National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => Brewing Communities => North County Brewers => Topic started by: nigel_c on February 17, 2014, 02:00:13 PM

Title: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: nigel_c on February 17, 2014, 02:00:13 PM
As the subject line states. Has anyone had any thoughts about what and when we would like to brew for the next barrel?
From the tasting in the Boro last meet up, barrel number 2 had a much milder whiskey taste that number 1 and by the time we get the next brew in it should be very mellow.

I think we could go for something like a Belgian dubbel for the next lot. A nice simple brown ale might also work well. Both could have a quick enough turn around and be ready for next Christmas. ( I can't believe I'm thinking about Christmas already)

What do people think? What style would anyone want to see going into the barrel next?
Would everyone still want to be involved in the barrel project?
I'm just making a start on this now so we can start thinking about a timeline for barrel 2.

All ideas welcome.
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Jacob on February 17, 2014, 02:17:00 PM
Not sure about our barrel life time but here are the 3 beers that I would use it for

+1 to dubbel,
beech or oak smoked porter,
something sour
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: nigel_c on February 17, 2014, 02:25:34 PM
I think the whiskey will be mild enough for the dubbel alright. We will have to have a proper taste of the barley wine and see how much barrel is left in it.

Mmmmm barrel aged dubbel. 
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Pat_buttercups on February 17, 2014, 02:27:27 PM
im gomma say dubbel would be good
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Will_D on February 17, 2014, 02:57:22 PM
Don't forget I still have an unused (but a bit dry by now) cask!

Must give it a quick check out!
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: nigel_c on February 17, 2014, 03:50:58 PM
Group buy on the pasteurized apple juice from get er brewed and barrel age it.  ::)
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Jacob on February 17, 2014, 03:58:18 PM
Quote from: nigel_c on February 17, 2014, 03:50:58 PM
Group buy on the pasteurized apple juice from get er brewed and barrel age it.  ::)

200l of oak aged cider ??!!

(http://buzzworthy.mtv.com//wp-content/uploads/buzz/2013/11/beeker.gif)

Love it !!!
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: nigel_c on February 17, 2014, 04:23:46 PM
€33 for 20L before NHC discount.
Might be worth shooting GEB an email see what stocks they have.
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Partridge9 on March 07, 2014, 08:26:49 AM
Without sounding like a party pooper, i like the Belgian double idea    :-\
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: ColMack on March 07, 2014, 02:40:18 PM
I like the idea of the cider, but am easy.  All the beer we've produced has been great, so while not a fan of Belgian, I could be persuaded.
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Jacob on March 07, 2014, 02:43:58 PM
Quote from: Will_D on February 17, 2014, 02:57:22 PM
Don't forget I still have an unused (but a bit dry by now) cask!

Must give it a quick check out!
That's how we got an idea for a cask cider.
With our 'main' barrel we'll probably go for a doubel (personally would prefer trippel or quadrupel :P )
We can always talk about it on Tuesday.
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Will_D on March 07, 2014, 07:58:33 PM
My spare cask has been "sniffed" and is still fine.

Problem with a cider is the cost: Typically we are looking at 1€ per litre of fresh juice. (same as Lidl/Tesco but MUCH better quality) Also there is a fair old drive to get it at that price!
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: nigel_c on March 18, 2014, 06:29:38 PM
Anybody had any thoughts about what we could do next? The barley wine is in 4 months now so if we are planning on another big brew we should be starting to think about it soon enough.

The way I'm thinking it is what would I like to be drinking at Christmas.
Belgian Dubbel or Quad maybe.


Info in Dubbel  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubbel
Info on quad  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrupel

This will probably be the last "clean" beer we'll get in the barrel before it gives up most of its oak character.

So what do people think?
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Will_D on March 18, 2014, 08:19:56 PM
After the debacle that is/was the Capital Dubbel I would like a massive dark quad (BJCP: 18E)

1. Will_D:  Dark Quad (or golden but a quad)

[Dark Humour Switch/On]
We could name it in honour of Ozzy Osbourne ???

Ozzy's Revenge
Return of the Quads
Quad'll get you in the end

[DHS/Off]
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: ColmR on March 18, 2014, 09:15:04 PM
I'm afraid Will I'd prefer to go with a less strong beer. Prefer over the big 9% plus beers (and sure we've done two of those).

But a big question I have is how would we handle the yeast for a posh Belgian? Should we invest in a load of liquid yeast? Or is there a decent dry yeast out there?

For that reason and to reduce the risk of bad batches I'd like to go with a Strong ale (7% ish) with a cleaner yeast profile. I also think that there is more risk that the barrel returns a dodgy beer third time around. Because of this it may make sense to not invest so much in this beer in terms of ingredients. Also we have a tonne of us and uk hops but no European ones that a Belgian beer might call for.

I had a Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard ale last night and it was amazing. It's a strong, dark American ale with loads of hops. To be different to our barley wine we could do an Englishy or Scotishy version with some of our challenger and first gold hops. Something like that maybe?

Just my thoughts. But I will absolutely go with the consensus.

1. Will_D: Quad
2. ColmR: Strong Dark Ale - English/Scotish
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Ciderhead on March 18, 2014, 09:41:36 PM

Quote from: Will_D on March 18, 2014, 08:19:56 PM
After the debacle that is/was the Capital Dubbel

Bit strong there Sir Will, tense is wrong to ;)


Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: nigel_c on March 18, 2014, 09:47:29 PM
We could go for something milder in the Belgian / French range and go with a Saison. I've a batch I made with danstar dried saison yeast that may be ready for the next meet up. Could be a quick and cheerful beer we could make a wee or as strong as we like.
Maybe we could design the next beer on what we want rather than BJCP style.
I reckon we throw out any different styles ideas we have for the next beer till the next meet up and take a vote on the top 3 or 4 on the night.

We will need to come up with a timeline for brewing - secondary - empty BW - refill cask.

My preference would be
1. Will_D : Quad
2. ColmR: Strong Dark Ale - English/Scotish
3. Nigel : Scottish wee heavy / 7-8% saison
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: nigel_c on March 18, 2014, 10:05:18 PM
Already have 20 odd L on the go. Don't know how much sour I could drink. As delicious as it is.
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Will_D on April 18, 2014, 09:43:23 PM
As this is one of the driest days in the "auld sod" (hence the expression: "Sod it, If I can't go to the pub its off to my cellar")

Anyways back on topic, we need to think about the next cask brew!

So lets all bump this thread!!

@ColMac: Whats the craic with the Barley Wine?
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: nigel_c on April 18, 2014, 09:56:23 PM
Maybe a mid strength oatmeal stout. Whisky should be low at this stage. Could be nice.
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Jacob on April 18, 2014, 10:31:24 PM
What about smoked porter?

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Will_D on April 20, 2014, 11:33:47 AM
Smoked Porter ?

What with our time frame we are again looking at emptying for Christmas!
A smoked porter would be great I think

Also 6 months or so in bottles should round off the Barley Wine nicely.
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: nigel_c on April 20, 2014, 02:21:17 PM
Don't think Id be that pushed for a smoked beer.
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Jacob on April 20, 2014, 07:41:17 PM
What about the double/tripple that we've talked about?
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Will_D on April 20, 2014, 08:17:22 PM
I'd be up for either a dubbel or tripple

Si in time honoured tradition: Lets start a list!:

1. Jacob: Dubbel/Tripple ( which to be decided later)
1. Will_D: Dubbel/Tripple ( which to be decided later)
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Partridge9 on April 22, 2014, 02:54:42 PM
I like the idea of a double,

I believe the gold medal belgian was from our own ranks, I also believe it was a double - or Dubble whatever you call it.


The triple is grand, but my experience of triples is a crisper beer that wouldnt necessary suit a barrel IMO.

We could always yank up the ABV to 8 - 8.5 on the double to make a X2.5 !!

Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: nigel_c on April 22, 2014, 04:29:39 PM
Yeah triple would not work. Double or quad would be my preference.
Whisky should have died down by now so won't overpower. Could be nice for Christmas.
Title: Re: NCB barrel number 3
Post by: Will_D on April 22, 2014, 07:28:42 PM
Quote from: nigel_c on April 22, 2014, 04:29:39 PM
Whisky should have died down by now so won't overpower.
The lack of whiskey can always be fixed - I have some bottles stashed away ^-^