On Tap (Feb 1st 2010)
Its hard to believe that Jan is already over. Well Jan ended with a big bang for me. After 12 months of unemployment I managed to secure a new role, starting on Feb 16th. The change in status will in no way detract from my blogging and brewing, in fact I will probably need the distraction more than ever as a wind down from the pressures of work.
Had a great weekend sharing ales with friends who introduced me to some delicious new brews. It was funny, a friend of mine brought with him an ale inspired by Theakston Old Pecuilier which just happens to be my next recipe, this friends favorite ale to date is Rogue Dead Guy, which just happens to be the inspiration behind Northern Brewers Grateful Dead Guy recipe kit brewed with PacMan yeast, a strain taken from the Rogue Brewery and currently in a secondary in my cellar, and our host served Fullers London Pride, a recipe I researched in Jan and currently in my primary fermenter. With that its definitely time for an On Tap Update.
Primary
- Fullers London Pride clone (4 days) – the first pass at a London Classic Best Bitter using a White Labs yeast strain from the Fullers brewery. I live in hope, colour looks great and the yeast appears all but done with its job.
Secondary
- Spitfire Premium Ale clone (1 week) – my 2nd pass at Spitfire Ale, the Shepherd Neame classic from Kent UK. Dry hopped with some Kent Goldings, yeast appears to be still fermenting, guess it needed longer in the primary. This ale has at least another week in the secondary.
- Grateful Dead Guy Ale (1 week) – a new special edition kit from Northern Brewer using the newly released PacMan ale yeast strain from Wyeast/Rogue Breweries. The recipe calls for at least 2 weeks in the secondary. Will transfer to a cooler location to finish.
- Lord Fatbottom Ale (1 month, 1 week, 3 days) – sitting peacefully as part of its 6 month rest.
Bottle/Keg Conditioning
- Flowers Original Ale clone (1 week) – my first brew of 2010 and first attempt at the classic Flowers recipe. Still cooking, will not touch for at least another week, maybe 2.
- Dogfish Head 90 min IPA clone (10 weeks) – Only 2 weeks remaining of its 3 month rest, cannot wait.
- Dry Irish Stout (2 weeks, 4 days) – my second batch of Northern Brewers Guinness clone. Sitting waiting to be drank, come on Bob. The spare bottles have been either drunk, used in cooking or sold already.
Drinking
- Swampswill 6X (3 weeks, 3 days) – my first attempt at a true Wadworth 6X clone. Not as I had hoped due to the use of oak chips. See review.
- Sinistral Warrior IPA (3 weeks, 2 days) – nice hoppy IPA, not quite an Imperial but its close. Sold another 6 pack and made a severe dent in the remainder of the case at a party this weekend, only 2 remaining of what is a wonderful IPA.
- Chiswick ESB (3 weeks, 1 day) – version 1.0 of my Fullers ESB clone. Improving with age, still got half a 22oz case.
- Draught Irish Ale (1 week, 1 day) – my first attempt at Northern Brewers Irish Ale. Solid keg brew, does well with the BeerGas, more my wife’s taste than mine, but refreshing and smooth nonetheless, still got 1/3 keg to go
