The Organic IPA recipe I found on breworganic.com was followed so loosely (given available ingredients) that I thought I'd better note down what we actually did, just in case it is worth re-producing (more likely modifying). For lack of a notepad, BlogSpot it is:
The kit:
- LPG bottle, high pressure camping burner
- 10ltr stock pot and stainless spoon
- 25ltr plastic brew barrel with airlock
- nylon mesh bag for grains
- Thermometer
- Mobile phone to keep time
The process & Ingredients:
- Fill plastic brew barrel with 25 ltrs of rain water
- Bring 4 ltrs water to 75 degrees C and turn off heat
- Drop in 1Kg pale ale grains, cracked, in a nylon grain bag and soak for 20 min with the lid on (temp should drop to 68C after adding grains and drift down to 64C if using a smallish pot with lid in mild ambient temp)
- Bring 1 ltr of water to 75 C in another pot
- Lift up grains, squeeze and pour the ltr of water over the grains into the tea (to flush out a little more from the grains)
- Add 1.8Kg light malt extract
- Add 600 grams raw sugar
- Add ~33Grams New Zealand Pacific Gem hops (bittering), Boil for 40 mins
- Add ~33 Grams New Zealand Hallertau hops (flavour), Boil for 15 min
- Add ~33 Grams New Zealand Hallertau hops (Aroma), Boil for 5 min
- Cool wort to 75C
- Pour wort from height into the water in the brew barrel. To add oxygen, stir.
- Temp should now be close to 28C, add a pack (11.5g) of Safeale s-04 Dry Ale Yeast by Fermentis
- Add lid & airlock
No idea what the specific gravity was.. Looked about right, possibly a bit light.. I'm already wondering if next time I use 2kg grains (1 kg light and 1 kg a bit darker) plus 1.8Kg malt. Ideally with a bigger pot - 16ltr stock pot would be nice.
Hallertau hops smell amazing, every time I walk past the brew barrel I have to stop and soak up some of the delicious aroma emanating from the airlock.
Next - if I can't find a keg system I can afford, it will be into bottles (swapa crate $4.50 per doz 750ml)
Will update on first tasting
