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Toxxyc's Aim For Spotless Fermentation

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  • Toxxyc's Aim For Spotless Fermentation

    Hi guys,

    So I've recently been aiming for absolutely clean fermentations, and in that effort I've been making all kinds of beers with all kinds of yeasts, to try and find out what happens with what yeast, and at what temperatures. As I became more and more happy with my yeast's performance, I decided to, at this weekend's Cactus Craft Homebrew Competition, to enter my Irish Red (the one I tried to get bright red with just Crisp malts), to the BJCP judges on site.

    Now, to be clear, the beer was made using just Crisp malts, in other words, not my own recipe and not to my liking. The beer had some issues that I identified before even entering the beer for the judges, the most prominent being "too light" in body. This specific Irish Red was very light, both in mouthfeel, body and finish. It was a 4.7% ABV beer, on the lighter side of the colour spectrum, and while the flavours, bitterness, colour and head were are good, the judges' comments on the beer mimicked mine - disappointingly light.

    The final comment was positive, though, with a note to make it richer in mouthfeel and finish, to really improve the beer. I scored an overall 34/50 with the beer, which, to me, for my first ever BJCP scored beer and a recipe that I wouldn't have made that way if I would have used some other malts, is fantastic.

    What stood out for me, though, was during the day I went around and tasted a lot of beers. I also had a lot of people pop over to taste mine, and the general consensus (even from the winner of the day), was that my beer deserves the win purely on the fact that it's absolutely spotless on the fermentation front - and I can agree with them. It was made with Nottingham, I believe, but not even on the cold side of things.

    That spurred me to create this thread. Similar to Snyper's Micro Batches, I want to post my next recipes here, with notes on how they turn out, depending on the yeast I'm using for the beer. So, here goes, with my first entry being the Irish Red Ale:

    The Lazy Irish (20l):
    Grainbill
    All malts are Crisp Malting's malts
    3.5kg Extra Pale Malt
    0.25kg Rye Malt
    0.2kg Dark Munich Malt
    0.2kg Light Munich Malt
    0.09kg Roasted Barley
    0.2kg Dextrin Malt

    Hops
    12g Nugget @ 60min for 19 IBU

    Numbers
    Mash: 60min @ 66°COG: 1.045
    FG: 1.009
    ABV: 4.7% ABV

    Yeast
    Nottingham, fermented for 14 days @ 19°C (room temperature). Pitched direct, no rehydrating, no nothing.

    Notes
    The notes I could make on the fermentation, body and mouthfeel of the beer mimics the BJCP notes perfectly. The beer was clean, with absolutely no off flavours present. Malt was present and well balanced with the slight bitterness and absolutely no hop flavour or aroma. The impact that the Rye made was absolutely spot on. I'm not a fan of spice in my Irish Reds (although it is very in line with the style), but I have to say as the day progressed that spicy note really came into its own. It's present, but quite subtle, to the point where other (more experienced) homebrewers even asked me "what's that I'm tasting? Hops?" and only when I mention the rye you can see their lightbulbs go on.

    Overall though, the mash temp definitely brought me down. I'll adjust the batch slightly, keeping the same amount of all malts except the Light Munich. I'll bump the Light Munich up to 300gr to improve on the sweetness, and then to boot, I'll add in a 150gr dose of Melanoidin malt. To finish it off, I'll mash 3 degrees higher at 69°C just to get to those unfermentables.

    On the yeast side, I have no notes because there was no yeast influence. The beer was pretty clear for a shaken keg, and even with the slight cloudiness there was absolutely no yeast flavours, aromas, or any off flavours. I got numerous compliments throughout the day regarding the clean fermentation, and that's what triggered this thread.

    Next up I hope to use Oslo to see if I can get a similar clean profile on other beers. I'll be making a pilsner soon, alongside the adjusted Irish Red as mentioned above, and I can't wait.

    For now though, my 50l whisky wash is cooling down and I'm pitching that yeast today. Fermentation's going nuts at my place...

    Oh yes, and I came in 2nd place overall at the event for my beer, from the crowd's feedback. Pretty chuffed about that.

  • #2
    That's great .. I see you're your brewing mojo is back with lots of inspiration.

    That said I think it's a great idea to create new threads for big / important or clone brews. I was toying with the idea to create a thread for the Duvel Tripel Hop clone. .. like the Mad Giant Killer Hop and the Devils Peak Kings Blockhouse they have their sepperate threads, with recipe's adjustments and brew comments all in one. I think it's great for someone new or someone who wants to brew a specific beer, to have their experience listed under one thread..

    Like for my Duvel Tripel Hop - has a fair bit of history, from recipe initial discussion and recipe sourcing and propagating the yeast, fermentation, dry hop considderations, etc is now scattered over or into several other threads.. almost lost in the clutter of other chatter..

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    • #3
      I just need to keep track of what I brew, and when. I still haven't installed your software, so that's my own fault, but I really do just want to pen stuff down like this, it helps me going forward.

      I've realized that I'm not big on copying other people's beers, I don't find it interesting for myself. I'll rather brew something I know, but with a slight tweak to see the difference. Going to do that this time with the pilsner I want to do with Oslo. Actually can't wait!

      EDIT: Oh yes, and who'd have thunk that just getting some positive feedback at a brewing event will spur me back into action. Loving it again from the start!

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      • #4
        @Toxxyc That's great news ... and to think just the other day you wanted to give up on brewing.

        About this thread and recipes ... i think you (we) should post the recipes in the dedicated recipe section of this site ( thereby contributing more to that section also) and then just link to the recipe in this or any other threads.

        The Problem With The World Is That Everyone Is A Few Drinks Behind.!

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        • #5
          That's not a bad idea. I'll work on them here though, but post the final recipes where they need to go. No point in posting a recipe that does so-so...

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          • #6
            Originally posted by JIGSAW View Post
            About this thread and recipes ... i think you (we) should post the recipes in the dedicated recipe section of this site ( thereby contributing more to that section also) and then just link to the recipe in this or any other threads.
            sounds like the way to do it ..

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Toxxyc View Post
              That's not a bad idea. I'll work on them here though, but post the final recipes where they need to go. No point in posting a recipe that does so-so...

              I will do the same my ramblings in my thread and then ill post final version in recipe thread

              Great to see you back in action @toxxyc you one of the reasons I am this side!

              I made a smoked s'more porter just for you
              Snyper564
              Senior Member
              Last edited by Snyper564; 5 October 2021, 09:42.

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              • #8
                I thought lots of people here said the BJCP sucked and was all just a gimmick?

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                • #9
                  I never said it sucked, I just said I never really cared how my beers scored, as I made them for me. This one though, I made with the intent of going to style, and the only way to find that out was to give it to a BJCP judge to judge.

                  FYI - I scored second in the crowd voting, from feet on the ground liking my beer, not from the BJCP judges. That's the score I'm proud of. BJCP was feedback on how to change or improve, and I like that.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by jakeslouw View Post
                    I thought lots of people here said the BJCP sucked and was all just a gimmick?

                    Yep, not much into the BJCP, however that is a personal choice, per say I have no issue with BJCP itself.
                    Many times taken a BJCP style and changed it to suite myself, which means it is then not to style anymore and so on.
                    e.g. taken an Irish Red and made it hoppy, not an Irish Red anymore, but prefered the hoppy version.
                    If others like the BJCP, go for it.
                    Everyone must beleive in something, I beleive I'll have another beer

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Toxxyc View Post
                      I never said it sucked, I just said I never really cared how my beers scored, as I made them for me. This one though, I made with the intent of going to style, and the only way to find that out was to give it to a BJCP judge to judge.

                      FYI - I scored second in the crowd voting, from feet on the ground liking my beer, not from the BJCP judges. That's the score I'm proud of. BJCP was feedback on how to change or improve, and I like that.
                      https://www.wortsandall.co.za/showth...ll=1#post40245

                      I prefer to have my lung cancer diagnosed and treated by a medical specialist rather than ask peoples advice on Facebook, its the same with my beer, I would rather have my beer judged by a accredited BJCP judge than a bunch of random beer drinkers.

                      If you don't brew to BJCP guidelines stop evaluating your beer against the BJCP guidelines and descriptors and also stop naming your beer by a BJCP style name , if you are not brewing a Irish Stout, a American Porter or a German Schwarzbier you are just brewing a Black colored beer.

                      ps There is no such thing as pseudo lager brewed with Ale yeast its an Ale nothing more.
                      Harhm
                      Senior Member
                      Last edited by Harhm; 5 October 2021, 12:44.
                      2017 SANHC-Finals-German Pilsner.2019 Academy of Taste-1st Lager +1st Overall-German Leichtbier.2019 Free State Fermenters-1st Place-Australian Sparkling Ale.2019 SANHC-Final Round-German Leichtbier.2020 SANHC-Top 5-EishBock.2021 SANHC-Low Alcohol Cat: 2nd-2%Lager, Over All Cat: 2nd-Schwarzbier.2022 Free State Fermenters-1st-American light Lager.2022 Fools and Fans National Competition-Top 5-Dunkles Bock

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Harhm View Post
                        https://www.wortsandall.co.za/showth...ll=1#post40245

                        I prefer to have my lung cancer diagnosed and treated by a medical specialist rather than ask peoples advice on Facebook, its the same with my beer, I would rather have my beer judged by a accredited BJCP judge than a bunch of random beer drinkers.

                        If you don't brew to BJCP guidelines stop evaluating your beer against the BJCP guidelines and descriptors and also stop naming your beer by a BJCP style name , if you are not brewing a Irish Stout, a American Porter or a German Schwarzbier you are just brewing a Black colored beer.

                        ps There is no such thing as pseudo lager brewed with Ale yeast its an Ale nothing more.
                        I fully agree. I'm not entering the homebrew competition as I already got the feedback I wanted from the judges on site, but it's perhaps something to look for in the future for myself. Yes, I enjoy brewing my "pseudo pilsner" which is nothing more than an ale, as you mention, but I have also found some joy in brewing perfectly to style, specially when it comes to the lagers. I enjoy trying to hit the correct colour, bitterness, flavours, OG/FG, ABV, aroma, finish and more these days, so, like you said, get a judge to judge it.

                        As a PS: I enjoy the "feet on the ground" feedback as I've said it a million times before to every homebrewer I've probably ever met - our people in SA typically enjoy Castle Lite. If I can brew something that doesn't take like that AT ALL, yet they enjoy it, something must be going well!

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Toxxyc View Post
                          As a PS: I enjoy the "feet on the ground" feedback as I've said it a million times before to every homebrewer I've probably ever met - our people in SA typically enjoy Castle Lite. If I can brew something that doesn't take like that AT ALL, yet they enjoy it, something must be going well!
                          Yup, Saffers have an unnatural obsession with light lagers. I am not a fan at all and have still not found a lager I actually like(including "craft" lagers)
                          If you are able to get a positive result from the unwashed cretins then its probably a good beer

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Rocket-Boy View Post
                            Yup, Saffers have an unnatural obsession with light lagers. I am not a fan at all and have still not found a lager I actually like(including "craft" lagers)
                            If you are able to get a positive result from the unwashed cretins then its probably a good beer

                            CBC Lager on tap at their tap house is likely my favourite SA craft lager

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                            • #15
                              Jack Black Lager and Stellenbrau are my favourites.

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