Oatmeal stout

Used this recipe as a base. http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=50756 

The brewer at the home brew store thought the dark grains might ruin the brew, so we made a few modifications.

Based on a 40 litre batch.

6.2 kgs Pale Ale malt

0.5 kgs Roasted barley 

0.7 kgs Dark chocolate 

0.5 kgs Crystal 40

0.5 kgs Crystal 120

0.7 kgs Biscuit

0.5 kgs Rolled oats

110gr Williamette hops @ 60 mins

1 packet S-04 yeast

Used local artesian water with no additions

30 litres of strike water heated to 76 degrees to account for cooling

60 minute mash

Fly sparged with 25 litres of water 

Cooled to 28 C, added 1 packet of yeast. It was bubbling nicely away by morning.

I was unsure if I could get away with 1 packet of yeast, but it seems fine.

I started the process at 8am and had finished by 3pm, including cleaning up.

Drank a Garage Project Cereal Milk Stout with brunch , then enjoyed a Texas Tea in the afternoon. 

330 bottles of beer...

Since Fathers Day I have created 11 home brews!

1. German Lager

2. Ginger Beer

3. Bourbon barrel dark ale

4. Mixed Berry Cider

5. India Pale Ale

6. Robust Porter

7. Pumpkin Ale

8. Christmas Ale

9. New Zealand Lager

10. Mexican Cerveza

11. Old Ale

The India Pale Ale - Mangrove Jacks Craft Series #2 - is already a favourite of mine & the Ginger Beer is proving a summer hit!

Home brewing requires patience

I'm still one week away from trying my first batch of home brew & came across this quote...

“Patience is necessary ... one cannot reap immediately where one has sown.” 

Soren Kierkegaard (1813–1855) Danish philosopher 

Fresh wort

I was watching the NZ Craft Beer TV series on YouTube and was interested to see that the Golden
Bear Brewing Co in Nelson ships fresh wort.

It ships in a 15 litre box, ready to add to your sanitised fermenter with yeast (& optional water to increase the quantity and decrease the final alcohol)

I got the Robust Porter, added 2 litres of spring water and Wyeast American Ale yeast I harvested from my big dark ale.

It is bubbling away nicely & the wort smelled delicious, so I'm keen to try it in a few weeks.

Welcome

I like beer.

I especially like good beer.

I like beer so much I have started brewing my own beer so that I can start having more of the beer I like.

This blog captures the journey into my world of brewing beer.