British Brewer

On Tap (Jan 26th 2010)

Its been one of those weeks.  I have spent some downtime from the blog researching my next set of recipes and putting some posts together.  The next batch of experimental brews will focus on Browns and Old Ales and I have been doing research on ingredients and looking around for the best varieties to try out.  I have also had a slow week in the cellar, I believe it is the first week since Nov 2009 when I have not actually had a new brew on the go.  But I did move some brews around and managed to bottle a batch to.  So I guess its time for an On Tap update.

Primary

• Nothing this week, have the Fullers London Pride on deck

Secondary

• Spitfire Premium Ale Clone (1 day) – my 2nd pass at Spitfire Ale, the Shepherd Neame classic from Kent UK. Recipe taken from the Clone Brews book. The FG was a little bit of a let down. The Irish yeast only attenuated 68%, this is the second Irish Ale yeast in a row from Wyeast to have a low attenuation.  But flavour and color were on the money.
• Grateful Dead Guy Ale (1 day) – a new special edition kit from Northern Brewer using the newly released PacMan ale yeast strain from Wyeast/Rogue Breweries. The yeast came in on target setting up what is promising to be a great early spring brew.
• Lord Fatbottom Ale (1 Month 4 days) – Over 1 month of a 6 month rest down.

Bottle/Keg Conditioning

• Flowers Original Ale clone (today) – my first brew of 2010 and first attempt at the classic Flowers recipe.  Colour and aroma are on the money and flavour is coming together and tastes just like a Flowers, already crystal clear as well. Here’s hoping the carbonation works. Used Cooper carb drops.
• Dry Irish Stout (1 week, 5 days) – my second batch of Northern Brewers Guinness clone.  Sitting waiting to be drank, come on Bob.
• Swampswill 6X (2 weeks, 3 days) – my first attempt at a true Wadworth 6X clone.  Will be sampling this one in a couple of days, fingers crossed but I have a bad feeling about using the oak chips, they have never worked for me.
• Dogfish Head 90 min IPA clone (9 weeks) – 3/4 of the way through its 3 month rest, cannot wait. As mentioned last week I gave in and tried a sample, the hops are still a little wild and crazy but the flavour is potent and fresh. Will become a favorite, though I only made just over a case so I must keep a couple back to age.

Drinking

• Sinistral Warrior IPA (2 weeks, 4 days) – nice hoppy IPA, not quite an Imperial but its close. Still going slow on this case as the aging is really paying off and I also sold a 6 pack. It remains the top nominee for the 2010 brew of the year.
• Chiswick ESB (2 weeks, 2 days) – version 1.0 of my Fullers ESB clone. Again amazing what a week can do to a beer. This beer continues to get better and getting closer to a Fullers ESB and the carbonation is also improving so definitely better than the 5/10 review I gave it 2 weeks ago
• Draught Irish Ale (2 days) – my first attempt at Northern Brewers Irish Ale.  This keg was tapped over a long nights Rock Band Session with the wife and our band “Daphne’s Bark” (after our first and much loved Boxer who died of very old age, Daphne).  We were swilling them down between “Eye of the Tiger” and “Today”.  Solid keg brew, does well with the BeerGas, more my wife’s taste than mine, but refreshing and smooth nonetheless.