Canuckdownunder
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 20/6/13
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Hey Everybody!
So I've had this kit sitting at my place for a couple week now and I figured that I'd give it a try. I found it at the LHBS by Southport Griffith uni, the guy nearly talked my ear off hahahahaha! But I thought to myself that I'd give honeyed "mead" ale a try since it sounded like an interesting bit of beer to brew for fun while I'm working on perfecting my pale ale. Since I haven't read much about these 3.7 kilo "all-in-one" kits I thought I'd also give a bit of a review to see how it goes and while I'm at it ask some questions if anybody has ever made a honeyed ale.
So anyways first thing I noticed when I cracked the kit open was that, even after having sat in simmering hot water for 15 minutes, the bottom of the kit os solid honey. Like this stuff didn't want to come out at all! The wort slid out as per usual but the other half of the kit was a pain in the ass.
Well with a prodigious use of hot water and my trusty wort spoon I got the stuff to finally vacate the kit and get into the fermenter. After that it was all about making sure everything was nice and dissolved. Filled it to 23l, got an SG reading of 1.057 and pitched at 25c so I'll keep you posted about how it turns out.
I have a few questions regarding fermenting a honey ale. Even though I got and SG of 1.057 the back of the kit says not to consider racking to keg until it gets below 1.005. I thought that was pretty impressive so I ran the numbers through the ABV calculator at Brewers friend and said that this beer will be at least 6.8% ABV with a 91% attenuation rate. Is that high an attenuation rate even possible?! I'm not especially sure what the yeast is; the kit says it's "Danish" but other than that it gives me no hints about what that means. Ideas?
Also, what sort of temps would you recommend for fermenting? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Wish me luck!
So I've had this kit sitting at my place for a couple week now and I figured that I'd give it a try. I found it at the LHBS by Southport Griffith uni, the guy nearly talked my ear off hahahahaha! But I thought to myself that I'd give honeyed "mead" ale a try since it sounded like an interesting bit of beer to brew for fun while I'm working on perfecting my pale ale. Since I haven't read much about these 3.7 kilo "all-in-one" kits I thought I'd also give a bit of a review to see how it goes and while I'm at it ask some questions if anybody has ever made a honeyed ale.
So anyways first thing I noticed when I cracked the kit open was that, even after having sat in simmering hot water for 15 minutes, the bottom of the kit os solid honey. Like this stuff didn't want to come out at all! The wort slid out as per usual but the other half of the kit was a pain in the ass.
Well with a prodigious use of hot water and my trusty wort spoon I got the stuff to finally vacate the kit and get into the fermenter. After that it was all about making sure everything was nice and dissolved. Filled it to 23l, got an SG reading of 1.057 and pitched at 25c so I'll keep you posted about how it turns out.
I have a few questions regarding fermenting a honey ale. Even though I got and SG of 1.057 the back of the kit says not to consider racking to keg until it gets below 1.005. I thought that was pretty impressive so I ran the numbers through the ABV calculator at Brewers friend and said that this beer will be at least 6.8% ABV with a 91% attenuation rate. Is that high an attenuation rate even possible?! I'm not especially sure what the yeast is; the kit says it's "Danish" but other than that it gives me no hints about what that means. Ideas?
Also, what sort of temps would you recommend for fermenting? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Wish me luck!
So does that mean that most of the honey flavour will be eaten up by the yeast as well?
