On Tap Update (April 12th)
Another week and still nothing in the primary. I cannot remember a time since I started home brewing again that I have gone 2 weeks without brewing something new. But with the Barleywine, IPA and Left Over Ale are all in a long secondary that just leaves the Saison, which was due to get bottled this weekend. But I go downstairs to find a secondary still active with the SG still dropping and a layer of yeast cake on top. So my Brakespear Bitter clone will have to wait until next week.
In the meantime I will be getting a yeast starter going for some PacMan yeast I have in the fridge. It will go to a good cause, saving a stalled carbonation for a good friend. This week will be another busy work week, I have some ideas for posts brewing (pardon the pun) and the Malt post series is still sitting incomplete in the Drafts section. I should also be reviewing the Old Speckled Hen shortly, maybe even by next week. So with a pending shortage of ale loomin, whats On Tap.
Primary
- Nothing this week, all the carboys are still in good use. The Brakespears Ale is still on deck and will definitely get brewed next week. Very excited to get a chance to brew this clone with the now closed breweries original yeast, as is my father. Its his favorite beer.
Secondary
- Petite Saison d’Ete (1 wk (p) 1 wk (s) ) – This is a first for me. Thought I would try a Belgium classic with this Saison from Northern Brewer. So last week I reported the FG came out of the primary a little under what I was hoping and as reported above it would appear the secondary has re-invigorated the yeast and it is currently very active. Should be bottling this next week.
- Left Overs Old Ale (1 wk (p), 1 wk (s) ) – So my left over recipe (sort of modeled after a Fullers Vintage) appears to be going fine. I don’t know if I can wait a year to try one of these. It tasted really delicious out of the primary, hints of marmalade, with a really smooth mouth feel. I am going to lay a couple of these down for at least a year. Now in week 2 of a 2 week rest.
- 115th Dream Imperial IPA ( 2 wks (p) 1 mth (s) ) – A rather extreme IPA, high in ABV and a whopping 120 IBUs with over a 1 lb of hops using a technique called Hop Bursting I covered a few weeks back. It came out of the primary a whopping 1015 FG, almost 83% attenuation from the mighty American Ale yeast and checking in at over 10% ABV, now on week 5 of its 6 week rest.
- Lord Fatbottom Ale (1 mth (p), 4 mths 1 wk (s)) – Now a week into the final 1/3rd of its 6 months rest.
Bottle/Keg Conditioning
- Old Speckled Hen clone ( 1 wk (p) 1 wk (s), 2 wks (b) ) – I have had a lot of interest in the outcome of this clone. I can tell you the sample from the secondary was very good indeed. It was bright, crystal clear and the taste seemed close. We won’t know for sure until the ale is conditioned. Week 3 of its 4 week rest but will probably try some next weekend.
Drinking
- Olde Luddite English Strong Ale (1 wk(p) 3 wks (s), 3 wk (b) ) – A new Old Ale kit from Northern Brewer, thought I would add some Old Ale kits to my current Old’s and Browns series. This new ale from NB is a 5 star brew. Easily confused with a smooth session brew but don’t let it, it packs a massive ABV punch. This ale will age well and I will be laying a couple down.
- Theakston Old Peculier Clone (1 wk(p) 3 wks(s) 1 mth (b)) – My first pass at this classic old ale, FG came out in range along with the colour, that is all we can ask. Came out a 10/10 (see review) and promoted to the permanent recipes page.
- Grateful Dead Guy Ale (1 wk (p), 2wks (s), 2 mths 1 wk, 3 days (b)) – Another special edition kit from Northern Brewer featuring the newly released PacMan Ale yeast strain from Wyeast/Rogue Breweries, this one is a Rogue Dead Guy Ale clone. I did a side by side taste test with an actual Rogue Dead Guy Ale, colour and flavour are so close its hard to tell which one was which. Taste tested by my good friend Mike Chase who ranks Rogue Dead guy as his favorite ale. He loved it. Down to my last bottle 🙁
- Dogfish Head 90 min IPA clone (1 wk (p), 3 wks (s), 5 mths (b) ) – Looking forward to cracking the 5 month bottle open
