Wicklow Wolf would like to Challenge NHC Clubs and members to brew a beer at their Hop Location in Roundwood using Fresh Green Hops.
Because of timing we need you to have a quick think and confirm if this is something you would be interested in doing as a club or an individual. If there is enough interest at club level it stays with the NHC.
The provisional date for this event is Sat 23rd of September but may be subject to change if the hops are slow finishing in the coming weeks.
Please only put your name down only if your sure you can participate
The Process
It's a team event, each team can have from 1 to 4 members, as long as you bring your gear to brew on.
We can accomodate up to 10 teams brewing on the day.
The location is 20 minutes from the M11/M50 interchange.
Electricity will be provided. If you need more than 13Amps please advise.
Wicklow Wolf will provide MCI Pale malt as a base malt.
If you need Pilsner you will have to bring it along yourself.
You can use any speciality malts (dont need to be Irish) that you want, again just provide them yourself.
Hint: Focus on your malt bill for fresh hop ales.
They have also asked that we use dry yeast as they want to see us actually sprinkling it into the wort. Of course, WW will provide the yeast. Let us know in advance so we can get it for you. Shoot me a PM.
All water will be provided to brew and chill with and you will have the water profile in advance.
With reagrds to chilling - Chilled water will be provided to get your beer down to pitching temp. If you have any spare hose connections make sure to bring them on the day - you may not need them but you are better off looking at them than looking for them. That comes from experience of brewing with my gear in other peoples houses etc.
The teams present themselves and are told by Simon Lynch the owner of the farm and Co-Director of Wicklow Wolf what is good to go on the day.
In advance you will be given a list of hops that are currently growing at the farm.
The teams (Individuals will get help) will then take down the bines and pick what is required for their boil.
Brewing software can be used but won't be supplied.
You bring on the day any brewing equipment and gear you require to brew a beer including a fermenter.
The preference for space and electricity requirements is to bring a one pot vessel system but if you brew on gas that is fine to but you need to bring everything.
On the day there will be Wicklow Wolf beers and a BBQ supplied to all present. You can bring along friends/partners we just need to know in advance to plan and they will be asked to help you pick your own hops.
We know that some of you will have to drive and there will be a drivers pack to allow you enjoy beer at home for your sacrifice.
You take your wort away and ferment and then bring bottles back to or have them collected to be judged in the brewery 4-6 weeks later, an event you are welcome to attend if you entered.
So what do I win?
Brewing related Prizes will be announced later, there will be a King/Queen of the Green Hop Trophy and the recipe may be used as the base for the 2018 crop but more importantly you will have bragging rights over your fellow clubs.
Folks we know we have a lot of competitions on at the moment but this will be a great leveller and a test of brewing your skills as a team and best of all, great crack.
Go and get researching Wet Hop Ales!
Any questions Comments Thoughts or Observations?
Entrants
1. GCB Greenies
heres a good post to get you started ...
http://beersmith.com/blog/2016/03/22/using-fresh-wet-hops-in-home-brewed-beer/ (http://beersmith.com/blog/2016/03/22/using-fresh-wet-hops-in-home-brewed-beer/)
Any idea start time?
Start time will be early, we are looking at noon.
Early start, early finish etc. with darker evenings coming in.
Entrants
1. GCB Greenies
2. North County
Do you need to be affiliated with a club or can you take part as a stand alone team?
Members clubs only to begin with and if not enough interest then we'll spread it further afield
but we'd like you to represent an area or club
That's fair enough. I'm not gonna try to represent a club I'm not a member of so can I put my name of the list if you are going to extend it?
Cheers
By all means put your name down and if we extend it then we will contact you.
Where are you based? Is there a club near you?
Based in Dublin. Near enough to where the Capital Brewers meet up is.
Maybe give the lads in Capital a shout too?
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/capital-brewers/ (http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/capital-brewers/)
So I guess dry hopping won't be possible unless you can take some hops home to freeze? Or would freezing green hops affect the oils/aroma?
And would be possible to know alpha acids? I guess judging by the variety you should be able to measure within ballpark anyway.
Great idea & great opportunity for brewers who can make it.
Quote from: Flanagan on August 29, 2017, 02:17:28 PM
So I guess dry hopping won't be possible unless you can take some hops home to freeze? Or would freezing green hops affect the oils/aroma?
And would be possible to know alpha acids? I guess judging by the variety you should be able to measure within ballpark anyway.
Great idea & great opportunity for brewers who can make it.
That's what makes this competition different - its a great opportunity to
think brew outside the box.
Hops should always be stored in the freezer after drying and sealing, just like you do after buying them from a homebrew shop.
There is plenty of info out there on how to use, harvest, store etc. Fresh Hops. For example
https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/how-to-brew/how-to-harvest-prepare-and-store-homegrown-hops/ (https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/how-to-brew/how-to-harvest-prepare-and-store-homegrown-hops/)
1. GCB Greenies
2. North County
3. Hopper Job
Team Hopper Job = 1 Capital Brewer + 1 Clubless NHC member
Nice one.
Can we be guaranteed that if the event will still be on a Saturday in the event of a rescheduling? If not can't attend as have a birthday party on the the Sunday's.
Shanna
The event, if date is changed, will still be a Saturday.
1. GCB Greenies
2. North County
3. Hopper Job
4. Munster expat brewers
Team Hopper Job = 1 Capital Brewer + 1 Clubless NHC member
Team Munster expat brewers = Mr & Mrs Dave Conde - Wexford club + Declan O'Shanahan - South Dublin brewers
1. GCB Greenies
2. North County
3. Hopper Job
4 Munster expat brewers
5 South Central (There is only one of us able to participate tho)
Willing to move over if there are bigger teams wanting to brew
Thanks Shanna & Donny for adding to the list.
Loving the team name Shanna ;D
Donny, having only one member is fine. Any single participants will br given help with hop bines etc on the day.
Just a little update:
Brewing area (to put your equipment on) will be roughly the size of a standard Euro pallet. If you need more room let us know so we can have it ready but that's the size we are working with for now.
It's a friendly competition too so if you want to bring a mate or two on the day feel free, just let us know beforehand. Nobody's wants to be a lone wolf 🐺.
Wicklow Wolf, as well as hosting this, are kindly offering free drinks and food on the day so they do need to know, beforehand, how many are coming.
There are more teams entering that haven't been added to the above list so if you are thinking of entering now is the time to do so.
1. GCB Greenies
2. North County
3. Hopper Job
4 Munster expat brewers
5 South Central
6. Wooden Skull brewers (1 full NHC member and two non members)
Can't wait, see yous all there.
1. GCB Greenies
2. North County
3. Hopper Job
4 Munster expat brewers
5 South Central
6. Wooden Skull brewers (1 full NHC member and two non members)
7. Liffey Brewers
Nice one lads!
1. GCB Greenies
2. North County
3. Hopper Job
4. Munster expat brewers
5. Wooden Skull brewers (1 full NHC member and two non members)
6. Liffey Brewers
South Central has to pull out. Family stuff on that weekend now :-[ :'(
1. GCB Greenies
2. North County
3. Hopper Job
4. Munster expat brewers
5. Wooden Skull brewers (1 full NHC member and two non members)
6. Liffey Brewers
7. Capital Brewers
No worries Donny.
Cheers KDeath.
Original Post has been updated.
Have a quick read and let me know if you have any questions on the update.
is a Bulldog, plus a brewferm kettle to heat sparge water ok?
Yep, not a bother Des.
Two packs of dried yeast Colin? Also recommendation is to hydrate yeast in warm water & leave activate for around 30 minutes before pitching. Is there any guidance in the type of hops that may be available?
Shanna
Colin our brewing team will be three people plus two additional interested spectators. Is five people going to be too much?
Shanna
Let us know what your recipe requires, expected OG should indicate if you need 1 or 2 sachets. Its recommended to rehydrate before pitching.
I'll enquire about how the hops are getting on and what varieties look like will be ready for 23rd.
3 brewers and 2 spectators is fine. Once we know beforehand is the main thing.
Hop Update:
Perle will be ready first but it may have to be harvested before the 23rd.
Cascade and Brambling Cross should be ready.
Quote from: fishjam45 (Colin) on September 11, 2017, 03:18:13 PM
Let us know what your recipe requires, expected OG should indicate if you need 1 or 2 sachets. Its recommended to rehydrate before pitching.
I'll enquire about how the hops are getting on and what varieties look like will be ready for 23rd.
3 brewers and 2 spectators is fine. Once we know beforehand is the main thing.
Irrespective of OG I would advise using two packs, certainly its what I use @home myself with dried yeast. As its outdoors and sanitation could be an issue I think its advisable to have a lot of yeast to colonise the wort asap.
Shanna
Grand, please advise of what yeast is needed so we can get it for you.
Yeast:
Lads, can you let me know what dry yeast you need so we can get it in time for brewday?
Grain:
Grain will be crushed, on the day, up in Roundwood. You dont need to bring your own mill, we will have one there.
(Remember, Wicklow Wolf are providing MCI Pale as a base - you need to bring your own speciality malts.)
Water:
If you want, you can bring your own pre-treated water if you are happier with that?
Enough water will be there on the day for all, we are just giving an extra option for everyone.
Thanks in advance,
Colin
YEAST:
Just a quick list of who has told me what yeast they need.
If you haven't, please do so soon to give us time to get your yeast for you.
1. GCB Greenies - YES
2. North County
3. Hopper Job - YES
4. Munster expat brewers - YES
5. Wooden Skull brewers (1 full NHC member and two non members)
6. Liffey Brewers
7. Capital Brewers
Any idea what the water profile is? Or is it RO? Cheers!
Water profile, excuse the pun, is in the pipeline.
1. GCB Greenies - YES
2. North County
3. Hopper Job - YES
4. Munster expat brewers - YES
5. Wooden Skull brewers (1 full NHC two non NHC ) - YES
6. Liffey Brewers
7. Capital Brewers
Just need the last 3 teams to decide on their yeast.
1. GCB Greenies - YES
2. North County
3. Hopper Job - YES
4. Munster expat brewers - YES
5. Wooden Skull brewers (1 full NHC two non NHC ) - YES
6. Liffey Brewers - YES
7. Capital Brewers
Lads,
We are going to give you until Wednesday as a cut off point to tell us what dry yeast you require.
If you don't tell us by then you will have to supply your own dry yeast.
Cheers,
Colin
1. GCB Greenies - YES
2. North County - YES
3. Hopper Job - YES
4. Munster expat brewers - YES
5. Wooden Skull brewers (1 full NHC two non NHC ) - YES
6. Liffey Brewers - YES
7. Capital Brewers
Lads,
We are going to give you until Wednesday as a cut off point to tell us what dry yeast you require.
If you don't tell us by then you will have to supply your own dry yeast.
Capital Lads, just you guys left ...
Cheers,
Colin
Update:
It has been discussed and Wicklow Wolf will be offering a magnum leaf/pellet bittering addition if required by any entrants.
All other hop additions will be wet hop additions harvested on the day.
This is just so entrants can nail down the AA% for a 60 minute addition. If you are happy to use wet hop only additions on the day then please feel free too - this is just another option for you.
Cheers,
Colin
As mentioned through PM, Capital Brewers will unfortunately not be participating. Good luck to everyone!
Thanks for letting us know KDeath.
Nice link from beerandbrewing:
https://beerandbrewing.com/taste-the-freshness/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_source=autopilot&utm_content=taste-the-freshness&utm_term=091917-edit (https://beerandbrewing.com/taste-the-freshness/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_source=autopilot&utm_content=taste-the-freshness&utm_term=091917-edit)
Team Update:
GCB have rallied the troops and come up with 3 different teams.
1. GCB Greenies
2. North County
3. Hopper Job
4. Munster expat brewers
5. Wooden Skull brewers
6. Liffey Brewers
7. GCB Team 2
8. GCB Team 3
Colin can you confirm the kickoff time and also the address for Saturday?
Thanks,
Shanna
All details will be confirmed shortly although kick off is looking to be 12.
Can all teams please confirm numbers?
Good evening,
Its been decided to move the location of Saturdays event from the Hop Farm in Roundwood to The Wicklow Wolf Brewery, in Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Reason being is that the Wicklow Wolf guys want this to be an enjoyable event for everyone and they dont think that'll happen up in the Roundwood Hills going by the weather forecast. Apologies to anybody who had their heart set on brewing on the farm but its just too risky with the weather.
The Hops will instead be harvested on Friday evening and brought down to the brewery for us to brew with on the Saturday morning. If anybody still wants to see the hop farm they are more than welcome to come up and give a hand harvesting on friday evening, although we dont expect anyone to give up anymore time than they have already committed too.
The wet hops available for Saturday will be Cascade.
We'll be in the brewery from 11.30am if anybody wants to get in and start getting set up, no panic if you are going to be a little later as we know people are travelling.
As the location has changed so has the water profile. The new water profile will be available within 24 hours.
We ask that numbers be capped now as food and drinks (the moving of the venue to the brewery helped) have been organised.
Thanks all, any questions, no doubt there will be a few, post them here or PM me.
No bother :) That's the same place they've always been, they haven't moved yet? Is there a recommended spot to park near there as I seem to remember it being double yellow all round :)
What time is it kicking off?
Cheers Colin. Is Cascade the only hop available on Saturday or will there be others?
Quote from: Pheeel on September 20, 2017, 09:21:10 PM
No bother :) That's the same place they've always been, they haven't moved yet? Is there a recommended spot to park near there as I seem to remember it being double yellow all round :)
What time is it kicking off?
I just checked the Dart station in Bray and the car park has 70 spots. According to this link €4.50 will get you a spot for 24 hours - https://en.parkopedia.ie/parking/carpark/bray_daly_dart_station-1/bray/?arriving=201709210000&leaving=201709210200.
Personally planning to rock up with the car drop off what I need to the brewery and then drop the car off to the car park.
Shanna
Yep, the brewery is still in the same place as its always been.
We'll be in the brewery from 11.30am if anybody wants to get in and start getting set up, no panic if you are going to be a little later as we know people are travelling.
Cascade is looking to be the only hop on Saturday, yes. There might be few bines of EKG.
There are 2 other options for parking close by - Florence Road car park is closer than the dart and has a lot more spaces. There is also a Tesco Extra in the Boulevard Shopping Centre opposite the Brewery, you might be able to sneak in a spot there too. It'll be best to pull up to the Brewery in the morning, drop off your gear and one of us will go with you and find a spot.
We are going to definitely have to cap it now for teams and team member numbers. We've got 30 brewers there on the day now.
Happy days, looking forward to it now. Anymore questions then fire away.
Thanks,
Colin
Just a little reminder for you guys to bring any hose connections you have for connecting up chillers. Better to be looking at them than looking for them on the day.
Bring an electric extension reel too just to make setting up and layout easier also.
Heated mash water will be provided on the day as we are going to be in the brewery.
Water Profile will be ready this evening.
Quote from: fishjam45 (Colin) on September 21, 2017, 02:06:55 PM
Just a little reminder for you guys to bring any hose connections you have for connecting up chillers. Better to be looking at them than looking for them on the day.
Is it a male, female or screw connection we need?
Bring whatever you have, between us we'll have whatever's needed.
As I said, it's just a precaution, but better to be prepared.
Here's the water profile for Saturdays brewing water:
Ph 7.5
CA 60
MG 7
NA 27
So4 59
Cl 34
HcO3 320
I've attached a .bsmx file too (Thanks Pob)
Quote from: fishjam45 (Colin) on September 21, 2017, 02:06:55 PM
Just a little reminder for you guys to bring any hose connections you have for connecting up chillers. Better to be looking at them than looking for them on the day.
Bring an electric extension reel too just to make setting up and layout easier also.
Heated mash water will be provided on the day as we are going to be in the brewery.
Water Profile will be ready this evening.
Great news that we won't have to heat water, means that I can leave the mini burco boiler at home and should be able to clean things properly without having to wait for water to boil. Thanks for the reminder about the hose connectors etc.
Shanna
I've PM'D a bittering hop surprise to everyone, if you didnt get it then let me know.
http://www.wicklowwolf.com/ready-steady-brew
#readysteadybrew
Thanks for organizing. Great day. I'm knackered...
Great competition very well run. Thanks
Great work lads. Was a very enjoyable day. Was sorry I had to dash off cos would have loved to hang around for few pints.
See ye all again in few weeks ya?
Cheers lads, thanks to all who made the effort to come out to Bray. It turned out to be a really successful day.
We will organise the tasting/judging in the next few weeks, try put out a date that suits most people.
I'll stick up some photos later.
Thanks again everybody.
pics
more
more
more
3 of 4 Grainfathers that were brewing on the day
and finally, what the day was all about ...
Thanks to everybody who made the effort to travel to the Wicklow Wolf brewery. It was great crack doing the brewing & seeing all the different gear. Loved the burgers & the beer was great from all accounts (was writing myself). Thanks to the guys in GCB who organised it (ye know who ye are).
Looking forward to getting the train down for the beer tasting & quietly confident our "Hop Scotch Ale" will hold it's own against all of the "Grain Fathered" beers.
Hope to see you all again in a few weeks.
Shanna
Lads, did anybody find an electrical lead and a Bluetooth headset?
Pm me if you picked them up, cheers
Kegging my entry tonight
How's everyone else's doing?
Quote from: fishjam45 (Colin) on October 04, 2017, 08:04:49 PM
Kegging my entry tonight
How's everyone else's doing?
Jaysus that is quick only 11 days. Hoping to keg mime on Monday next week.
Shanna
11 days would be about right actually. I tend to leave mine 2 weeks, for average strength beers, but I could keg at day 10/11 if I had my shit together.
My sh*t is together this week, only because I'm brewing this Friday though ;)
Our one has turned out well. Going into bottles this weekend.
Quote from: imark on October 05, 2017, 03:15:55 PM
Our one has turned out well. Going into bottles this weekend.
Surprised its not getting time in a barrel first. :D
Quote from: imark on October 05, 2017, 03:15:55 PM
Our one has turned out well. Going into bottles this weekend.
Will you have enough time to bottle condition the beer?
Fishjam any word/idea of when the beers are expected to be judged?
Shanna
Pencil in Saturday 11th November for the judging and prize giving.
Feedback from the beers made is very good - entrants seem very happy with what was brewed on the day. Judging will be tight :)
More details to follow.
Sample tasted tonight :)
Looks good
Quote from: fishjam45 (Colin) on October 11, 2017, 09:13:14 PM
Sample tasted tonight :)
How was it? On an unrelated note would any of the participants who are going to be there on the 11th of November be interested in doing a bottle swap? Idea would be bring bottles along & exchange one with each of the other teams. You then end up taking a sample of each of the beers away with you.
Will start a list. If your interested please add your name below.
1. Shanna - Hop Scotch ale - 4.3%
Shanna
I'm happy with how it's turned out so far - nice balance between the malt and fresh hops. Not too much green/chlorophyll at all.
Good idea about the bottle swap.
1. Shanna - Hop Scotch Ale - 4.3%
2. fishjam45 - Wet Hop Oatmeal Stout
Judging will take place next Saturday 11th from 12-2.30pm in the brewery.
Bring your entries on the day or if you can't get there for the judging then please contact me and we can arrange collection so your entries will get there even if you can't.
More details to follow.
Any questions? Just ask.
Good morning,
I've PM'D everyone this morning. We are just trying to nail down who is coming on the day and if you aren't coming, more importantly, we need to get your entries collected off you to be judged this Saturday.
As we've only got this week to nail this down I'd appreciate if you could get back to me asap.
Thanks chaps.
If you're not in, you cant win ;)
Cheers Colin. We'll be there on the day.
Colin will be there. Is parking in the brewery entrance an option?
Shanna
I've asked the question, will report back.
There is loads of parking nearby aswell.
That shouldn't be a problem Declan.
Entries that were organised to be collected or delivered have all been organised.
Any other entries will be brought by entrants on the day.
See you all there at 12 noon this Saturday.
So, prizes ....
1st prize
Trophy
50lb bag of MCI malt
€50 Homebrew store voucher
2nd prize
1kg of 2016 Simcoe
3rd prize
1/2kg Simcoe
Ah Jaysus.
MCI have switched to metric you know.
Results are in:
1st "Any old porter in a storm" John & Ciaran Soden
2nd "Liver let Die" Wooden Skull, Red Ale
3rd "Liffey Juice" Liffey Brewers, American Porter
2nd place!! Deadly
Well done to the all who participated and especially the prize winners.
I think its safe to say that this competition will be going ahead again next year.
Before Judging
more
more