What are you drinking now?

[Bum]

First beer this year - a RIS I made maybe 18 months ago. Wasn't great at about six months but really hit its straps at a year. Thought I'd hang on to a small number of stubbies under the house for extended aging. I don't think the heat of this summer has been kind to them tasting quite thin - still smells pretty amazing, even if I say so myself. Oh well, since my tolerance seems much lower than previously it is definitely doing the trick regardless.

[bullfrog]

First beer this year?! Is this the first step to you backsliding on a resolution?

[Bum]

Ha! Nah, I was looking after some kids and figured that since child rearing isn't my forte I'd go dry for a bit. They've gone home now so bugger that for a laugh. Onto my most recent batch of GB. 3 months in the bottle have really improved it - I've never had a bottle last that long before. I'll definitely be brewing a couple of batches for summer at the start of spring.

[bullfrog]

Almighty Sky Fairy! Raising children has to be done dry?! My first is due in August, I'm now going to try convince the wife to hold it in for a couple of years!

[Bum]

Ahaha. No, I suppose it may have gone more smoothly (from my perspective) had I been three sheets so don't worry too much about that.

I've not got any kids of my own and one of my temporary charges was 2 months old and it was me getting up to her in the night so I didn't want to do it half-cut.

Congrats, btw.

[bullfrog]

Thanks very much.

I've just done some quick Friday-night-I'm-getting-flooded-in-tomorrow-so-am-making-the-most-of-it-tonight-by-getting-through-as-much-beer-and-assorted-ethyl-based-drinks-as-I-can type of maths and have realised that you having had infant borders for at least all of this year, and one only being two months old, you've either had that model since new and drove it off the factory floor or you were discussing the age when you were first left in charge.

If the latter, calling the kid a two month old may have been a bit deceptive, as it'd have to have been at least twice that when you rugby passed it back.

If the former, I'd love to know if you rigged some kind of bra with a water balloon filled with milk to simulate breast feeding.

[Bum]

If the latter, calling the kid a two month old may have been a bit deceptive, as it'd have to have been at least twice that when you rugby passed it back.

^This.

But to be fair to me (as we all must), the decision was made when she was that age.

[bullfrog]

That's still tough, all the same.

I've been reading books on children (in much the same way I read assigned books in English class; read the blurb then pick up most of the content during class discussions) and what I've read (learned through discussion with my wife) I know that children have what's known as a fourth trimester.

Essentially, human children are so under developed at birth (comparatively speaking) because an adult woman couldn't support the foetus to its full term. So all children are essentially prematurely expelled foetuses until they're three to four months old.

Think there's a term for a bloke like you; hero.

...but then, there's a very thin line between bravery and stupidity

[Bum]

(learned through discussion with my wife)

This is the most peaceful way to learn anything, I have found.

Think there's a term for a bloke like you; hero.

No. Very much, no. The things I did would be considered pedestrian (by everyone but me) if they were my own kids. I will admit that it was very hard for me but 'heroic' is a very big stretch.

...but then, there's a very thin line between bravery and stupidity

100%.

[emnpaul]

Hope you have a speedy recovery, Warra.

...by which of course I mean that I hope it's fast; not that I hope your recovery is obnoxious, barely literate and suffers from an inferiority complex that leads it to brew 400L batches.

Laughing my head off. Well done Bullfrog. Good to see your amnesia has passed and fond memories of Speedie are still with you.

Edit: Just ocurred to me that Bullfrog is a very apt name for you right now.
Hope your getting through it unscathed though.

[emnpaul]

Hey emnpaul can you put your recipe on here, I have a few bits and pieces in the fridge that would make this one worth a try, including a kaffir lime tree growing in my back yard.

Really was just a throw together with some stuff I wanted to use up and because I wanted to brew something and hadn't got organised and been to the brew shop.

Lime Splice Witbier
2.2kg Wey. Pils
.38kg Flaked Oats
.30kg White rice
.26kg Sanitarium wheat bix
.18kg Flaked wheat
.18kg Polenta

7g Tettnanger at F/out
7g Cascade at F/out
7g Styrians at F/out
10g Corriander seed at 10 mins
1 tablespoon lemon squeeze
1 Kaffir lime fruit
2 kaffir lime leaves

O.G. Unknown as I broke my hydrometer the day before
F.G. 1008
Ferment at 23 with WLP400 Belgian Wit

Bitter to 18 IBU with whatever you have, prefferably low AA noble hop. I used Nelson Sauvin at 40 mins. NS at 60mins seems to have a bit of the razor blade about it but 40mins is O.K. without getting too much flavour.

Polenta boiled for 45 minutes in 4 litres water. Rice added at 30 mins along with another 2 litres water. After 45 mins remove rice and polenta mix from stove and let stand until it reaches 78 degrees C. Then add 500g pils malt and stir like crazy. let stand 15 mins and then add to main mash. This is called a US style cereal mash and was passed on by Bribie G. Link:http://www.winning-homebrew.com/cereal-mash.html

Mash the rest of your grain bill as normal, adding the cereal mash about half way through. I did a protein rest at 52 for 20mins, sach rest at 62 for 15 mins then added cereal mash to raise the temp to 66 for 90 mins. Raised to 72 for 10 mins then 78 for mash out. All this stuffing around takes time and if I were on a limited schedule I'd just go for 62/68/ sparge, but each to their own.

Crack and roast the corriander seed to release the fragrance then add at 10 mins. Slice the lime leaves as per Thai style curry. Grate the rind then halve the fruit and scoop out the pulp and add that too. Not the white pith though. Taste the pulp if your the curious type but I'll never need to try it twice.

Recipe could use a bit of refinement but that's where it's at so far.

[Bum]

Ginger beer with fresh curry leaves.

[warra48]

This one. A bit of a bastard brew, not sure if it's an Alt or a Munich Dunkel, but who cares?
It's oh so malty, as malty as I've ever made, with just enough bitterness from the hops and the carafa to keep it in check.

94% Munich
5% Carabohemian
1% Carafa Special II
Smaragd hops to 49 IBU at 60, 15 and 5 min.
4 packs S23

[emnpaul]

I'm having a kit and bits dry stout. Not bad but I'd swap you in a second Warra.

FWIW I'd call your beer an Alt. It's way too bitter for a Dunkel and the grain beer is similar to what some would use for an Alt. On the other side Alts are also sometimes made with a Lager yeast so I'd say it fits the bill. In any event the grain bill looks delicious.

Good enough to have it's own key even.

[Bum]

My first S&W Pacific Ale since before it was called Pacific Ale.

Yeah, I just don't get this beer. One dimensional aroma. Entirely out of balance bitterness (ironically, the bitterness is the only thing that gets me through the glass). Ridiculously over-carbed. Watery mouthfeel. I dunno. Maybe it is good on tap...

[big dave]

I am not sure about the S & W. I had a couple out at a nice restaurant, and thought it was amazing. But I have had a couple since that I thought were underwhelming.... Inconsistent brewing? Poor storage? Dunno....

I have just had the same experience with White Rabbit Dark Ale. Previously had one that I thought was terrific, then I grabbed a sixer last week, and now I am a bit unsure....

[bilgerat]

Hey Warra hows the shoulder coming along?
Im enjoying an AG Kolsch and a Dr Smurtos GA, both going down well in this Perth heatwave, my Saison is loving this warm weather in the fermenter, next brew something for winter, a Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout then maybe a try at a Chimay Triple.

[big dave]

Had a Red Duck Hoppy Amber on the weekend at the Taradale Mineral Springs Festival. Bought for me by my wife, who is not a beer drinker, and who sampled it before handing it over.



I think she was unprepared for the 40-ish IBU.... It was a pretty bitter affair. Reckon there were a lot of hops in there, but they might have just tipped them all in at the start of the boil. To be fair, the stubbie came straight out of an ice bath, which may have damped out the later additions. I have another in the fridge, so will drink that a bit warmer and see.

[earle]

My first S&W Pacific Ale since before it was called Pacific Ale.

Yeah, I just don't get this beer. One dimensional aroma. Entirely out of balance bitterness (ironically, the bitterness is the only thing that gets me through the glass). Ridiculously over-carbed. Watery mouthfeel. I dunno. Maybe it is good on tap...

I wonder if they're having consistency problems. The last commercial S&W that I had I found to be a bit sweet. I prefer mine now.

[milliner1986]

Boonie's LCPA clone My first go at it. Freakin sensational. Now I know what the hype was about