Tasting impressions #66: Rambler’s Amber Bitter

Three days ago a test bottle was almost conditioned but had a strange metallic taste. Then The Beer Nut mentioned in his blog that there sometimes is a metallic tang associated with English hops. I’ve only ever found this with Progress, both times I’ve used it in greater quantity. The following day another bottle and the tang was gone. Odd, but then again I’ve found that as the beer conditions the flavours can be a bit volatile but will soon settle down as the beer approaches its peak condition.

This flat cap beer looks a stunner already:

Fruity and malty, balanced with firm bitterness, slips down nicely. The hops blend together very well in a harmonious gathering of joyous familiarity – surely no other beer style rivals Bitter (as long as the brewer is not too heavy-handed with crystal malts).

Brew #68: Mole Gap Mild

Mashing high, adding some liquorice and smoked malt and using the new Mangrove Jack’s Newcastle Dark Ale dry yeast. Almost everything went in except the kitchen sink. Maltster had run out of pale ale so had to put the Burton Ale on the back-burner for a week or so. The running season has started at full force (3x 6.5km + hill training /week) so some lower gravity energy drink is needed in order to rehydrate and invigorate.

name	Mole Gap Mild
“style”	Mild
brewlength	24 litres
IBU	25
EBC	dark
IBU to OG ratio	0.65
brewing date	27-Mar-14
yeast	M03
OG	1038
fermentables	grain	kg	%
grain 1	Pilsner	2.500	63.3%
grain 2	Rauch	0.500	12.7%
grain 3	Oats, flaked	0.200	5.1%
grain 4	Treacle molasses	0.150	3.8%
grain 5	Crystal150	0.150	3.8%
grain 6	Amber	0.100	2.5%
grain 7	Wheat malt	0.100	2.5%
grain 8	Rye malt	0.100	2.5%
grain 9	Pontefract cakes	0.100	2.5%
grain 10	Dark extract	0.035	0.9%
grain 11	Chocolate malt	0.015	0.4%
	total	3.950	100%
hops	gram	minutes	ibu	%ibu
Progress 8.25%	20	60	18	72%
East Kent Goldings 6.57%	15	25	7	28%
total	35		25	100%
mash schedule	minutes	°C
step 1 – mash in	5	55
step 2	105	74
Mangrove Jack’s dry yeast:
Newcastle Dark Ale M03

Brew #67: Pacific Gem Single Hop Pale Ale

The hops are from 2010 and I picked them up cheap, unfortunately they had no aroma at all and were very dry and without the usual sticky oiliness.

name	Pacific Gem Single Hop
“style”	Kiwi Pale Ale
brewlength	24 litres
IBU	45
EBC	11
IBU to OG ratio	0.88
brewing date	25-Mar-14
yeast	British Ale M07
OG	1051
fermentables	grain	kg	%
grain 1	Pale Ale	3.100	64.2%
grain 2	Pilsner	1.250	25.9%
grain 3	Wheat malt	0.180	3.7%
grain 4	Carared	0.150	3.1%
grain 5	Oats, flaked	0.100	2.1%
grain 6	Caramunich II	0.050	1.0%
	total	4.830	100%
hops	gram	minutes	ibu	%ibu
NZ Pacific Gem 17%	18	60	30	67%
NZ Pacific Gem 17%	18	15	15	33%
NZ Pacific Gem 17%	15	0	0	0%
NZ Pacific Gem 17%	25	-10	0	0%
total	76		45	100%
Hochkurz
mash schedule	minutes	°C
step 1 – mash in	5	55
step 2 – maltose rest	40	63
step 3 – dextrinisation rest	50	70
step 4 – mash out	15	77
Hop-stand for 25 minutes
1/4 tsp Gypsum in kettle