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Linux and Beer Brews

This brew turned out just as good as the first ESB. It was a hit with the guys at work. I ended up giving most of it away because everyone liked it so much. Of the few bottles that I kept, some had a Lacto infection and some did not. I attribute this to poor sanitization when I was cleaning bottles. I will be sure to sanitize the bottles a bit longer on future batches. The remaining bottles turned out very good in flavor and fizz.. too much fizz really. I am thinking next time I should use less sugar and use malt sugar instead Hopefully that will provide for smaller bubbles. Also 1oz of Chinook hops makes it slightly too bitter. I should cut back to .75 oz instead.

Fermentation seems to have peaked, and is starting to subside. Sanitizing solution in catch bucket is brown. About a quart of beer was forced out of the BOT. Will remove BOT and install airlock soon.

Signs of fermentation. I can see a few bubbles sliding up the side of the carboy.

Final SG 1.040 @ 66F

I missed SG by a lot. I need to calculate how much sugar I should add for the future.. also forgot to add yeast nutrients, and irish moss to the boil.

3.75 lbs Coopers real ale
3.3 lbs Breiss Golden Light Liquid malt extract
1 lbs 60L Crystal Malt
1 oz Northern Brewer whole hops – 60min
1 oz cascade Hope – 25 mins
.5 oz cascade at end of boil

Steeped Crystal malt in a grain bag in 2 gallons of water until water was almost at a boil, then added 3.3lbs Breiss malt extract and brought to a boil. Added 1 oz of northern brewer 15 min after boil began. Added Coopers real ale kit 50 mins after boil began. Added 1 oz cascade hops once boil resumed. Turned off heat at 75 min mark and added .5 oz Cascade hops then let steep for 10 mins. Total boil time was 75 mins

Wort starter completed and Yeast Pitched. Starter wort – 2 liters filtered tap water , 6 oz malt sugar, 1/2 tsp wyeast yeast nutrients, 4 northern brewer hops flowers. boiled for 15 min.

Activated Wyeast 1056 America Ale yeast.

I did not really like this as much as I was hoping. Thinking back on this one, I think that it may have had a lacto bateria infection. The taste was definately off. If I make it again I will have to be more careful with sanitation and probably add the honey to the boil during the last 10-15 mins. This recipe definately needs more honey.

To try for round 2

6.6 lb Amber Extract
2.00 lb 2 row pale malt
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt – 90-120L
1.00 lb Dark Brown Sugar
1.00 lb Honey (Boil 10 mins)

2.00 oz Northern Brewer – 60 mins
2.00 oz Cascade 15 – mins
1.00 oz kent Goldings 5 – mins
1.00 OZ kent Goldings 0 – mins

.5 tsp Ginger – 10 minutes
.5 tsp Allspice – 10 minutes
.5 tsp Nutmeg – 10 minutes
1 tsp Cinnamon – 10 minutes
1 tsp Grated Orange Peel – 10 minutes
1 Dash of ground cloves – 10 minutes
1 Vanilla Bean – 5 mins

Taste is even better now. Hops flavor is mellowing just a tad. Carbonation is now quit good, but not too much. A pour down the center of the glass brings up a small head that stays until the bottom of the glass. Foam stays up and clings to the side of the glass like lace. I am happy with this one.

Taste is good, After taste is a bit strange not bad.. just hops flavor profile is strange. Hops flavor fades from Citrusy(grapefruit) to bitter. Not overly bitter really. I guess  it just seems thin compared to my ESB.