2013 Easter Lotto

[emnpaul]

I say go the redraw. Also happy for anyone else to hop on board (it'll still only cost me one longneck plus postage ).

[drsmurto]

Whilst that is extremely generous of you, it's a lotto. We all go in with that mindset.

You won. If you win the next 10 lottos that is great luck on your behalf. I'm happy with you winning *lucky bastard* again

[emnpaul]

You're right in thinking that it's you I was referring to. You and Barls actually. But I'm also well aware that there's no guarantee that either of you will ever win so much as a half thawed chicken at your local bowling club, redraw or no. It just didn't feel right, from a personal perspective, to claim the prize when I only really entered to help make up numbers and "share the love" so to speak.

I also have no intention of becoming the self appointed moral custodian of HB&B and I certainly wouldn't think any less of anybody on this forum if they did win ten times in a row and claim the prize each time, as would be their right. So if the consensus is that I should just get down off my high horse and claim the prize I will happily change my mind. It is, after all, a very good prize.

[Geoff]

Do it, emnpaul!

[Oliver]

I reckon you should take it. It's the luck of the draw

[emnpaul]

After some deliberation I've decided to claim the prize. Pm is on the way.

Cheers

[earle]

Good decision I reckon. Everyone enters knowing the odds and if you're lucky enough to win a couple of times then good on you.

[Tipsy]

Congratulations Paul. I'll post something off in a couple of weeks when I get home from holiday

[Oliver]

A bottle of the latest incarnation of Dr Smurto's Golden Ale, with 20% rye, is packed and ready to send on Monday.

Cheers,

Oliver

[emnpaul]

Looking forward to it Oliver, and thanks guys.

[drsmurto]

Since I entered twice you are going to be the recipient of a hop comparison set.

Rye golden ale with homegrown Victoria hops.

Rye golden ale with a new commercial hop called Victoria Secret.

The only difference is the hop. Both single hopped beers.

The only catch is the Victoria Secret beer has only been in the fermenter for 2 days. So if you can wait a few weeks that's what I will send.

[emnpaul]

Happy to wait. I like hop comparisons.

[earle]

Just waiting or my latest brew to carb before if I decide if its good enough to send

[emnpaul]

Just waiting or my latest brew to carb before if I decide if its good enough to send

No worries Earle. You can't rush quality.

I received your donation today Oliver, thanks very much.

[Geoff]

Hi Paul,

A bottle of Malty Matey's Burton Bridge Bitter is on the way. Enjoy!

Geoff

[emnpaul]

Your Malty Matey's Burton Bridge Bitter is in the beer cupboard clearing.

I had Oliver's Golden Ale the other night. It also was put away for clearing but seemed to be taking it's time in doing so and so temptation got the better of me. It didn't help that I had a few bottles of James Squire Golden Ale in the fridge which inspired a side by side tasting.



I didn't bother with a picture of the JSGA. I'm sure you all know what it looks like.

Oliver's GA opened with a subdued hiss. Poured with a thin head that didn't hang around for the picture. A bit of yeast in suspension which was quite flavourful and not at all a problem in a bottle carbed beer. Or was it partially haze from the rye in the grain bill? Reasonably strong hop aroma was backed up in the taste with those famous, fruity, West Coast hops doing their thing. Yum.

When compared to the JSGA Dr.Smurto's (Oliver's) GA had: More hop aroma, the JSGA had none that I could detect. More hop flavour, the JSGA might have had some, but was hopelessly outclassed by the DrSGA. In retrospect I probably should have tasted the commercial version first.

Malt is where it got interesting. I'd say the JSGA had a bit more malt backbone and a touch heavier mouthfeel, with a note of crystal in the background. The DrSGA was a bit lighter in body, what I'd term refreshing, with a touch of something I can only guess would be rye but I can't really be sure with that amount of hop flavour.

Dr. Smurtos/Oliver's Golden Ale is a really well crafted beer and far superior to it's progenitor, JSGA. Something I could drink in real quantity without getting tired of.

[Oliver]

Thanks for the feedback Paul. I am happy to hear that you enjoyed it.

I was a bit disappointed with the cloudiness of this beer (and with my beers generally recently - I will give the next batch longer in the fermenter) and think it would have been improved had I been able to keep the fermentation temperature below 20C. When I brewed it the temperature in Melbourne was around the mid-30s during the day, and the mid-20s at night. Cooling was done with a wet towel!

FYI, the recipe was:

55% Maris Otter
20% Bestmalz vienna
20% Weyermann rye
5% Simpsons Dark Crystal
US-05
Hopped with Amarillo

It is, in essence, the same beer that Dr Smurto is going to send you, so I will be interested to know how much better his were than mine

I bottled the original version of DSGA on the weekend and it was magnificent out of the fermenter and probably benefited from cooler fermentation.

Cheers,

Oliver

[drsmurto]

BrewBrite in the kettle - I have been very impressed with the clarity of my beers with just this kettle fining. I no longer use any finings in once the wort leaves the kettle.

Tapped my Rye Victoria Secret Golden ale last night. Needs a day or 2 to carbonate so I will have a few tastes to ensure it's not poisonous and then bottle some off to send early next week.

[emnpaul]

I'm drooling in anticipation.

[Tipsy]

G'day Paul.
Sent a bottle of an oaked RIS.
It's only 10 months old, but I've been drinking it. The oak probably could mellow a little more.
I've been drinking it a little warmer than straight out of the fridge (sometimes straight off the shelf), and it' pretty low carbed so you may want to pour it from a height to create a decent head.

Look forward to your feedback, it's definitely the weirdest beer I've made.