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Author Topic: Water for standard bitter  (Read 3057 times)

Offline 69franx

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Water for standard bitter
« on: April 06, 2017, 01:31:38 pm »
Going to be brewing 7 gallons of standard bitter, OG of 1.039 soon to test differences between WLP030 and WLP033 from The Vault. What water profile should I be using for a standard bitter? SRM of 8.8, so I am planning on an Amber profile, just not sure if Full to get the body such a low OG needs, dry to get the bitter presence of a bitter, or balanced to obviously balance the 2. I guess I am leaning towards balanced, any have a better plan than my best guess?
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline stpug

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2017, 01:41:10 pm »
Best bitters are about the only brews where I push sulfate levels up to 200ppm and enjoy that level with classic british hops.  Chloride levels are present but lowish - 40-50ppm; magnesium is low-moderate - 15ppm; lowish sodium; calcium falls where it does; low/zero RA; pH ~5.3mash.  Obviously I don't bitter quite to the levels of many american beers but it's generally in the ballpark of APAs (35-40ish).  While I don't generally like 200ppm in most beers, for whatever reason it works good for me in my british best bitters.

Edit: Have you received your Klassic Ale strain yet? I'm still waiting.

Offline 69franx

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2017, 01:43:30 pm »
no on the Klassic, from timing on my 030, I'm expecting it to arrive on the 13th or 14th. Plan is to brew on the 15th or 16th
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline stpug

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2017, 01:47:56 pm »
Exciting!  I can't wait to play with 033 - I was hoping for late April but guess I can deal with a sooner week :D.  My best bitter looks more like a british golden ale, but is brewed in the style of a best bitter (just lighter cara malts).

Offline 69franx

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2017, 01:50:44 pm »
The timing for 030 was delivered almost exactly 2 weeks from notification that it was billed. I was billed for 030 on 3/30/17 so my original thought was right around the 12th-15th but the 030 was delivered on a Thursday. I am pretty sure they time shipping so the yeast is not sitting anywhere over the weekend. Either way I expect to have it in time for that brew day, if not, then IDK, may brew something else
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline 69franx

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2017, 01:54:24 pm »
I don't remember where I got my recipe from, but I brewed this beer back in 2015 and loved it. It is 93.7% 2-Row and 6.3% C120. May not be exactly traditional with no sugar but I liked it a lot back then. Also planned as an ordinary bitter, but came out like 11 points high due to unexpectedly higher efficiency than I had planned on. Once these are brewed and ready, Hope to use the slurries for a porter or 2, an ESB, and an English BW over the course of the next couple months
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2017, 02:04:54 pm »
Agree on 200 ppm sulfate or a little less.
Jeff Rankert
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Offline stpug

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2017, 02:26:04 pm »
I don't remember where I got my recipe from, but I brewed this beer back in 2015 and loved it. It is 93.7% 2-Row and 6.3% C120. May not be exactly traditional with no sugar but I liked it a lot back then. Also planned as an ordinary bitter, but came out like 11 points high due to unexpectedly higher efficiency than I had planned on. Once these are brewed and ready, Hope to use the slurries for a porter or 2, an ESB, and an English BW over the course of the next couple months

I like it - simple and straight-forward.  Not a whole lot of moving parts so it's easy to tell what comes from where.  I can also appreciate the extra gravity on your last batch (ordinary are okay with me, but usually a bit too thin and watery; whereas the "best" level hits my mark for an enjoyable session ale - individual preference is all).

This is what I've been brewing lately as a "best bitter" and have grown quite fond of it:
Code: [Select]
7 lbs                 Pale Malt, Optic (Thomas Fawcett) (2.7 SRM) Grain          83.0 %       
1 lbs                 Barley, Flaked, Briess (1.7 SRM)            Grain          11.9 %       
4.0 oz                Crystal 55, Patagonia (55.0 SRM)            Grain          3.0 %         
3.0 oz                Amber Malt, Crisp (22.0 SRM)                Grain          2.2 %         
1.500 oz              Fuggles [4.98 %] - Boil 60.0 min            Hop            28.5 IBUs     
1.000 oz              Homegrown Goldings [3.80 %] - Boil 15 min   Hop            6.5 IBUs     
1.000 oz              Homegrown Goldings [3.80 %] - Boil 2 min    Hop            1.1 IBUs     

I actually pitched this one last time "scary low" (60billion cells in 5gallons) per Mark's advice, and while it didn't quite nail the ester profile I was after (this was a strain issue really), it worked out perfectly well for the beer.  Any way, that's probably more than you wanted to know - that happens with me :D

Offline 69franx

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2017, 05:10:42 pm »
No, I appreciate the recipe input. I could easily see that as a second pitch for one or the other

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Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline 69franx

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #9 on: April 11, 2017, 10:59:01 am »
@stpug confirmation email came through yesterday for Klassic Ale. Expected delivery is this Thursday as I had been thinking. Just in time for my brew day this weekend

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Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline stpug

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #10 on: April 11, 2017, 11:47:57 am »
@stpug confirmation email came through yesterday for Klassic Ale. Expected delivery is this Thursday as I had been thinking. Just in time for my brew day this weekend

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Excellent timing for you!  I just got confirmation as well and it shows Thursday but I generally get things about a day later than estimated.  I'm looking forward to this strain for sure.  My problem now is that I've just filled my pipeline with 5 lagers  ??? ;D (I guess it's time to start the weekly get-togethers to drain some of those quickly)

Offline 69franx

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2017, 10:18:54 am »
It actually arrived yesterday, ice pack melted and vials warm to the touch. Straight into the fridge when I got home. Also surprised that both 030&033 were packaged in old school vials rather than the newer pouches

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Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline stpug

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #12 on: April 13, 2017, 10:42:21 am »
It actually arrived yesterday, ice pack melted and vials warm to the touch. Straight into the fridge when I got home. Also surprised that both 030&033 were packaged in old school vials rather than the newer pouches

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I've got my fingers crossed mine show up today.  I was hoping for the "pure pitch" pouch (would be my first) but am comfortable with the old vials.

Offline 69franx

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #13 on: April 13, 2017, 10:43:57 am »
I'm comfortable with them as well, just surprised that they still even have them to use since they have been doing pure pitch what now a little over a year?

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Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline 69franx

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Re: Water for standard bitter
« Reply #14 on: April 13, 2017, 10:44:33 am »
And I was more concerned about the warm state the vials were in after reaching SE Indiana from San Diego

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Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)