Lord Nelson's Victory Bitter

[O'Henry]

I was just wondering if anyone has made a beer similar to the Lord Nelson Victory Bitter. I wouldn't mind attempting something similar to it as it was very enjoyable the last few times I was there and I was very suprised by it.
The description from the brewery is not great, but perhaps a starting point.

"Victory Bitter 5.0% alc/vol. Extra Special Bitter - Malty with caramel overtones. Generously hopped with Fuggles for a spicy bitter finish. Amber in colour."

I have searched the forums several times for a thread about this, but turned up nothing. Sorry if this is a repeat... I would also be interested on hearing opinions on the beer, if there are any.

 

[Bribie G]

I've only been to the Lord Nelson once, a couple of years ago before I got into brewing and found their beers to be chill hazed to buggery, served freezing cold and seemed to be of that bright orange colour that shouts "craft beer for nerds only". Same goes for the BrewHouse in Brisbane (closed now) and I wonder if there's some sort of cultural cringe amongst microbreweries that they have to serve their products at one degree celsius and gassed to bejasus otherwise the VB drinkers won't consider drinking the product. Oh for an honest ale served on handpump without CO2 pressure at 13 degrees celsius. Might need to go to Harvey World Travel to get that however.

end of grump rant :icon_cheers:

 

[Muggus]

Been a LONG while since i've tried this beer at the Lord Nelson.
As much as it says it's an ESB style of beer, I really don't recall any of the LN beers fitting the distinct mould of British-style ales, more like Aussie-style British-influenced beers.

Going on that, and depending on what level you're at, i'd be inclined to stick to strictly British ingredients... Marris Otter malt, a good bit of Crystal for colour and caramel maltiness, and Fuggle hops particularly late in the boil. A good clean British ale yeast would do...S-04 if you don't want to go into very specifics.

Unfortunately I don't have anything rock solid, but you may want to simply research English/British bitter beers for inspiration, though I wouldn't be suprised if the beer itself was brewed using locally grown malt....like Joe White.

 

[Stuster]

Oh for an honest ale served on handpump without CO2 pressure at 13 degrees celsius. Might need to go to Harvey World Travel to get that however.

Don't need a plane to get to the Wig and Pen in Canberra. :chug:

For the OP, I think Muggus is on the mark. I'm pretty sure it's JW malts and S-04 yeast.

 

[matti]

Nice beer IMO
How to brew it ....hmmm wouldnt know
oops waste of post ^_^

 

[mje1980]

I've only been to the Lord Nelson once, a couple of years ago before I got into brewing and found their beers to be chill hazed to buggery, served freezing cold and seemed to be of that bright orange colour that shouts "craft beer for nerds only". Same goes for the BrewHouse in Brisbane (closed now) and I wonder if there's some sort of cultural cringe amongst microbreweries that they have to serve their products at one degree celsius and gassed to bejasus otherwise the VB drinkers won't consider drinking the product. Oh for an honest ale served on handpump without CO2 pressure at 13 degrees celsius. Might need to go to Harvey World Travel to get that however.

end of grump rant :icon_cheers:

No chill cube + Beer engine + ice ( depending on weather ) = Handpumped ales ( that don't break any CAMRA rules!! ). Not hard to do at all. Biggest cost is the engine. If you have relo's in the UK ( Im sure you're an expat? ) it might be cheaper. See the Illawarra Brewers Union forum here, and read the Real ale threads. IM sure there are others who do it too.

Ok, so its not in a wooden cask, but gee, that's pushing it!!!


P.S I love the stuff!!!!

 

[lczaban]

Don't need a plane to get to the Wig and Pen in Canberra. :chug:

:icon_offtopic:

Don't worry Bribie - there is an even closer example than that. I'll just have to keep an eye on when MT are next serving their beer out of the keg with their hand-pull tap. We'll then arrange a little excursion up the hill :icon_cheers:

Back on post, the Lord Nelson sounds like an interesting beer. Is it available in bottled form in QLD by chance?? Good luck trying to replicate this baby. Let us know how you go!

 

[kevo]

Had a pint of this at the Lord Nelson last year, absolute cracker of a beer. Living in SEQ though, only have a pint or so each year on the family trip to Sydney each August.

Would love any clues to making this as well.

Someone suggested speaking to the staff there - they were pretty happy to have a chat re brewing while I was there, but I didn't ask any specifics about the beers, will get prepared for my next trip!

Kev

 

[A3k]

Hi O'Henry,
I found a couple of Lord Nelsons (Three Sheets and Old Admirable) beers down here in adelaide and thought they were quite nice. But didn't find the Victory Bitter.

I asked about them in the "Bitter" Flavour of the week thread.

I got two responses that seemed pretty sure about the yeast used by Lord Nelson.


"A3K, Pretty sure Lord Nelson uses Nottingham, they do at the pub brewery anyhow, don't know what the contract brewers make the bottled product with. Any English yeast that gives you a few esters is good, am about to do a run of beers with 1275 Thames River Valley Yeast"

"I was speaking to the Brewer Damien(?) during the recent AHB pub crawl. The Admiral uses Nottingham, the rest use US05. Dont worry, I wouldnt have picked it either."


Having said that, i went for the 1469 strain to make my first bitter and am very glad i did.

 

[HarryB]

Hi O'Henry,
I found a couple of Lord Nelsons (Three Sheets and Old Admirable) beers down here in adelaide and thought they were quite nice. But didn't find the Victory Bitter.

Pretty sure that those are the only two they bottle.

 

[dig]

I think that Victory has changed with every brewer that has worked there (and there has been quite a few). When I worked at the Good Lord, a very long time ago now, Victory was a partial mash, the rest was those big industrial tins of Coopers extract, a handful of fuggles pellets for a bit of spice and fermented with Nottingham. Your basic 'two-can' home brew really.

 

[O'Henry]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I have been looking through the recipe DB and try to see what I want to brew. I want to stick to a recipe really closely this time as deviating has not gone well for me so far.

I have tried to talk to them about the in house brewing, but they are always so busy when I am there. Next time I'm there i'll try to ask all though it is the last pub in a long day in the city...

As for bottle versions, only the 3 sheets and old admiral are available. The pub website suggests they are available here. Unfortunately no QLD location. But maybe a look around will uncover some...