Vic 2007 X-mas Case Swap

[Wardhog]

maybe for the next swap we could make a brew up

just putting it out there

-Phill

A good idea. There'll be enough hands around your place to get a brew, some food, and bottle sorting done. It'd be a good idea to lay down the law at the outset, though - too many cooks and all that.

Taking your thought to a sort-of-related tangent, what about a case swap where everyone brewed the same beer according to their own methods?
"Here's the grain bill, here's the equivalent extract bill, here's what hops and how much of each, use this yeast, see you in 6 weeks for a sort day." kind of thing?

You find something you really like about one beer that's not in your own, and you can ask how it was done.

 

[therook]

A good idea. There'll be enough hands around your place to get a brew, some food, and bottle sorting done. It'd be a good idea to lay down the law at the outset, though - too many cooks and all that.

Taking your thought to a sort-of-related tangent, what about a case swap where everyone brewed the same beer according to their own methods?
"Here's the grain bill, here's the equivalent extract bill, here's what hops and how much of each, use this yeast, see you in 6 weeks for a sort day." kind of thing?

You find something you really like about one beer that's not in your own, and you can ask how it was done.

That sounds to organised Wardy, but i'll be in it

Rook

 

[SpillsMostOfIt]

A few months ago, Velophile, Thirsty Boy and I did the brew thing of which Wardhog speaks. We took a fairly plain ingredient bill - each of three ingredient packs as equal as a practising pedant can make them - and each went away to make beer with it. The results were really interesting - I think it is an excellent excuse for a decentralised brewing exercise!

 

[Wardhog]

It was a beer in the last case swap, I think it was Velophile's contribution, that made me think of doing this. His beer tasted nice, no doubt, but I would love to know how he got it so crystal clear.
I think I could make a beer that was similarly nice in taste, but could not get within coo-ee of how damn clear it was.

Such an excercise could also inspire a few more AG converts. A taste of AG is hard enough to come by when you don't know anyone who makes it, but a taste of an AG that is the same beer as you make might be even more motivation to take the step into AG.
Those already AG could pick up tips and tricks on a smaller scale.

 

[therook]

It was a beer in the last case swap, I think it was Velophile's contribution, that made me think of doing this. His beer tasted nice, no doubt, but I would love to know how he got it so crystal clear.
I think I could make a beer that was similarly nice in taste, but could not get within coo-ee of how damn clear it was.

Such an excercise could also inspire a few more AG converts. A taste of AG is hard enough to come by when you don't know anyone who makes it, but a taste of an AG that is the same beer as you make might be even more motivation to take the step into AG.
Those already AG could pick up tips and tricks on a smaller scale.

Start a new thread Wardy and get it happening

Maybe we could make a St Pats day beer and dress up as little green men

Rook

 

[brettprevans]

my god there are some good idea this morning. Highly unusual for a Monday morning I would have thought? were you guys not drinking over the weekend. i can hardly keep my eyes open. mind you I suppose i did go through 12L of HB with the old man yesterday as well as someother assorted bevvies. But damned if he didnt sing praises for my stout at the beginning and then near the end exclaim that is was like road tar!

slightly off topic i know. sorry. I'll bring it back on topic. I think both wardhog's and DarkFT's idea's are ace and I'll be interested in participating.

 

[Wardhog]

A few months ago, Velophile, Thirsty Boy and I did the brew thing of which Wardhog speaks. We took a fairly plain ingredient bill - each of three ingredient packs as equal as a practising pedant can make them - and each went away to make beer with it. The results were really interesting - I think it is an excellent excuse for a decentralised brewing exercise!

What happened?

 

[Wardhog]

Start a new thread Wardy and get it happening

Maybe we could make a St Pats day beer and dress up as little green men

Rook

Next year's X-mas in July effort? Or is that too far away?

 

[SpillsMostOfIt]

What happened?

Velophile has a fairly typical HB three-vessel setup based on a boiler that holds nearly a hectolitre and fired by a four-ring burner that is measurably responsible for global warming. Thirsty Boy used the HERMS system of his own devising and I brewed in a bag.

We based the recipe on something I had made previously. Unfortunately, we deviated from the original too much and none of us created what inspired us to go that way.

Thirsty Boy and I ended up with brews that were quite similar. His was better. Velophile had not at that stage learned how to turn his burner down low and was used to brewing *big* batches. He caramelised his brew a fair bit and ended up with an entirely different but very interesting beer (in a good way).

We're currently in negotiation for the next experiment where we will mash up *BIG* (hint: I'm thinking about a 135litre mash tun) and fill all our available boilers (and possibly more) in the one place to blend into cubes and dissipate...

 

[Fents]

Brew day - Im in.

kolsch gets bottled tonight (fopund bottles at Daves shop), not the colour i wanted but the taste is def there.

anyone needing to drop beers off PM or call me.

Cheers

 

[therook]

Bottled the Alt last Friday, tastes great.....no idea if it is to style or taste as i have never tried one before.

Rook

 

[Wardhog]

We're currently in negotiation for the next experiment where we will mash up *BIG* (hint: I'm thinking about a 135litre mash tun) and fill all our available boilers (and possibly more) in the one place to blend into cubes and dissipate...

What would be the aim of that experiment? To see how different fermentation regimes compare?



Giving my previous suggestion a bit more thought, I would suggest a pale ale might be the go.
Would an Aussie pale ale be the most accessible to all brewers? Is the Cooper's Pale Ale kit supposed to make an Aussie?

Example ingredients guidelines (23L batch):
K&K : Cooper's pale ale kit + Cooper's Brew Enhancer #2
Extract : 2 x Cooper's light malt extract + (POR + cluster to 30 IBU)
Partial : Cooper's Pale Ale can + 2kg ale malt + (POR + cluster to 30 IBU)
AG : 4.5kg ale malt + 200g wheat + (POR + cluster to 30 IBU)
Safale S-04 (yeast is where AG and K&K can't agree)
Mash/fermentation regimes up to the brewer. Hopping also up to the brewer, it just has to be POR + cluster to 30IBU or thereabouts if applicable.
This would not be my first choice of beer to brew. I suggest this for the purposes of this experiment, ie. everyone is able to make the same beer. I would prefer to make an American Pale Ale drenched in Amarillo, but I don't know of a kit that K&K brewers could use.


How much space is needed to host a sorting day? How many barbecues is enough? How many tables/chairs?

I'd be happy to have it at my place if :
- I can host it (ie. I have enough space and gear)
- Everyone is happy to travel to Greensborough.

 

[brettprevans]

wardhog

not sure what style JSGA would fall under (english ale?), but im pretty sure it would cater for all styles of brewing. I know ive seen K&K, extract and AG recipe versions. And it caters for the armarillo heads

im happy with any style

 

[Wardhog]

wardhog

not sure what style JSGA would fall under (english ale?), but im pretty sure it would cater for all styles of brewing. I know ive seen K&K, extract and AG recipe versions. And it caters for the armarillo heads

im happy with any style

If there's a kit that says it's a JSGA, yeah, we should do that for sure - do Malt Shovel make kits that claim to make their finished product? If not, it would be a kit and bits brew, which could be beyond what some people are comfortable doing.
My idea for this excercise is that anyone - regardless of brewing skill, experience, or knowledge - could contribute a beer.

 

[SpillsMostOfIt]

What would be the aim of that experiment? To see how different fermentation regimes compare?

To see how much fun we can have.

 

[brettprevans]

If there's a kit that says it's a JSGA, yeah, we should do that for sure - do Malt Shovel make kits that claim to make their finished product? If not, it would be a kit and bits brew, which could be beyond what some people are comfortable doing.
My idea for this excercise is that anyone - regardless of brewing skill, experience, or knowledge - could contribute a beer.

brewcraft sells a 'kit' thats a JSAA but not a JSGA.

for K&K Ive only seen kits and bits ala: Thomas Coopers Sparkling Ale, 1.5kg pale malt extract (liquid)
45g amarillo, Kit yeast (and many variations of). This is pretty simple dump stir and drop hops in at time intervals. 2 week ferment.

Im just trying to make helpful suggestions (I hope ). I dont think anyone really minds what we brew.

 

[Wardhog]

brewcraft sells a 'kit' thats a JSAA but not a JSGA.

for K&K Ive only seen kits and bits ala: Thomas Coopers Sparkling Ale, 1.5kg pale malt extract (liquid)
45g amarillo, Kit yeast (and many variations of). This is pretty simple dump stir and drop hops in at time intervals. 2 week ferment.

Im just trying to make helpful suggestions (I hope ). I dont think anyone really minds what we brew.

We can always ask everyone what they want to do once participants are known. If everyone's happy to have a kit and bits as the baseline for the brew, we'll do that.

 

[Fents]

Kolsch is all bottled! (proper glass coopers and old school non twist cub bottles no less!)

I know kolsch's are meant to be crystal clear so im bummed. even racked and 4 weeks @ 0deg didnt even do it oh well just close your eyes and think of krystal clear skies!

 

[Cummins]

Appearance is over-rated. Shouldn't even count in any way towards quality of beer.

 

[DarkFaerytale]

i know your pain fents, cracked open a pilsner last night, 3 weeks primary, 1 week secondary, 6 weeks CC and one month in the bottle.....worst chill haze i'v ever seen, i nearly cried, fortunatly the beer is excelent tasting tho!

i think JSGA is a great idea, should we start a new thread tho and keep this one on track? (even tho i was the one who deviated in the first place )

25 days left

-Phill