National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => Brewing Communities => Rebel Brewers => Topic started by: LordEoin on April 29, 2014, 11:44:19 AM

Title: Small beers competition
Post by: LordEoin on April 29, 2014, 11:44:19 AM
Anyone entering a small beer into the summer comp?
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: Dr Horrible on April 29, 2014, 10:04:51 PM
I have an ordinary bitter (3.6percent) just about ready that I was thinking about entering but it's come out pretty disappointing, kind of watery and bland. If it improves at all over the next month I might bring it along to the next meet up but at the moment it's a bit of a write off. Very disappointed, the wort was fecking gorgeous.
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: johnrm on May 29, 2014, 10:43:55 AM
I have a bitter @3.7%
I tasted it flat and its seems pretty good.
I've been force carbing this over the past few days to keep the ABV low.

Need to list up who has what and where we are going to decide what goes forward pretty soon.
This does not have to be a big session, or in a pub.
What say ye?

(Also, Could a Mod maybe merge this and the thread I started 'Summer Session Beers')

1. johnrm - Bitter
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: LordEoin on May 29, 2014, 01:38:49 PM
I'll merge it in a bit, once i get a spare few minutes

I brought my attempt with me to the last meet but nobody else did, so not sure where that leaves us..

1 johnrm
2 lordeoin
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: Dr Horrible on May 29, 2014, 01:52:07 PM
Was your entry the one with the 366 hops, LordEoin?  That's a lovely beer, what sort of strength is it?
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: LordEoin on May 29, 2014, 03:56:08 PM
god no, that was about 7.2%
the dark beer i brought was about 3.8%
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: TheSumOfAllBeers on May 29, 2014, 04:11:48 PM
Quote from: Dr Horrible on April 29, 2014, 10:04:51 PM
I have an ordinary bitter (3.6percent) just about ready that I was thinking about entering but it's come out pretty disappointing, kind of watery and bland. If it improves at all over the next month I might bring it along to the next meet up but at the moment it's a bit of a write off. Very disappointed, the wort was fecking gorgeous.

What yeast? Sometimes the interesting character of english bitter can take some time to materialise.

I dispensed some of mine from some easy kegs (cask primed, and with air vents) at a party and it was divine.

They are actually quite hard to make well.
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: Dr Horrible on May 29, 2014, 04:48:04 PM
WLP002 - didn't make a starter though, just chucked in a single vial and it took forever to get going - about 36 hours.  Had it at 17deg and didn't kick off until I upped the temp to 20. 
So it could have been that, or possibly the grain I used - it was crushed grain that had been in the cupboard for about six months so could have lost some freshness there.  In fairness, it's enjoyable enough to drink, just not something you'd put into a competition.
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: Taf on May 29, 2014, 05:17:04 PM
Quote from: LordEoin on May 29, 2014, 03:56:08 PM
god no, that was about 7.2%
the dark beer i brought was about 3.8%

Ha ha, yeah I was going to say that there was no way that was sub 4%!
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: LordEoin on May 29, 2014, 05:27:02 PM
Quote from: Tube on May 29, 2014, 05:17:44 PM
They really need to be light, cool and fizzy.
refreshing, cold and fizzy... yeah. but light/dark should have nothing to do with it.
but fair enough, if summer dark session beers aren't suitable for the summer session competition then whatever...
johnrm, it's all yours
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: Rossa on May 29, 2014, 05:37:44 PM
Quote from: Tube on May 29, 2014, 05:17:44 PM
It's easier to make a nice dark low abv beer than a light one. The light one will lack body *and* flavour.

BUT. As nice as low abv dark beers are, they're not really summer session beers. They really need to be light, cool and fizzy.

Have you not seen most Irish summers!
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: mr hoppy on May 29, 2014, 11:00:35 PM
I'd like to, but I've not got the ingredients yet.  >:(
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: johnrm on May 30, 2014, 10:42:04 AM
What are you stuck for?
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: mr hoppy on May 31, 2014, 07:19:20 AM
Lacto and oat hulls
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: Komodo021 on May 31, 2014, 12:12:55 PM
I have spare lactose
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: mr hoppy on June 01, 2014, 10:57:38 AM
Sorry, should have been clearer. I meant WLP 677 lactobacillus. Hopefully the HBC will be getting it in soon, but might be too late for the comp.
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: LordEoin on June 05, 2014, 02:56:18 AM
We should have the first round cleared by now, no?
We need to have a tribal meeting of all the rebels with a small beer to decide which one we send forth to dominate.
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: johnrm on June 05, 2014, 07:25:57 AM
Um, trial jar test? Then yes.
I'm away next week so no shin dig for me.
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: LordEoin on June 13, 2014, 02:05:37 AM
we should judge this soon, because mine has turned into the "sh*t, it's 2am" beer
Title: Re: Small beers competition
Post by: johnrm on June 13, 2014, 07:19:31 PM
This week.