DrSmurto's English IPA

[surly]

Hey all,

Planning on giving this a go tomorrow. Trouble is, I am a little short on Challenger (~20g under). Anyone have thoughts on what the best hops would be out of the following to make up the difference? also, what stage of the boil?

EKG
Styrian Goldings
Fuggles

Recipe link: http://aussiehomebrewer.com/recipe/1481-drsmurtos-english-ipa/ Won't let me comment in recipe thread.

 

[manticle]

I'd probably go styrians or a mix of ekg and styrians. Not a sub by any means but would work well in this kind of beer. Styrians are great at all stages - mandarin, vanilla and apricot. Challenger is marmalade.

 

[surly]

Thanks Manticle, mandarin, vanilla and apricot sound like they would merge well with marmalade. Will probably throw them in at the beginning of the boil so as to try and keep the flavours as close to the recipe as possible then.

I also have a fair amount of galaxy on hand, but was thinking it would be too fruity? That, and not very English....

 

[manticle]

Save the galaxy (for another beer, not in your spaceship)

 

[surly]

The fermenting fridge smells awesome

I am going to use this as my first kegged beer. Was wondering how long people mature their beers before kegging? Do you leave it chilling in the keg for long before serving?
Have to admit, I am impatient to try out my keezer

 

[Three Sheets]

The fermenting fridge smells awesome

I am going to use this as my first kegged beer. Was wondering how long people mature their beers before kegging? Do you leave it chilling in the keg for long before serving?
Have to admit, I am impatient to try out my keezer

I rationalise early entry into the keg by the fact that I'd have to buy beer. And although it may improve with age, its half the cost. One day I will have enough kegs to wait several months.

 

[surly]

I rationalise early entry into the keg by the fact that I'd have to buy beer. And although it may improve with age, its half the cost. One day I will have enough kegs to wait several months.

I seem to be leaning towards your rationale too
Maybe I will brew a wheat next, fresh is best for wheat, right?

 

[manticle]

Pour a sample. If it's green, leave it longer.

UK milds and bitters are best fresh too.

 

[surly]

Pour a sample. If it's green, leave it longer.

UK milds and bitters are best fresh too.

Hey Manticle, I am much too new a brewer to be confident in knowing what "green" tastes like, but, having a beer on tap and being able to taste it as it changes will likely be very beneficial for my learning this.
Basically, my major question should have been: "is having the beer at keezer temps and gassed up likely to have a significant impact on it's continued maturation?"
If not, then I will go for it nice and early and taste as it ages

 

[manticle]

Beer will change, regardless of packaging method. Deciding where that change is optimum is beer, brewer and palate dependent.

 

[Khellendros13]

Another reason why I am looking forward to my first keg. Pour half a glass...tastes green? Leave a few more days. Repeat until you keep going back for more
No more cracking a 740ml because of my impatience.

 

[Three Sheets]

If the first taste is enjoyable....then it is ready. Improvement with age is a bonus. I'm liking this dry hoping too, its appears its ready when I am.

The one draw back I find when turning out good quality HB is that when I go out I cant take to the commercial tap beers, and thus pay the extra for the Premium fuel.

 

[Byran]

I always seem to think the beer will taste like beer once it has fermented properly and will only taste green if you have not had a good ferment. like if the temps were off, nutrients were off, ferment was stopped too early ect. I have done quite a few beers lately out of the CC fermenter, force carbed in 10 mins of shaking and drank. They are often a bit cloudy for a few days but dont seem to need lagering in the keg to improve flavours. Although as Manticle said they do change over time until the start of the keg beer tastes nothing like the end of the keg beer. Perhaps the flavours you like might be the fresh ones. Gotta love havin tap beer at home though.


Edit: I have been doing the force carb thing because I too am quite eager to get into the new batch.................

 

[soundawake]

I'm drinking this beer as we speak. Turned out well, but tasted green for longer than usual. But definitely will brew again.

 

[surly]

Cheers guys

Will be CC'ing this in a few days, so not far off a pour. Have tasted it from the hydrometer, still reading about 1.018 and tasting a bit sweet, but is pretty tasty
A little concerned about my mash temps though, it got away from me and was too high for a while. Hopefully all is still good.