Vic Xmas 2009 Case Swap - Tasting Thread

[Fourstar]

Looking at the recipe after making the notes I wondered if it might be the baking soda?

I'd say not a chance, the bicarbonate of soda addition only adds like 16ppm or 16mg of Sodium to the L of beer as a total contribution, essentially thats just above trace minerals really. It could be the alkalinity giving a 'mouthfeel'? I'm not even sure what you would get from that as a 'flavour' or even if its detectable at those levels as 47 HCO3 is pretty low figure.

Yeah i'll have to take your thaughts on board and see if i can pick it up. From memory i do recall a 'citrus' characteristic lingering, very low however. Maybe its the sublety of the hop flavour among other things creating the perception you have. As i have said, the water profile for this beer is pretty middle of the road with nothing OTT so really it shouldnt have anything detectable/standout as an actual addition.

 

[manticle]

#6: Citymorgue2: Aussie Gold Digger Lager

Golden- Amber colour, slight maltiness on the nose, fluffy head and lacing.

Fairly clear

Full bodied, malty and full rich mouthfeel.

Interestingly, despite being quite a different beer, I get a similar perception to fourstar's in terms of a kind of saltiness. I don't know if this is the best way to describe it and again it works with the beer - it kind of feels like it's working to quench the thirst. Just not sure what it is I'm detecting. If you've made no additions to your water then obviously I'm way off the mark and it's down to something else.

I can't detect a massive amount of hops although it does have a very pleasant lingering bitterness which balances with the malt. Very slight yeast character at the end of some of the sips. Not estery.
I reckon all the beers I've tried thus far (bar one) have been free of any discernible faults and are a testament to the skills of some good brewers. These beers would certainly dispel the myth that homebrew is a second rate way of saving a few bucks.

My understanding is that faults are pretty hard to hide behind these kinds of pale beers too.

 

[WarmBeer]

4pm in the afternoon, and Manticle is 2 longnecks into the case swap tasting.

Sooooooo frickin jealous right now h34r:

 

[manticle]

A rarity believe me. I found out at 4.30 pm yesterday that my services would not be required today as we'd run ourselves out of work by hanging all the paintings too quickly.

The wonderful life of a casual employee. I'd take the work over the early start time.

 

[notung]

BOTTLE BOMB BEWARE!


This morning I went into the shed to find bottle bomb shrapnel from my hefe. I really advise tasters to take precautions by putting this bottle in the fridge or perhaps gingerly opening up seal and recapping(?). I'm sorry if this has caused anyone grief!

I carbonated high - but I didn't think that high! The bottles that exploded in the shed were ******, thinner stubbies so maybe it's not that bad. Please take precautions anyway and shield up while handling the hefe!

 

[manticle]

Thanks for the warning - no 13 has now been wrapped tightly in glad wrap. Hope it doesn't explode though as I'm looking forward to trying this one.

 

[Wonderwoman]

PS. Put you back on Wonderwoman.

thanks kenlock

#1 Kleiny's Munich Helles
my bottle had low carbonation, there was almost no head, but I still enjoyed it. I didn't take notes (sorry) so I'm using other peoples comments to jog my memory...
beautiful golden colour with good clarity. Nice subtle malt aroma. A hint of sweetness with a pleasant bitterness on the finish.
very enjoyable. Not the sort of style that would normally be my first choice, but I could easily picture myself drinking this all afternoon on a hot summers day

 

[Kleiny]

Yep sorry about the carb thing guys looks a bit hit and miss.

Never using a CFBF again (hunks of #$@%)

Easier just to fill straight from fermenter

Kleiny

 

[Fents]

Yep sorry about the carb thing guys looks a bit hit and miss.

Never using a CFBF again (hunks of #$@%)

Easier just to fill straight from fermenter

Kleiny

yep i hear that!

just undid all my taps and fiitings. my gosh i nearly vomited. brown **** everywhere and you know what it had that exact same lactic smell the beer has. currently soaking in potasium metabisolphate.

lesson learned in a very public way.

 

[brendo]

yep i hear that!

just undid all my taps and fiitings. my gosh i nearly vomited. brown **** everywhere and you know what it had that exact same lactic smell the beer has. currently soaking in potasium metabisolphate.

lesson learned in a very public way.

easily done mate... and not a trap you will fall into again in a hurry!! I've got mine in the fridge and will probably sample it tonight.

 

[Fourstar]

yep i hear that!
just undid all my taps and fiitings. my gosh i nearly vomited. brown **** everywhere and you know what it had that exact same lactic smell the beer has. currently soaking in potasium metabisolphate.
lesson learned in a very public way.

Looks like i guessed it in one! Only because i almost found out the hard way like yourself fents! :icon_cheers:

 

[Fourstar]

BOTTLE BOMB BEWARE!

OK, Fourstar has saved the day on Dingos and Hairofthedogs swaps (thanks for the Hefe Fents! )

I recapped the lucky number 13 bottles. The let off a marginal 'hiss' nothing extravagant. I'd say notung you just had a single bottle overprimed/infected. Unless you bulk primed i dont see these being super carbonated anytime soon.

Dont be too concerned at this point, all 4 i had were not about to pop their top.

I'll be tasting one tonight for true carbonation. :icon_cheers:

 

[zebba]

The let off a marginal 'hiss' nothing extravagant.

Ditto.

Now, onto the biz...

#19 Fents Cream Ale

Opening the bottle reveals almost no hiss. Is it carbed? I start pouring, and same issue - no carb, no head, at all.

Take a mouthfull and I get a pleasant sweet flavour, but not much else. This is strange.

I'm drinking slowly, as my son is hasn't seen daddy in a couple of days and wants my attention, so it's now 10 minutes later. The glass has warmed up a little, and all of a sudden there's bubble. Tipping the glass is leaving some lacing behind on the glass and generating some small head. Flavour has also taken off - there is still that sweetness, but there is also a bitterness at the front which disappears quickly. As it warms more, the bitterness comes out more, and lingers longer. The malt also goes from being sweet to being a bit toastier. If I was going to compare it I'd say it was like an ale version of a "Boags Premium".

And I'm not sure what the smell is... I've never smelt anything like it. I can detect a little of the lactic smell that Brewmeister79 mentioned, but it's definitely in the background. I didn't detect any of that in the tasting though.

I'm thinking my fridge is a bit cold, so I'll be adjusting that for future beverages. The initial thoughts were very underwhealming, but as it warmed it took on a lot more depth and character. Unfortunate that just as I was starting to enjoy it, it ran out.

 

[Fourstar]

13. Notung - bloodorange honey hefeweizen - drink 7 December or after - POSSIBLE BOTTLE BOMB BEWARE!

Ok, so i decided to drink today to test it considering there was an explosion. i'll give my score, true as of drinking it today. (i have two bottles thanks to fents so i'll judge again after the 7th of dec. )

*Im judging as a specialty hefeweizen. expecting to have blood orange aroma/flavour characteristics. possibly some colour.


Very low phenols detected, no esters. A fresh doughy bready characteristic with some light yeast aromas. No hops or detectable citrus or raspberry tart aromas (as blood orange somtimes has).
Score: 5/12


Straw to light gold in appearance, light haze and was attempted to be poured without excessive yeast, head retention very poor, non existant. No sprizy CO2 characteristics, no moussy head on pour.
Score: 1/3


Light citrus flavour fills the palate, not hop derived, true citrus. Some yeasty doughiness compliments the citrus note. Has a background pilsner malt sweetness, clove Phenols present in the flavour and quite prominent, Finishes with heavy clove detracting somewhat from the initial impressions.
Score: 12/20


Moderate motuhfeel with a low carbonation, the palate finishes quite full due to low carbonation. Unfortuantly this lacks the dry spritzy palate which is true to style of a weizen
Score: 1/5


Unfortunatly the low carbonation, lack of yeast profile on the nose are the major downfall in this beer. Requires more balance and higher carbonation to be true to style. these characteristics when lacking make this beer full, cloying and hard to palate. Lacks sessionability that a refreshing weizen has. No fermentation falts present.

Recipe suggestions: Blood organe needs to be increased to 'pop' above the yeast derived aromas and prominant doughyness that is usually derived from wheat malt and/or bottled yeast. Some minor tweaking on the ferment temperature to achieve a balance of clove/banana esters is prefered. Hold at middle of the range of the manufacturers specs for the entire fermentation period.

Check priming rates for carbonation of bottles and increase blood orange zest/juice to help this characteristic stand out.
Score: 3/10

Overall Score: 22/50

 

[seemax]

I've been getting into a few sour beers and ciders recently so I've been trying to rack my brains for how to make this work but I don't really think it suits. Somewhere along the line, a vinegar infection has taken hold. Hopefully it's just my bottle.

Apologies to all, I have just sampled my beer and it appears to have vinegarised, my only guess is infection. I had another infection at the same time, my first infections since brewing. It appears to be caused by me trying to make the most of my yeast... damn!!

Live and learn....

 

[Fourstar]

1. Kleiny - Munich Helles - Drink Now

Faintest Sulfur aroma detectable, low esters, otherwise clean, no hop aroma detectable, muted sweet/honey husky grain aroma present.
Score: 7/12

Gold in appearance, low whispy pub foam. Quite clear with some unfortunate protein/trub/hop matter present. Otherwise presents beautifuly
Score: 2/3

Malty doughy malt flavour fills the palate, finish is lightly toasty with some melanoiden breadcrust flavours apparent, hop flavour is minimal. Supporting bitterness is present. Rather clean palate, some slight mineral, possibly yeast derived falvours apparent. Finish is sweet and grainy.
Score: 15/20

Moderate mouthfeel, low carbonation, drying on the tongue, lingering mellow bitterness and sweet malt.
Score: 4/5

A decent representation of the style, only pitfalls may possibly be the choice of yeast strain or the fermentation temperature/pitching rates. Need to keep the sulfur production and esters down. The benchmark of this style is a clean, low hopped, malty pils like lager.

Upon evaluation, this beer may be more suited to the standard or permium american styles due to the yeast profile assoicated with this beer. If you control the ester and sulfur production, a clean top scoring Munich helles will be the result!
Score: 7/10

Overall Score: 35/50

 

[Supra-Jim]

5. Fourstar - Reunification Express Viet Rice Lager

Very nice pale straw colour, was a touch hazy, and poured with a nice fluffy head, which lingered shortly, settling to a nice low head that lasted the entire glass.

Very clean on the nose. Finished nice and dry on palate and a very well balanced beer.

Very sessionable, and a great beer, well done 4*!!

Cheers SJ

 

[WarmBeer]

1. Kleiny - Munich Helles

Enough has been said about this beer to know it's a good beer.

I was lucky and manged to get one with a decent bit of carb, and kept a small, but consistent head. Colour is beautiful, love the subtle hop aroma, and the honey/malt flavour.

Best beer of the swap, so far

Thanks Kleiny.

 

[zebba]

1. Kleiny - Munich Helles

Fridge was still too cold, so it poured with no head again. Crystal clear. Very mild carb which represents the only negative I could detect - a little more would have been nice, but it certainly isn't a big red cross. Once I let it warm up a bit, some real nice malt flavours started to come through. A very easy drinker, professionally presented. Could drink this one all day. So far I've been incredibly impressed with all of Kleiny's beers - keep up the good work

 

[Wonderwoman]

Apologies to all, I have just sampled my beer and it appears to have vinegarised, my only guess is infection. I had another infection at the same time, my first infections since brewing. It appears to be caused by me trying to make the most of my yeast... damn!!

Live and learn....

I tried this last night and my bottle was infected too . That's really unfortunate timing. If you have some from another batch I'd be happy to try it though

 

[brettprevans]

last night I tasted.....ummm nothing. GOD DAMN IT! why am i torturing myself with this thread.

well definitewly seems that Kleiny munich is leading the way by the reviews.
4*'s 'love you long time' larger is exectly as it is meant to be. nothing more, nothing less.
Notung - sounds like you should tweak and resubmit at a future caseswap as you might have a winner on your hands.
Fents - tough break. thank for demomstrating to us the need to clean our taps. That's the real reason you did it wasnt it just to help us.

a note to tasters. mine (#6) is filled straight from the keg to the bottle so carb levels wont be as high as they should. hence the drink now. otherwise it can last ages. its been happily lagering in the keg for about 3 months now.

I expect to see a lot of tasting posts with the weekend upon us.

 

[Kleiny]

I tried this last night and my bottle was infected too . That's really unfortunate timing. If you have some from another batch I'd be happy to try it though

The same.

This is the only swap i have opened so far and i do have notes on it i just have not had the time to post them yet.

Just had Acetlealdehyde all through on the aroma and flavour.

I will post the notes soon

Kleiny

 

[Brewmeister70]

#10 Manticle's Robust Porter (Tried this last night and not working today )

Clear translucent light brown. Medium light tan head. Possibly a bit pale?

Medium intensity roast malt on the nose, low -level earthy hops and minimal yeast character (some banana ester as it warms). Quite clean and inviting.

Very good balance of malt to hop bitterness with both still there at the finish. This seemingly low-gravity version of the style finishes dry with a light to medium body. The subtle banana flavour from the yeast reminds me of Coopers yeast. This seems to be a subtle and very well-balanced version of robust porter with just enough roast malt to lend a dry chocolate character without getting into coffee-type roasted malt flavours. Crystal malt character is also well-judged lending a supporting malt sweetness through the middle without sacrificing a dry finish.

This is a highly drinkable session-style porter that has won me over with its balance and uncomplicated expression of the ingredients. My guess is that this won't be the last time you make this beer, Manticle.

Cheers :super:

 

[Hutch]

...various computers at home are out of action, so I'll be posting delayed tasing notes from memory...

24. Wonderwoman - summer ale

LOVED the lable WW!!! Gave me a laugh...

Pale gold, good carb, very good head retention, a little hazy, though it has only been 3 weeks in the bottle.
The nose was, as expected, pungent - great hop combination, really works well in a summer ale. You dry-hopped this with Galaxy /NS right? Not grassy or over the top, as I would have expected for 30gm of these varieties.
No evident fermentation flaws - very clean, no fusels or acetaldehyde (I'm quite impressed, because I always get green apples with US-05).
The flavour is again dominated by fruity hops, minimal grain flavour, dry and crisp.
Mouth feel was towards dry, though I detect a slight lingering sweet'n'sour from the extract that detracts somewhat from the clean ferment.

For an extract beer this is a credit to you WW.
Perhaps the only suggestion I would make is to balance the prominent hopping with some more malt character and sweetness, subbing in a fair whack of Munich 1, and perhaps a touch of Cara. High %aa varieties like Galaxy and NS can lend a certain astringency, which can seem out of balance with little malt and a dry finish. Otherwise, I think you're on a real winner there...
...and not a touch of Golden Syrup!!!

:icon_cheers:
Hutch.

 

[manticle]

#10 Manticle's Robust Porter (Tried this last night and not working today )

Clear translucent light brown. Medium light tan head. Possibly a bit pale?

Medium intensity roast malt on the nose, low -level earthy hops and minimal yeast character (some banana ester as it warms). Quite clean and inviting.

Very good balance of malt to hop bitterness with both still there at the finish. This seemingly low-gravity version of the style finishes dry with a light to medium body. The subtle banana flavour from the yeast reminds me of Coopers yeast. This seems to be a subtle and very well-balanced version of robust porter with just enough roast malt to lend a dry chocolate character without getting into coffee-type roasted malt flavours. Crystal malt character is also well-judged lending a supporting malt sweetness through the middle without sacrificing a dry finish.

This is a highly drinkable session-style porter that has won me over with its balance and uncomplicated expression of the ingredients. My guess is that this won't be the last time you make this beer, Manticle.

Cheers :super:

Very glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the feedback. My initial impression when it was fermenting was that it was paler than I'd aimed for, despite caramelising a portion of first runnings (basically to a thick dark toffee) and adding some steeped, boiled spec malt liquor a day or so into ferment. I didn't want it to be black like a stout nor brown like a brown ale but that balance may have been missed.

I'll certainly be having another crack at this and I'll be tweaking based on comments received like these.

Interesting about the perceived gravity - my initial recipe calculates around 6.1% (og 1063,). I think my actual gravity was slightly less (maybe 1057) due to getting a higher volume but it also finished a few points lower than expected so I would hazard between 5 and 6% abv.

 

[Wonderwoman]

24. Wonderwoman - summer ale

LOVED the lable WW!!! Gave me a laugh...

thanks for the comments and advice hutch.

as for the label - when I read that description of Mother Bunch - I knew it had to be my brewery name! :lol:

edit: "You dry-hopped this with Galaxy /NS right?" yes

 

[brettprevans]

well guys and gals ive had some feedback on my contribution and it looks like we might have an interesting situation.
I had 2 kegs of my beer. started drinking from keg #1 and it was great. but it meant that i ran out before i could finish bottling. so i hooked up keg #2 and finished bottling.

now the feedback ive had is that there was something wrong with my beer. so it may be that the #2 keg had an infection. so those who got bottles from #1 keg will hopefully get good beer. sorry to those who get #2 keg bottles (if thats the case). I suppose it could have been a bottle issue rather than a keg issue. i gues we will see.

good news is that less than half (maybe even only 1/4) of the swap bottles came from #2keg. I will go home tonight and investigate what #2 keg tastes like from the tap as I havent tried it yet.

 

[manticle]

I got a good one.

Seems to be a few infections already. What's happening there brewers?

 

[Maple]

I see you're having a bit of difficulty keeping away from the beer, perhaps I can store those kegs for you....just trying to help mate...

 

[brettprevans]

I see you're having a bit of difficulty keeping away from the beer, perhaps I can store those kegs for you....just trying to help mate...

I havent had a drink in a couple of weeks (ok bar the case swap). i'll only go home and have a 60ml test sample. besides you've got my keg of golden rye at your place

hook in