Snow Leopard for The Spring Thing - 4th April

I've struggled to get a brew on for the Spring Thing and due to the time left I have had to change my plans from an 80/- to a lighter ale to ensure that it will be ready on time. Hopefully have a quick ferment and get into the cornie within 8-10 days. I have the day off so I will just take my time and take some photos so will update as I go. :

I've never used Williamette before so this will be an interesting experiment. However I know that the Highland Brewery use Williamette in their Orkney IPA and its a bit favourite of mine (the cask version that is - the bottle is disappointing).

Great name for a beer :thumb: :thumb: .

I remember seeing snow leopards at Thrigby Hall in Norfolk but by the looks of it no longer there. They are amazing creatures. :thumb:

The snow leopard by peter matthiessen is a great read as well. :thumb: :thumb:

Sorry for that completely off topic.

The beer looks good as well. I like willamette as well though I usually use it in conjunction with chinnock and cascade using them all for bittering and aroma.

:thumb: :thumb:

Thanks, I first used the name when I was brewing during a particularly heavy snow shower and it seems to have stuck for my lighter pale ales. I was also trying to think of a name that would be suitable for TST bar. Other possibilities were "A Lucky Dip" and "What do you recommend" as I suspect that these will be common phrases in the bar and I can ensure that my beer gets finished. :grin:

Its a lovely day up here in Fife. I managed to clear some space in the garage and make things look respectable.


Weighing out the Grain


Wheat, Crystal and Mellanoidin


HLT Getting up to Strike Temp


Almost there! - I was aiming for 80C


Mash On


Outside of Boiler


Inside of the Boiler


Totten Pump and CFC sitting idle awaiting their big part in the day


Bottle Collection and my Wee Brewery to the Left

Hope it goes well. :thumb: Nice name and nice shiney. :clap:

Have a good brew day :thumb:

Looks good Calum, I'm another Willamette lover, great with Simco.

What is melanoidin malt D, and how comes it has no sugar content?

Nice to hear from you again Wez, a blast from the past for me!

Thanks chaps - more photos on the way.

evanvine said:

What is melanoidin malt D, and how comes it has no sugar content?

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Good spot Jim - spreadsheet malfunction on my part. I'll get it fixed. I also got my Williamette aa% wrong.

Melanoidin is kind of like Vienna malt although it helps deliver a nice reddish tint to the beer. When I munch a bit raw it reminds me of Grape Nuts cereal. Some people believe that the effect of melanoidin malt can replicate the effects you get from a decoction mash (I've never tried a decoction mash so I can't tell you if it is true or not).

All finished now. I've really enjoyed today - its the first brew in a long time that I have been able to take things so easily and take my time. I'm usually in a bit of a rush to get things done before doing family things.

As the mash was just about complete I setup the pump for transferring the wort to the boiler.


A closeup of the same.


The HLT filled to the gunnels ready for the batch sparging.


Topping up the mash tun for the first batch (any of you oldies recognise the Boots fermenter in the background :lol: ).


First runnings into the boiler (this always smells amazing )


Mash tun after topping up


Filling up the mash tun for the second batch


Boiler filling up with 2nd batch


Copper Hops (East Kent Goldings and Fuggles)


Aroma Hops


Two packets of Nottingham rehydrating


Gas off for 30min and then onto the chill. Boiler to pump to CFC.


CFC to fermenter (the wee cornie is being used to prop up the hose coming out of the CFC and allow the water to flow smoothly)


ITS A WRAP!! In the end I managed to got 43l at 1040 in the fermenter. The temp was 25C so after calculating I needed to add around 3 litres of water to hit 1040. Bang on. :party: I plan to ferment at 18C to get some clean flavours.


Now its time for a beer. :drink:

Well done looked a great recipe. :thumb: :thumb:

I used a Willamite brew bag with my IPA kit - bloody lovely stuff :thumb:

Well done. I look forward to giving it a try. :thumb:

graysalchemy said:

Well done looked a great recipe. :thumb: :thumb:

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Thanks :thumb:

munkian said:

I used a Willamite brew bag with my IPA kit - bloody lovely stuff :thumb:

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They did smell really nice but not "in your face" like the C-hops. This should be a really traditional light ale. :

bobsbeer said:

Well done. I look forward to giving it a try. :thumb:

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I just need to sort out my design for the pump clip.

Great brew day post and pics D ...looking forward to trying it at TST :drink:

Dunfie said:

I just need to sort out my design for the pump clip.

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:thumb:

great set of pics D :thumb: great brewday, Willamette is a lovely hop :thumb:

graysalchemy said:

The snow leopard by peter matthiessen is a great read as well. :thumb: :thumb:

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+1