Thursday, May 14, 2009

What a Difference 10 Days Makes

My current batch of homebrew will be bottled this weekend, it is a smoked chocolate stout which will have been sitting in the carbabies for three weeks. I decided to leave the beer in the fermenters longer this time as a result of what happened with the Limelight.

As you probably recall, I bottled up one of the fermenters after 10 days and then when and did my back in, so the second batch was sat in the carbaby for an extra 7 days. When I tried the first batch it was ok, but thin in the body and not entirely satisfying, ok at a push then. However, bottles from the second batch were better, having a fuller body, a distinct spiciness and plenty of carbonation - again I upped the priming solution and now get a nice fluffy white head even in my glasses without a laser etched bottom (oo-er missus!).

So I guess from here on in I will be leaving my ales in the fermenter for three weeks before secondary fermentation or bottling. In the meantime I will continue my search for wooden casks in Virginia.

1 comment:

  1. You might be able to find some wooden casks if you look hard enough and are willing to pay the potentially high cost of shipping. Either way, we welcome you with open arms, Al!

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete

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