Youngs Red India Ale

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poulsej

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Hi all... it's been 20 years since I tried brewing and with lockdown I thought I'd give it another go. I was bought the Youngs RIA as a gift so I got myself all the necessaries!
I think I've made some mistakes....
  • I topped up with 17.5l instead of topping up TO 17.5l
  • Pitched the yeast at 25c instead of waiting to drop lower
  • Starting SG was 1.048.
  • Temp fluctuated for the 1st 2 days at 23-24. maybe even 25 at one point.
  • Smart airlock dropped to 1 bubble every 70 seconds midf day 4
  • Measured SG at 1.011 end of day 4
  • Trial jar sample tastes crazy acidic
Today is day 5 and I think this is messed up. Moved it to the garage which is a steady 18-19c pretty much all the time.
Have I messed this up ??? pretty sure it shouldn't smell vinegary at this point.
 
My god this beer is fantastic. Didn't give up......dry hopped it at day 8. Bottled at day 10 (made 53x 330ml bottles). 2 weeks in the house at about 19-23c. 1 week in the garage at 18-20c. Tried a bottle at room temp and got a lot of froth bubbling out. Once it calm down, made a pleasant drink. Waited a few more days and tried another. Again very lively when the top was popped.....this was the last bottle made up so a bit dreggy.
Had another but put it in the freezer for 1 hour............. AMAZING. This seems to be the key in warm weather. Get the bottles cooled down to 2-5C.....no crazy fizzing and it feels likes its fully carbonated.

Now this sounds really odd but this RIA tastes like a very rich Punk IPA. If you like Punk or a nice hoppy IPA, you will really like this kit. I will be doing this kit again after the next one planned but this time with some changes......
  • Mix the malt with 50c water.... not 100c
  • 10 days fermenting in the garage at 18-21
  • Dry hop in a muslin bag at correct SG for 2 days
  • 2 weeks in the house bottled at 19-22
  • 2 weeks in the garage 18-21
  • Fridge the beer the day before drinking
One thing thing that surprises me is how much effect cooling the beer before drinking has. It seems to hold the fizz in the liquid whereas at room temp the gas goes very quickly. Science !! :)
 
I love the contrast in your two posts - the despair in the first followed by the highs of the second, pretty much sums up home brewing.

Glad it turned out so well!
Cheers Ghostship. I expected it to taste like acid!! The freezer for an hour before drinking is an amazing trick (read it on here somewhere). It seems to stop any liveliness in the bottle before pouring so you don't get sediment/bits of hops. RPA tastes great anyway :)
 

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