BATCH #4
IF-ITS-NOT-SCOTTISH-ITS-CRAP! ALE
(SCOTTISH ALE)
|
14.75 oz |
CHOCOLATE, BISCUIT, AND CRYSTAL GRAINS (RATIO UNKNOWN) |
|
~6 LBS |
LIGHT DRY MALT EXTRACT (BITTERING HOPS INCLUDED, SEE NEXT LINE) |
| ?? |
EROICA BITTERING HOPS, MEASURE UNKNOWN |
| .5 CUPS | CLOVER HONEY |
|
1 oz |
KENT GOLDINGS BITTER HOPS PELLETS |
|
11 g |
NOTTINGHAM ALE ACTIVE DRY BREWING YEAST (DANSTAR) |
|
A SMIDGEON |
IRISH MOSS |
|
.75 cup |
CORN SUGAR (BOTTLING) |
GRAINS STEEPED UNTIL 170�F
50% OF HOPS AT 15 MINUTES
50% OF HOPS AT 2 MINUTES
ADDED THE HONEY AT ABOUT 40 MINUTES
ADDED IRISH MOSS AT 15 MINUTES
TOOK 12 MINUTES TO COOL WORT TO 80�
TOTAL 5.5 GALLONS WORT AND TRUB
|
HYDROMETER READINGS: |
INITIAL |
SECONDARY |
BOTTLING |
|
SPECIFIC GRAVITY |
1.047 |
1.024 |
1.024 |
|
SUGAR BY VOLUME |
~16.3 oz/Gal |
~8.5 oz/Gal |
~8.5 oz/Gal |
|
POTENTIAL ALCOHOL |
6.3% |
3.2% |
3.2% |
05 MAY 2004
This is a recipe kit named "Steadfast Scottish Ale" from Homebrew Heaven, which is the company I strongly recommend. Though not the widest selection, they have great prices compared to any other I have found online or in town. The real selling point for Homebrew Heaven is their willingness to answer questions and post them on their site. I can access other peoples questions, because I want to ask the same one! I called at five in the evening once and they answered my emergency question with no sarcasm or talking down to 'the rookie' brewer. Anyway, I have modified their recipe slightly with the addition of honey.
BREW
Stirred it up as described above. Really not much to say here, except that I kept a rolling boil the entire time, unlike the others. I realized halfway through that this is a scittish ale, not a scotch ale, so I added a little honey for flavor and an extra kick. We'll see what happens.
OK, it is a scottish ale, not a scittish ale, caught that one after initial posting, but it was funny enough to leave there. By the way, the honey addition is in violation of the Reinheitsgebot. But then, I never liked the Germans ideas of 'purity'.
10 MAY 2004
Well, this batch has sat in the primary longer than any other. After going away for the weekend, having guests, and having a comprehensive exam tomorrow, it will be there almost a week. Which really means that it will have nothing to do in the secondary fermentor. I will probably move it over and just give it a day to clarify. But that will be after my final tomorrow!!
I have read more on the Reinheitsgebot, and in the original laws of the 1516 I would have been in violation. In the new law (which only vaguely resembles the original) there is a clause stating that beer brewed by private citizens for home consumption (homebrew) is exempt from the rules.
12 MAY 2004
TRANSFER TO SECONDARY FERMENTOR
Well, I finally moved it over. Nothing worth mentioning, except that the specific gravity dropped very little, and it was a little low to begin with. We'll see.
15 MAY 2004
BOTTLE
Uneventful. 52 bottles, tasted OK when I tried the extra. Used all oxygen absorbing caps, marked with a silver star. Seems very clear, I think if this one winds up clear I will try Irish Moss in the future instead of the tablets.