Christmas Homebrew Lottery 2008

[blue256]

I just wanna know if mine got there.....

Yeah mate yours has come.

Sorry guys for maybe as much as I should, but I have now got into the thick of things with plenty of tastings. I was going to try and give some feedback on all the beers, but I had no idea how much work that was going to involve, so I will probably just comment on stand outs. I think i have probably had about 15 of the beers so far, and out of these there were 3 really great ones.

First was Jye's Saison. This was different to every other saison that I have had and by far the best. Apparently you said brett was added to the secondary, so maybe this is one of the things that made it that much better. I found it rich and complex and just really nice.

Next was Bizier Smoke and Rye beer. This was a really nice beer, much easier drinking that thought it would be based on the name alone. I couldn't definitely pick out the rye as it was pretty complex, but it was well balanced and had a nice roasty aroma. Thankfully the smoked malt was not over done at all and was just subtle. It was the best one in my first tasting session.

Lastly was the easily the standout of the lot I've had so far, and that was the Russian Imperial Stout from Ross. Apparently aged for 2.5 years and I would believe it. It was like nothing I have ever had. I took it to a dinner party and we enjoyed the bottle as dessert. I wish I hadn't sampled about 5 or 6 others before I got to this because now all I remember about it was just being blown away by the most complex malty interesting beer I've ever had. An amazing beer.


Now looking back it seems that the ones I rate the highest so far have been the relatively big beers, and maybe that is because they just stand out more after you have tried quite a few.

 

[Bizier]

Next was Bizier Smoke and Rye beer. This was a really nice beer, much easier drinking that thought it would be based on the name alone. I couldn't definitely pick out the rye as it was pretty complex, but it was well balanced and had a nice roasty aroma. Thankfully the smoked malt was not over done at all and was just subtle. It was the best one in my first tasting session.

Aw sucks, that was the first beer review given to me by someone other than a mate, family member or significant other (and they are all pretty useless at being impartial). As the NSW case swap/braggot people could note, I was too chickensh!t to bring a humble brew - though this will be rectified in any such future event. That was my 12th brew ever, and my first recipe ever, and purely off the top of my head, so I am proud as punch. ED: though seemingly with a hand from "big beer bias"

Thanks Blue, very much appreciated.

 

[Ross]

Glad you enjoyed it Blue ...only a litre or 2 left in the keg. Recipe below if you are interested:

Cazbrookistan Smoked Imperial Stout
Russian Imperial Stout

Type: All Grain
Date: 20/09/2006
Batch Size: 26.00 L
Brewer: Ross
Boil Size: 34.00 L
Boil Time: 90 min
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
4.00 kg Pale Malt, Galaxy (Barrett Burston) (3.0 EBC) Grain 34.51 %
3.50 kg Pale Malt, Golden Promise (Thomas Fawcett) (5.9 EBC) Grain 30.20 %
1.20 kg Roasted Barley (1398.7 EBC) Grain 10.35 %
0.90 kg Rye Malt (9.3 EBC) Grain 7.81 %
0.70 kg Munich Malt (23.0 EBC) Grain 6.04 %
0.36 kg Carafa III (1034.3 EBC) Grain 3.12 %
0.36 kg Chocolate Malt (1200.0 EBC) Grain 3.12 %
0.36 kg Chocolate Malt Pale (600.0 EBC) Grain 3.12 %
0.20 kg Peated Malt (5.5 EBC) Grain 1.73 %
25.00 gm Horizon [13.00 %] (80 min) Hops 23.8 IBU
25.00 gm Goldings, East Kent [4.20 %] (80 min) Hops 7.1 IBU
30.00 gm Warrior [15.10 %] (80 min) Hops 33.1 IBU
25.00 gm Magnum [13.50 %] (80 min) Hops 24.7 IBU
50.00 gm Goldings, East Kent [5.20 %] (10 min) Hops 6.0 IBU
26.00 gm Fuggles [5.00 %] (10 min) Hops 3.0 IBU
1 Pkgs Nottingham (Danstar #-) Yeast-Ale

Beer Profile
Measured Original Gravity: 1.100 SG
Measured Final Gravity: 1.030 SG
Actual Alcohol by Vol: 9.20 %
Bitterness: 97.7 IBU Calories: 1,002 cal/l
Est Color: 194.2 EBC Color: Color

 

[Jye]

Thanks Blue, the recipe was pretty simple so a lot of the complexity would have come from the Brett.


Saison II (Brett)
Saison


Type: All Grain
Date: 29/03/2008
Batch Size: 23.00 L
Brewer: Jye
Boil Size: 30.08 L Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 90 min Equipment: SK Brew Hous
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0 Brewhouse Efficiency: 80.0

Taste Notes: Seconday to a keg and add dregs of 2 Orval bottles.

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
3.20 kg Pale Malt, Galaxy (Barrett Burston) (1.5 SRM) Grain 70.3 %
0.90 kg Munich I (Weyermann) (7.1 SRM) Grain 19.8 %
0.45 kg Caramunich I (Weyermann) (51.0 SRM) Grain 9.9 %

20.00 gm Magnum [13.10%] (60 min) Hops 29.2 IBU
20.00 gm Saaz [4.00%] (10 min) Hops 3.2 IBU

5.00 gm Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum) (Mash 60.0 min) Misc

1 Pkgs Belgian Saison I Ale (White Labs #WLP565) Yeast-Ale



Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.049 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.050 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.014 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.0?? SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 4.6 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 6.5 %
Bitterness: 32.5 IBU Calories: 452 cal/l
Est Color: 8.4 SRM Color: Color


Mash Profile

Mash Name: SK Brew Hous Mash Total Grain Weight: 4.55 kg
Sparge Water: 24.26 L Grain Temperature: 25.0 C
Sparge Temperature: 100.0 C TunTemperature: 25.0 C
Adjust Temp for Equipment: FALSE Mash PH: 5.4 PH

Name Description Step Temp Step Time
Mash In Add 11.37 L of water at 72.2 C 66.0 C 90 min