Brewing Around the Realm

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Oldtown Standard IPA – Tasting and Review

The malt bill on this brew came out exactly like I was hoping.  Light yet malty with a sightly sweet malt aroma. It nicely compliments the hops which I though might be over-powering.


I’ll be using this grain bill again in the near future. This time with a Simcoe, Citra, Ekuanot combination.

Check out the brew day for this one.

ABV: 6% IBU: 53 SRM: N/A

Malts: Pilsner, Vienna, Munich 1, Crystal 40
Hops: 007 Golden Hop, Centennial, Chinook
Yeast: WLP001
Other Ingredients: None

Tasting Notes

  • Color and Appearance
    • Dark Amber
    • Slight Haze
    • Long head retention
    • Medium carbonation
  • Aroma
    • Citrus, Pine
    • Medium malt aroma
    • Low to no esters
  • Flavor
    • Low alcohol
    • Citrus, Pine
    • Medium hop bitterness
    • Light malt
  • Mouth Feel
    • Low astringency
    • Medium body
    • Medium carbonation
    • Medium finish.

Help out by signing up with Tavour. Save $10 on your next beer purchase.
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Find my check-in to this beer on Untappd:
https://untappd.com/user/Bitterresentful/checkin/613168371

Music:
Colourful Spots
Nicolai Heidlas
https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas/

Tormund’s Finest Ale Tasting and Review – An Irish Red Rye

Brewing with rye and roasted barley was a gamble. I had never brewed with either grain till now. It was a gamble that paid off. The roasted barley added a pleasant smoky/toasted aroma and flavor. Adding the rye provided a slight fruity flavor that is a compliment to the malty backbone.

I liked this one enough that it is going to make it in to the regular rotation.


The full brew day video for this beer is located here.

Tasting Notes

  • Color and Appearance
    • Reddish Brown
    • Clear
    • Good smooth/creamy head retention
    • No visible carbonation
  • Aroma
    • Toasty, roasty.
    • Medium malt
    • Smoky
  • Flavor
    • No detectable alcohol
    • No hop flavor
    • Fruity, smoky, toasty
    • Medium malt
  • Mouth Feel
    • Low astringency
    • Medium body
    • Low carbonation
    • Medium finish

Help out by signing up with Tavour. Save $10 on your next beer purchase.
https://www.tavour.com/?invitedby=276243

Find this beer on Untappd
https://untappd.com/b/brewing-around-the-realm-tormund-s-finest-ale/2593225

Music:
Origins
Jahzar
https://www.jamendo.com/artist/348998/jahzzar

Northern Brewer Zombie Dirt Clone Tasting and Review

I had a lot of concerns with this in the first week after it was bottled. There was a cloying sweetness in the background that was unpleasant. Having never used Munich malt before I can only assume that was what the sweetness was. Over the following weeks the sweetness began to fade. The overall malt flavor came up. The hop aroma and flavor became more pronounced. After 3 weeks in the bottle the aroma had matured to the pine forest level I describe in the video. The same also applies to the pine flavor.

This turned out to be a great beer that I will definitely be brewing again.


You can view the full brew day video for this one here.

Tasting Notes

  • Color and Appearance
    • Medium Amber
    • Slightly Hazy
    • Good rocky head retention
    • Fast rising carbonation
  • Aroma
    • Pine and spruce with hints of citrus
    • Low to medium malt
    • Grapefruit esters
  • Flavor
    • No detectable alcohol
    • Pine with hints of grapefruit
    • Moderate to aggressive bitterness
    • Medium malt
  • Mouth Feel
    • Low to no astringency
    • Medium body
    • Full carbonation
    • Medium finish

Music:
The Waster
Scott Buckley
http://www.scottbuckley.com.au/

Updated 4/1/18 09:03 AM. A previous version of this story referenced honey malt when it should have been Munich malt.

15 Minute Kitchen Sink Hoppy Wheat Tasting and Review

This one comes down to me not liking WB-06 yeast. It leaves a really strong hefeweizen flavor that I just don’t enjoy. The beer on it’s own isn’t bad. It came out exactly how I would expect for an extract brew. Very clear and middle-of-the-road. There’s nothing special going on with this. I’ll make other extract brews in the future. Just not with WB-06.


Check out the brew day for this one to view the recipe and additional details.

Music:
I Need
Jahzar
https://www.jamendo.com/artist/348998/jahzzar

Sherman’s Planet IPA Tasting and Review – Triticale Recipe from BYO Magazine

I’m very satisfied with the malt profile of this beer. The triticale adds a spicy character to the beer. I am not as happy with the profile of 007 Golden Hops. Bittering with these hops creates a beer that is overly bitter. Cutting back on the bittering addition would help. This would have been better with IBU’s in the 30 – 40 range.

I’m going to brew this one again at some point. Just with a different hop profile.


Check out the brew day for this one to view the recipe and additional details.

Music:
Homeward
Scott Buckley
http://www.scottbuckley.com.au