Aldi specials

[professional_drunk]

Had a bottle of hobgoblin ruby last night. Are people tasting oxidation? Wasn't very good.

 

[DJ_L3ThAL]

Fookers sold out by tonight when I tried two stores Hobgoblin gawn [emoji24] makes me feel better if it's a bad batch sorry hehe. Hopefully it's just the one bottle mate

 

[Lyrebird_Cycles]

Mine was seemingly not oxidised, but it was a bit malty and sweet for me. I still thought it preferable to the "gold" version, which was a bit of a trainer wheels beer but far better then the Ringwood, which I poured down the sink.

The Marston was to me probably the pick of the four bottled beers, that being said I didn't bother going back to buy more of any of them.

 

[nosco]

Im not sure what bottle the Marston was conditioned in but there was close to zero sediment in the bottom of mine. Its pretty bland so far.

 

[S.E]

I have given up on buying my favourite UK ales abroad, they just don’t travel well and inevitably taste subpar. That’s why IPA was produced. I saw them in Aldi on Wednesday and didn’t bother buying any.

 

[peteru]

Just a heads up on Aldi "Active Energy" ready to use rechargeable batteries. They are significantly a "not as advertised item". If you are after batteries that perform as advertised, give these ones a miss, because you are not getting what you paid for.

Packaging claims that these are low self-discharge batteries, ready to use and with a 2500mAh capacity. I've put three sets of these batteries through an analyser and every single one of the 12 batteries failed to come even close to the advertised performance. The batteries come pre-charged with somewhere between 670mAh and 1200mAh and the maximum charge they will hold as per the IEC/JIS standards is between 2000mAh and 2200mAh, well short of the advertised 2500mAh.

Compare this to Panasonic Eneloops, which claim a capacity of up to 2000mAh with 1900mAh minimum (actual figures range from 1940mAh to 2100mAh) and come pre-charged with around 1400mAh to 1500mAh.

 

[michaeld16]

I have given up on buying my favourite UK ales abroad, they just don’t travel well and inevitably taste subpar. That’s why IPA was produced. I saw them in Aldi on Wednesday and didn’t bother buying any.

This was the very reason I got into all grain brewing. A trip to the UK made me very keen to see if I could source some of the great beers I had on holiday back home. When I found a localish bottle shop I was stoked only to be very dissapointed when I started pouring pints of ale that travelled around the world

 

[S.E]

This was the very reason I got into all grain brewing. A trip to the UK made me very keen to see if I could source some of the great beers I had on holiday back home. When I found a localish bottle shop I was stoked only to be very dissapointed when I started pouring pints of ale that travelled around the world

It’s one of the main reasons I got back into all grain brewing shortly after I arrived here.

 

[Coalminer]

Plenty of gear on special next Wednesday
Vacuum sealer and bags
induction hotplate
Sous Vide
Pressure Cooker

 

[Midnight Brew]

Anyone used the induction hot plate? Was thinking of getting one for wort caramelising.

Also is this the same pressure cooker people use for sterilising their test tubes for yeast?

 

[Coalminer]

Anyone used the induction hot plate? Was thinking of getting one for wort caramelising.

Also is this the same pressure cooker people use for sterilising their test tubes for yeast?

Yes I have the pressure cooker and hotplate
hotplate is great in the shed to boil starters etc
pressure cooker will accommodate 4 x half pint (450ml) Ball jars nicely

 

[Bribie G]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll stock up on vacuum rolls.

 

[nosco]

I just started using the one I got last year to make starters in the garage. If I had running hot and cold water the brewery would be complete. If you turn the induction cooker up high you can caramalise wort in about 1.3 seconds. It only need about 900w to boil 2 ltrs of starter.
I turned it up high to boil the water quick. I added dry LME and hey presto instant red ale wort. Luckily I was using it in a red IPA.

Edit: Im gonna get the pressure cooker to go with it.

 

[Schooner_downunder]

Plenty of gear on special next Wednesday
Vacuum sealer and bags
induction hotplate
Sous Vide
Pressure Cooker

+1 for the vacuum sealer (eg hop spilt)

 

[Midnight Brew]

If you turn the induction cooker up high you can caramalise wort in about 1.3 seconds.

Edit: Im gonna get the pressure cooker to go with it.

Thats the plan! Phasing out of having so many malts on hand and wanna really utilise caramelised wort because I love what it adds even to a single malt beer.

 

[brewn00b]

Any idea what batch size you could boil on the induction cooker?

 

[Lyrebird_Cycles]

I use an 1800w induction cookplate (from BigW IIRC) and it needs help to get a 30 litre boil rolling properly. I'd say the 2100W Aldi one would do 25 litres adequately.

 

[Bribie G]

Gelatine leaves on sale from today. Less stinky than the usual supermarket stuff in the tub - the "platinum grade" is used to make desserts such as pana cotta so should be perfect for beer finings.

 

[kaiserben]

Any idea what batch size you could boil on the induction cooker?

I believe the most powerful hot plate on my kitchen's ceramic stove top is about 2000W. An induction cook top that I own (but not the Aldi one) is exactly 2000W. Anyway, the performance of the two cook tops is virtually identical.

I've used both to boil ~18L. I reckon it'd struggle with much more than that.

 

[wynnum1]

With the induction cooker can one of these be run for an extended period or could it over heat.

 

[mtb]

With the induction cooker can one of these be run for an extended period or could it over heat.

Most have an inbuilt cooling fan so you shouldn't have an issue

 

[Midnight Brew]

Here it is. Used it this afternoon to caramelise some wort on a mild to add some complexity. It reached a boil in about 5 minutes. I boiled 1.75L down to 200ml for an 11L batch.

 

[nosco]

Did you just draw some wort off the boil?

 

[Midnight Brew]

This was already cubed so I took it from the cube before adding back to the main batch but the plan on brew days is to brew as usual and while its coming up to the boil to caramelise a few litres of wort to add back in.

EDIT
Actually really hand for no chill as I use 11L cubes a 55L batch gives me 5 x 11L so there is a fair bit of room for experimentation. e.g. pitch one as per normal then the next one caramelise some wort, next one add some more hops.

 

[DJ_L3ThAL]

I got the pressure cooker, thought about the hot plate and left it. But f-it I think I'll go back as this is perfect for side decoction mashes....!

Also forgot to get the gelatine....

 

[Midnight Brew]

I got the pressure cooker, thought about the hot plate and left it. But f-it I think I'll go back as this is perfect for side decoction mashes....!

Also forgot to get the gelatine....

The hot plate is a worthy addition, the gelatine however... do you know what that stuff is made from? No good for Mr Midnight Brew

 

[DJ_L3ThAL]

All good I'm a firm believer in temperature and time, so it won't be going near my brews. Panna cotta however...

 

[Bribie G]

Cow hide. The horses hooves thing is a myth.

 

[wynnum1]

Cow hide. The horses hooves thing is a myth.

Pig skin at aldi

 

[Bribie G]

Presumably not Halal then.

Edit
I'm waiting for a gelatine made from PETA members.