Friday 10 September 2010

Operation 'Elizabeth'



OK here's the idea, brew some brutally strong beer (or at least quite strong) and at the end of primary fermentation decant it off into my new 3 gallon wooden barrel I have named ‘Elizabeth’. I had to call it something, and it might sound girly to some but it was between that and 'Killswitch', 'Loci' or 'Rambo' (filled with the beer 'First brew', and after that 'First brew part II')'. But I think I chose the most fitting name. My first brew for this barrel I am also calling Elizabeth, it will be an Old Ale with a formulation something like this;


Elizabeth Old Ale (4 Gallons).

OG: 1092

Target AG: 1020 (so over 9% abv)

Grist Fermentables.

Optic pale malt: 86.5% of fermentables.

Crystal malt: 9% of fermentables.

Black Malt: 4.5% of fermentables.

In Copper.

Challenger hops (44 IBU) boiled 90min.

Bramling X hops (4-5 IBU) boiled 15min.

Fermentation to take place at around 21oC with White Labs Dry English ale strain.


So something relatively simple, going down the straight to the balls, old school traditional rout (I can see a lot of beer geeks yawning now). In part this beer is a tribute to the bloke who made it, and who he works for. But I know I can re use the barrel, so this batch is more of an experiment than anything. The very small size of the barrel means more beer to surface contact area which should speed up the process of oak aging. How many times the wood has been used previously will also play a part, this I don't know. The plan is to fill the barrel and sample from it on a monthly basis which means I will have to keep topping it up (notice the brew length is 4 gallons i.e. I keep the extra gallon to one side for top ups at later dates).


 Meet Elizabeth

When I eventually bottle Elizabeth I plan to take the project to a second stage. The plan is to bottle approximately 2 of the 3 gallons of beer. The remaining gallon will then be blended with a different beer. Something younger fresher and weaker, I’m thinking of remaking Helen's Beer for this, a 5.7% deep amber beer influenced mainly by porridge oats, loads of crystal malt and Bobek and Amarillo hops. Then, the monthly tastings start again, and we see what happens.

An alternative idea I had was to blend the remaining barrel of Elizabeth with Daleside Morocco ale instead. How much would that rock?! Its something I’m considering but my excitement for the mean time must be suppressed as I have a holiday to Cuba booked in a couple of weeks and don’t really have the time to ferment such a strong beer before then (maybe at a push). So a holiday in Cuba dreaming of barrel aged Old Ale that is. I like the fact that by the time I get back and finally brew this it will be verging on winter, so wherever I choose to leave this baby the maturation will be long and slow. Whatever I make I can be sure that the product/s made will be one of a kind, with no other beer in the world exactly like them (like a Samurai sword) and if it all goes horribly wrong I still have some oak chips somewhere to fall back on.

13 comments:

Mark Dredge said...

Sounds great! Is there any chance of wild yeast being in there? If so, is that good or bad from your POV?

We're thinking about going to Cuba next year so let me know how it is :) I'm not expecting good things beer-wise, but you never know!

Ed said...

Sounds good.

Rob said...

Well Mark, I am tempted to do it but any brewhouse infections are on my head. Am considering it tho. As for Cuba I have noticed the highest rated Cuban beer on Beer Advocate is 'C' mediocre. Will still try them all tho.

Anonymous said...

Took me time to read the whole article, the article is great but the comments bring more brainstorm ideas, thanks.

- Johnson

Anonymous said...

That is really attention-grabbing, You're an overly professional blogger. I have joined your feed and stay up for in the hunt for extra of your great post. Additionally, I have shared your website in my social networks

Also visit my weblog: Abercrombie france

Anonymous said...

Hello, i feel that i noticed you visited my site so i got here to return the choose?

.I am trying to in finding things to improve my website!
I suppose its adequate to make use of a few of your ideas!
!

My web blog resources

Anonymous said...

I visited several web sites however the audio quality for audio songs present at
this web page is genuinely marvelous.

Visit my web-site :: website

Anonymous said...

I was excited to uncover this site. I wanted to thank you for ones time just for this
wonderful read!! I definitely enjoyed every bit of it and I have you saved to fav to look at new information in your site.



Feel free to visit my page: Louis Vuitton Bags

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on salvage motorcycle auction insurance.
Regards

Also visit my weblog ... Sac Louis Vuitton

Anonymous said...

Since the admin of this website is working, no uncertainty very rapidly
it will be well-known, due to its quality contents.

Take a look at my website ... NFL Jerseys Cheap ()

Anonymous said...

Thanks , I've just been searching for information about this subject for a while and yours is the greatest I've found out so far.
But, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you certain in regards to the source?


Also visit my page LeBron James 9

Anonymous said...

Excellent website you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics discussed in this article?

I'd really like to be a part of online community where I can get opinions from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Bless you!

Feel free to surf to my blog post :: Air Max

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure why but this weblog is loading extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a problem on my end? I'll check back later on
and see if the problem still exists.

Review my weblog kobe 8 shoes