BBQ beer for non-HB drinkers

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sunday Oct 07, 2007 9:28 am

I wanted to throw down a simple beer for a bbq I'm having in 2 or 3 weeks. Wasn't able to get to the HB shop, so I had to go to Kmart

I was amazed that the BE2 was $1.30 more expensive in Coles than in the Kmart that was in the same building, same level, and only 50m away from each other at Belconnen Westfield!

Anyway, what I picked up was...

Coopers bitter
1 BE2 (haven't used one of these in a while)

I also have...

about 400g malt (used to be my priming malt)
English target
Czech saaz (not really useful)
American Chinook

I'll probably put it down with a 1335 (Brit Ale II)

Anyone got a good (non-HB drinkers) recipe for some variation of the following?

KEG · Post by **KEG** » Sunday Oct 07, 2007 9:48 am

the cooper's bitter kit (especially if you decide to use any extra hops) is far more hoppy than most commercial beers.. keep that in mind if you're trying to make a peasant-pleaser

i'd go with the BE2 and any spare malt you have - which i guess would be roughly 200gm after putting some aside for priming. or, prime with sugar and use all the malt.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sunday Oct 07, 2007 10:26 am

I'll go all the malt. I don't need to prime anymore- gone metal.

KEG · Post by **KEG** » Sunday Oct 07, 2007 1:27 pm

cool

you should come out with a nice ale. hopefully not too hoppy considering you're hoping to drink it virtually within a week fermentation.. if it's not out of the question, i'd try to get hold of a cooper's pale ale, cerveza or draught kit instead.. no doubt it'll be alright for us HB'ers hehe, but perhaps not the undiscerning public

guess it depends on the people you're bringing along.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sunday Oct 07, 2007 5:15 pm

Defence people- pretty random assortment.

I've worked out that I'll be doing it for 27th Oct- so It'll be an Oktoberfest!

I'll stick with the bitter I think, as I already have a pilsner good to go, and a ginger beer. That should give a good mix.

Anyone tried chinook in a bitter? Not to style, but may be tasty. Otherwise I might just go for a light hand on the target.

sonictruth · Post by **sonictruth** » Tuesday Oct 09, 2007 10:31 am

chinook is pretty high on the AA%, about 13% i think....dont use heaps or you'll start to up the bitterness too much. and a coopers bitter kit is already around 30IBU, like some others have already said, its ok for us but not your average corona drinker.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Tuesday Oct 09, 2007 11:26 am

I was thinking 'maybe' chinook for flavour. I won't add any more bitterness.

I'll probably go the target though.

sonictruth · Post by **sonictruth** » Tuesday Oct 09, 2007 12:07 pm

do it

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Tuesday Oct 09, 2007 1:44 pm

About to be done- right now in fact.

drsmurto · Post by **drsmurto** » Tuesday Oct 09, 2007 2:27 pm

Remember that chinook is the dry hop used in Boonies now infamous LCPA recipe. I have used it for flavour and/or aroma and love it. As long as you dont boil it for more than 10 mins the amount of additional IBUs is low.

Noodles · Post by **Noodles** » Tuesday Oct 09, 2007 3:56 pm

Edited stupid post.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Tuesday Oct 09, 2007 4:21 pm

Done. I decided that as these people were beer-uncultured, they could have a 'dump-and-stir' job. I went:

The coopers bitter
'Brew enhancer' 2
150g LDM
1/2 a handful of target dropped into the boiling water/malt mix in the bottom of the fermenter and stirred for 10min
Coopers yeast
Topped up to 23L

It should be adequate for it's purpose.

K&K is so fun!

Beer in 15mins.

Broke my bloody hydro though. Can't find my other either.

Boonie · Post by **Boonie** » Friday Oct 19, 2007 12:47 pm

Chris wrote:Done. I decided that as these people were beer-uncultured, they could have a 'dump-and-stir' job. I went:

The coopers bitter
'Brew enhancer' 2
150g LDM
1/2 a handful of target dropped into the boiling water/malt mix in the bottom of the fermenter and stirred for 10min
Coopers yeast
Topped up to 23L

It should be adequate for it's purpose.

K&K is so fun! Beer in 15mins.

Broke my bloody hydro though. Can't find my other either.

Make sure you let us know how it goes.

I've been throwing Chinook in my last few basic recipes to have that lovely Chinook aroma and flavour.....

I reckon they will like it.

Cheers

Boonie

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Friday Oct 19, 2007 1:10 pm

I wasn't going to, but I put 10g of chinook into 2ndary yesterday. The brew's been in there for a week or so, but the lack of aroma just didn't work for me, so I went to the old hop freezer.

Hops won't be in long though, as I need to keg up soonish- for 27th.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wednesday Oct 24, 2007 8:13 am

Kegged up yesterday- as well as a light ~2.2% ginger beer. Turbo-carbonated in less than 2 hours. Everything is go.

Also learnt an important lesson- when you see the beer in your line and think 'wouldn't it be nice to have a taste from the gun,' remember to turn the pressure down first!

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Wednesday Oct 24, 2007 8:27 am

Chris wrote:Also learnt an important lesson- when you see the beer in your line and think 'wouldn't it be nice to have a taste from the gun,' remember to turn the pressure down first!

I've warned you before - 2psi for that.

Cheers,
Greg

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wednesday Oct 24, 2007 9:00 am

Yep. Now I know why to turn the pressure down

Boonie · Post by **Boonie** » Wednesday Oct 24, 2007 12:42 pm

Now that's funny

I can picture it in my head

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Wednesday Oct 24, 2007 1:04 pm

Did it come out of your nose?

Cheers,
Greg

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wednesday Oct 24, 2007 1:22 pm

Both barrels...