young beer.... I'm 99% certain its a wheaty flavour... Although its not out of the FV yet - its dark brown and quite dry...

I've not tasted it in black sheep as I'm familiar with that beer...

I'll give it time to condition and maybe dry hop in the PB for a week or so before bottling

I'm probably worrying about nothing


Guy

[lupulin]

Hi Lupulin!

Thanks for the info.... I suspected as much...

Note to self avoid/substitute torri wheat...

Well this brewing lark is certainly a learning experince - I found a hop I didn't like (Bodecia - eurgh) and now an adjucnt/malt = Torrified wheat - double eurgh

I'm sure I'll be able to force it down..
Maybe if I dry hop in a Pressure barrell with some goldings that will soften the impact of the dreaded wheat.... (?)

Guy

Hello back.

That's kind of funny, I love Boadicea but it's almost impossible to get over here. I guess that's the way it goes.

[boingy]

I've brewed this 3 times now (twice with different hops) and I did not notice a particularly wheaty taste. I started drinking it after about 3-4 weeks in the keg. It's the best recipe I've brewed from Graham's book thus far.

Daft questions:

1. Are you certain you used the correct amount of Torri Wheat?
2. Could it be a yeast flavour rather than a wheat one? I imagine you still have a fair bit of yeast in suspension.

[Manx Guy]

Hi,
I did brew this as I was looking for a dark brew and you were very enthusiastic about it Boingy...

I'm fairly certain it is a wheat flavour (as I said it tastes exactly like shredded wheat brekkie cereal), but there is still alot of yeast in suspension... I definately used the correct amount of wheat - I'm 99.5% certain

I'll keg this over the weekend as its hit 1012 now and all yeast activity appears to have stopped. I'll keg with a few goldings and leave it to its own devices until I get back from Greece...

I'm sure a bit of maturing will iron it out.... Other than the 'wheaty taste I'm impressed with it - nice reddy brown colour good coffee malt flavour and a good hop bite (but not over powering for the style)

Thanks again for you input.



Guy

[Manx Guy]

Well all safely in the PB now and the sneaky sample I had already tasted better...

It was a lot clearer this time , maybe it was yeast...?
I 'purged' the PB with CO2 before syphoning the brew into the PB.
I did in the hope that a blanket of CO2 will further prevent andy oxidation as I hear that corni users do it - I had the means so gave it a go...

I plan to bottle it when I get back from my holidays...

Then its time for a cheeky Kit Pale Ale brew (I have in the cupboard and beer stocks are low) then for AG #2

Guy

[Spud395]

Then its time for a cheeky Kit Pale Ale brew (I have in the cupboard and beer stocks are low) then for AG #2

Guy

Only if it's a kit you really like, would I even attempt this.
I'm on the point of dumping 40 odd pints of kit brews to get my bottles back.
I was very happy with them B.A.G. (before all grain) but cant see myself getting back to them now.
Maybe time for a poker night

[Manx Guy]

Ha ha !

Yep a Poker night will sort your beer stores out....

The Kit is a Coopers Aussie Pale Ale, which is a favourite its a nice clean easy drinking pale ale great for drink chilled from the fridge with Pizza/curry/BBQ etc. Or after working up a good thirst...
Although its no award winner it certainly beat over marketed & over priced supermarket/pub lager! As I'll be in Greece for 10 days without a decent ale (only pseudo Euro lager/Pilsners) It will probably taste like the nectar of the gods

I'm sure my AG efforts will soon surpass it, but I need something to drink while they 'come online' so to speak...



Guy

Guy

[Manx Guy]

Hi everyone!

This brew has had a a week or so in the PB (whilst I was on holiday) prior to bottling... I've had 2 sneaky halfs and its a good drink already!

All traces of 'Wheat' (maybe it was yeast as suggested) have gone and it has a nice dry slightly roasted taste with a hint of hops on the finish!

MMMMM!


Thanks for all your help and suggestions!

AG#2 on the 9-10th October!
Guy

[Manx Guy]

Hi,

I did some 'quality control' last night... Yes I know its early - in bottle 12 days after 7 days in PB once primary had finished....

Verdict: nice malty smell with a little hop just discernable
Taste good malt with a little hop bite and dry finish
Looks nice dark Ruby/brown

Very drinkable, but sadly flat as....

My first thought is it needs more time...then I remembered it had a week in a PB (after a 9 day Primary fermentation) while I was on holiday... So I was concerned that too much yeast had dropped out.
However when I looked at the bottom of the bottle there was a thin layer of yeast sediment loose in the bottom of the bottle...

So maybe, just maybe it will benefit from another couple of weeks to carbonate (?)

Its currently in a cool spot about 15C - should I move it somewhere warmer?

Or leave it and be patient... I'm sure I'm being somewhat niave but its my precious first AG!

It seems I've managed to produce a decent brew only to balls up the bottling/carbonation step (the last before its final step - Drinking!)



Cheers!

Guy

[boingy]

Sounds like there is plenty of yeast in there. Give it a couple of weeks at 20C to get the carbonation going then move it to 15C for the longer term (I'm assuming you primed the bottles!).

[Manx Guy]

Sounds like there is plenty of yeast in there. Give it a couple of weeks at 20C to get the carbonation going then move it to 15C for the longer term (I'm assuming you primed the bottles!).

Hi, thanks...

I did indeed prime the bottles although I didn't mention this in my post as by then I'd flown into a bit of a panic!



So I'lll move the bottles back to the spare room where its a nice balmy 20C



Guy

[Manx Guy]

Hi Just an update on this Porter...

Its now nicely carbonated and is drinking nicely - Less malt flavour and more hoppyness than I expected - but very drinkable...
Mouthfeel is a little light than anticipated (but maybe its more like the intended brew)

Nice dry Porter with a hint of Crystal and slight coffee maltyness and a good dose of Goldings on the burp (but little on the nose from the glass)

I can see me making some serious headway thru this bee in the comming weeks!

AG#2 (White Shield) shows alot of promise too even after only 7 days in the bottle!


Guy