Hedgerow Hops Pale Ale? - Beer Numero Uno

This was actually last Monday that I did the boil, and it has been fermenting since - there is a nice krausen/head.

As my first attempt at brewing I actually made use of local hedgerow hops (I don't know what variety), which were picked and then left to dry out on a stretched sheet over about a week - until the stems were brittle.





The recipe was adapted from pale ale recipes in Greg Hughes book.

Maris Otter 6 kg (used two 3 kg bags)
Dried Hops 14 g start of boil, 14 g 30 mins in and 20 g at start of cooling (60 mins)
Protofloc (1 tablet/teaspoon) 45 mins in
Safale US-05 Yeast (I think)

60 min mash (65 C), 60 min boil

Unfortunately the boiler didn't hold the full 4.5 gallons of wort after sparging, just under 4, and so I ended up with about 3.5 gallons for fermentation (after losing a little more during boiling).

Original gravity was 1060, so maybe on the high side from what I have read? We'll see how it turns out.

Cooled to 24 C to pitch the yeast and then left to ferment at 22 C for about 48 h, then moved to a cooler location where it has been sitting at 18-20 C for the rest of the week since.

There is a nice krausen/head at this point which is promising, I will take a reading of the gravity tomorrow to check the progress.



I'm not sure how this will taste, it may be bland, but this was more of a test of the process and getting to grips with the practicalities. I am also quite curious to see if the local hops provide a drinkable beer, I don't think they are wild as there were hops planted in the adjacent fields the last couple of years.

Cheers

WOW! Impressed!

Please keep us posted on the outcome, especially with regard to the bittering and hop flavours that you get.



BTW, the only thing I find in our local hedgerows are plastic bags full of dogsh1te! ...

... which raises possibility that, if I used them in a brew, would the brew be classed as "Boil in a Bag"?

Thanks for the enthusiasm Dutto!

So for an update, its been a week and the gravity today was 1011, so about 6.4% ABV based on a 1060 OG. I will take a reading tomorrow to confirm if the fermentation is done, but it most likely is. I plan to leave it for another week in the fermeneter before bottling - and I think I will bottle it as after a taste, it's actually drinkable! The citrus/fruity flavour is definitely there, it has a nice citrus nose and fruity notes, but it is not very bitter, and slightly sweet. So at least we know where we stand with the characteristic of the foraged hops. In combination with a bitter hop in future, we could be onto a winner. You can also taste the strength, so brewing has definitely taken place.



I think if it's given some time to age (as I understand, stronger beers benefit from longer conditioning?) I think it would be quite drinkable chilled even with this batch though. As for clarity, I have seen it mentioned that chilling the beer before bottling is a good way to crash out the sediment and yeast, we don't really have any way to do this so I had been thinking maybe to stick it in the shed overnight before bottling? So it can get down to low temps and maybe this would be enough? It would be nice to have a clearer product if possible.

Anyway, in summary, first brew seems to have gone very well, keen to see how it conditions!

Cheers!

That looks really nice and "citrus" is a prized flavour in a brew; which is why Citra Hops are so expensive!

Don't worry about getting a clear brew. With an ABV of 6.9% (I've added 0.5% for the priming sugar) it should keep okay until "Gravity + Time" has worked its miracle.

The only thing you really have to worry about is that the "citrus" flavour may fade badly during the conditioning stage so, as I like the flavour, I would make a fairly strong Hop Tea and mix it in with the brew along with the sugar for priming.

Enjoy!

Awesome, so just steep a load of hops in some boiled water, drain and leave to cool? And then I suppose use it to make up the priming solution? I think I will try that.

Dutto said:

WOW! Impressed!

Please keep us posted on the outcome, especially with regard to the bittering and hop flavours that you get.



BTW, the only thing I find in our local hedgerows are plastic bags full of dogsh1te! ...

... which raises possibility that, if I used them in a brew, would the brew be classed as "Boil in a Bag"?

Click to expand...

I'm now seriously questioning the Elgoods beer 'black dog' !

Hi, Im new to homebrew and I've got a hop vine in my garden covered in hop cones and they smell amazing.Im going to attempt a kit beer at the weekend and was going to boil some hops in water and use the strained water when I mix it up.Anyone any idea of a quantity for a 40 pint kit? Thanks for any thoughts

DavieC said:

....... Thanks for any thoughts

Click to expand...

Any thoughts?

How about "Lucky git!", "Nobody likes a smarty-pants!" or "I hope your brews get Hop Clanger!" as thoughts from someone who can't get the hop plant he bought to produce a single cone?

Enjoy!

PS

Welcome to The Forum!

Ha ha...yes never thought of it that way, I've just collected them and thrown them away for the last 10 years! Sorry!

DavieC said:

Ha ha...yes never thought of it that way, I've just collected them and thrown them away for the last 10 years! Sorry!

Click to expand...

You can go right off some people!!

Looking at your beer it looks like it will drop pretty clear to me. I would advise just bottling and cooling the bottles though.
Sitting in the shed with fluctuating temperature will draw in O2 to the bucket and possibly worse.
Would be a damn Shame to lose a good beer in the name of clarity.

DavieC said:

Hi, Im new to homebrew and I've got a hop vine in my garden covered in hop cones and they smell amazing.Im going to attempt a kit beer at the weekend and was going to boil some hops in water and use the strained water when I mix it up.Anyone any idea of a quantity for a 40 pint kit? Thanks for any thoughts

Click to expand...

Don't boil the hops as that will make your kit more bitter. Steep the hops in boiler water that has cooled just a little - so hot, but not boiling. About 10 minutes should do it. That way you'll add flavour and aroma but not bitterness. A few handfulls should do the trick.

Thanks for that, do I need to sanitize the hops in any way?They're ready for picking now so shall have a go on Sunday. Ta

This looks amazing!

DavieC said:

Thanks for that, do I need to sanitize the hops in any way?They're ready for picking now so shall have a go on Sunday. Ta

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Shouldnt do. Hops are naturally anti-bacterial. Although Ive never used fresh picked hops (wet hops) but if you Cwrw666s suggesstion it'll 'pasturize' them anyway. If you have a thermometer steep them at about 80C

thanks for that Myqul.I will follow all the advice given here, its much appreciated.

An update on the progress of this batch:

I racked into recovered and sanitized brown bottles today. Despite being my first racking day, it actually went very smoothly, being done in a couple of hours; though only 16 L to rack, into 25 bottles of assorted sizes (500-660 mL) makes it easier I suppose!

I first made a hope tea as recommended by Dutto, 13 g of hops in boiled water left to steep and cool which I then used to dissolve up the DME for priming. This solution was decanted into the bottling bucket, and the volume from the FV transferred to this carefully, with minimal splashing. Racking was quite quick, and I spent the hour afterwards throwing together a label and printing and gluing with milk.

I had stuck the FV in the shed the night before, and the yeast had settled nicely at the bottom. I have collected a good amount of this to hopefully re-use (I don't know how good dried yeast is for this). I am quite keen to get into regularly using a starter rather than rebuying over and over again.

The beer has cleared a fair bit more at this point. I gave a taste to some leftover, and have to say it is a bit blander than I remember, we'll see if carbonation and time improve it. It is at least drinkable!

Cheers!

Dutto said:

Any thoughts?

How about "Lucky git!", "Nobody likes a smarty-pants!" or "I hope your brews get Hop Clanger!" as thoughts from someone who can't get the hop plant he bought to produce a single cone?

Enjoy!

PS

Welcome to The Forum!

Click to expand...

I just had a thought about your hop/lack of hops. I've got 2 hops.One of them has flowers on and the other gets hop cones.I don't think you have to have both types (but not really sure,maybe male/female?)

You can go right off some people you know!

That's all I need! A hop plant that's on strike because it's not getting enough!

Thanks for that!