Horizon Comparative Brew

[TimT]

Mine's been fermenting three days now on Nottingham yeast, having started on a base of 1.050 and built up speed over the first day.... over the second day it slowed down considerably, with almost no stuff moving through the airlock at all this morning. I took a sample with my hydrometer and saw it was down to 1.015: not too bad, though I was hoping to push it down even further. I'm not sure if there's anything else I can do to try and nudge the yeast into doing a bit more, or even if I should bother. (The taste seems pleasant enough; the initial sharpness of the hops has rounded off and there's a little residual sweetness from the malt that I like). I don't think the warm weather will have been bothering it too much, since I've had the fermenter placed in a larger pot full of cool water, with icecubes, and a damp cloth wrapped around its top to help it perspire.

My plan I think will be to leave it for a few more days before re-racking it and doing..... stuff... to it.

 

[pomsaleius]

Next weekend is looking under threat because of other family stuff going on! May not be able to brew until the following weekend, dammit!
Given that and the ferment+conditioning time, doubt I'll have anything for the next meeting.
My alt looks like it's already alted before it's started (sorry, unforgivable).

 

[pressure_tested]

He was saying the Germans due their hops. Check it out next time you use Hallertau?

 

[Spiesy]

I used 029 a few years back, i mashed at 66c and didn't use brewing salts, it came out lovely but it was sweet as opposed to dry which is the ball park I was aiming for, so it might rock an alt but it didn't come up as first choice. And I love trying new yeasts.

Hmm. Any chance you can remember ferment temp, age of yeast, OG and batch size?

Maybe it was under pitched?

 

[Forever Wort]

I put mine down last night. But I want to keep the method and ingredients under wraps until tasting time as I think this adds to the experience.

EDIT: Here is the final list with Kevin removed -_-

1. Carniebrew - Hybrid IPA (AG, BIAB)
2. Brouhaha - Germerican Pale Ale (AG, BIAB)
3. TimT - An incredibly surprising Pale Ale (AG, BIAR)
4. GDAH / New Guy - Dusseldorf Altbier (AG)
5. Forever Wort - Pale Saison (extract)
6. Pißwasser - India Red Ale (AG, BIAB)

I guess we could move the conversation along to the tasting. How do we want to do it? There are different variables we can play with. I personally prefer the most "blind" options as preconceptions only get in the way of Great Discoveries.

Some options:

1. Randomise and anonymise the brews, then deliver them consecutively. We all take notes for each beer. At the end, the beers are identified and all brewers explain their recipe and process. Discussion.
2. Randomise and anonymise the brews, deliver one, taste, identify and discuss. Continue for all six with identification and discussion each time.
3. Label the brews with the brewer's name and beer name, then deliver them consecutively. We all take notes for each beer. At the end, all brewers explain their recipe and process. Discussion.
4. Label the brews with the brewer's name and beer name. Deliver one, taste, identify, and discuss. Continue for all six.
5. Taste each brew consecutively with total disclosure recipe card and final characteristics (ABV, IBU, EBC). Discuss after each brew.
6. Pour all six brews into a collective bucket blend, use a straw each and get shitfaced while muttering "Horizon" and "Select" in random sentences.

 

[going down a hill]

Or we could get all of the beers brought out randomly with only the hop times, that way we can taste what hop went in at what time. Or just go with number 6.

Hmm. Any chance you can remember ferment temp, age of yeast, OG and batch size?

Maybe it was under pitched?

I checked my brewmate file and there is no mention of a starter, i remember the yeast was around a month old so it was under pitched, I fermented at 18c, it was a super clean yeast flavour and didn't throw off any off tastes.

Its a bit hard to reflect on a beer I made over two years ago.

 

[New_guy]

All beers numbered on cap
All beers put on table
Everyone taste and rate each beer
Short speil at end from each brewer

Apologies if this was already said

 

[TimT]

No to blind tasting! I want to present my beer. And give it a little cuddle afterwards and tell it it done good.

 

[New_guy]

Who is going to have a beer ready for the 29th??

GDAH & I are brewing tomorrow (read - new guy watching and learning)

I don't think it will be ready until the May meeting

 

[pressure_tested]

I brewed yesterday, don't have a fridge for cc so it'll be ready (also means that I can't control ferment temp but it's in a garage that is consistently 21 degrees)

I made an esb. I know that's a malt forward beer but I hope to make some late hopping noticeable.

 

[carniebrew]

I assume we're all bottle conditioning, so we could be pushing it for April 29. Mine might be carbed, but will no doubt benefit from a little longer in the bottle. Might be a good opportunity to open a few "young" beers, then try them again a month later to see how they've developed.

 

[TimT]

Worth remembering: it is an informal tasting.

 

[pomsaleius]

So was the idea here just to brew something and then get together and drink it? We can do that if you want, but I think it would be interesting to occasionally have a proper competition, with tasting sheets, stewards, etc. Possibly even BJCP judges. Some people in the club (now or in the future) may be keen to enter their brews into competition, and have then judged. I think we should offer that occasionally, if we can. And eventually even compete with other clubs. Sure, start small and informal, but I think we should occasionally think about doing it the way other clubs do.

 

[New_guy]

Wasn't the goal of this brew to capitalise on free hops and be a very informal review of beer with a hop commonality whilst we progress the implementation of our administration and thus facilitate structured organised events / tastings / competitions ?

 

[pomsaleius]

Well, I had to read that a couple of times, and probably couldn't say it on the night, but yep. Fair enough.

 

[TimT]

I think we settled on a more informal, less structured brew including Horizon hops this time Kevin - it'd be great to have a comp with more formalised guidelines but that involves a bit more planning I think, and more than just one month's notice. So the idea to just do brews using Horizon hops seems a fair compromise I reckon.

 

[technobabble66]

Totally agree with Kevin.
And I hate busting out the "should" stuff, but:
There should be a strong drive towards friendly competitions, as this is what will ultimately push us to strive to improve our brewing, and improve the overall homebrewing scene in (northern) melbourne - which i see as one of the main aims of our club. This should be both within the club and between other clubs - again, always in a friendly cooperative/supportive manner (one of our other prime objectives).
There should also be a strong drive towards both consolidation of skills/knowledge plus exploring new boundaries/styles.

(However,) For this little experiment i think the general idea, as New_guy & TimT states, is to just do a little informal play with the free hops that none of us seemed familiar with, while we're organising the structure of the club & general directives ( this fits into the last 2 directives mentioned above!). So basically +1 to New-guy & TimT.

The formal comps are the ultimate driver, but the most fun will probably be with the more casual stuff. So lets start there.
My 2c

 

[pomsaleius]

I think we settled on a more informal, less structured brew including Horizon hops this time Kevin - it'd be great to have a comp with more formalised guidelines but that involves a bit more planning I think, and more than just one month's notice. So the idea to just do brews using Horizon hops seems a fair compromise I reckon.

I didn't say we should go straight to the full blown, formal rules this time, but sounds like it's not going to be anything other than drink the stuff now. That's fine. I'm not against drinking beer.

 

[carniebrew]

I think we settled on a more informal, less structured brew including Horizon hops this time Kevin - it'd be great to have a comp with more formalised guidelines but that involves a bit more planning I think, and more than just one month's notice. So the idea to just do brews using Horizon hops seems a fair compromise I reckon.

Horizon and Select, yes? Not just Horizon?

 

[TimT]

Horizon and Select, yes? Not just Horizon?

I dunno. Might have to go back and read the terms and conditions again! I thought it was just Horizon, with a choice of adding Select.