GhostShip
Junior Member
I love Brewdog's Dead Pony IPA - I don't know how they pack so much flavour into a beer that's only 3.8%, so thought I'd try the Bruphoria Dead Phony IPA kit.
Kit started - 17th July
Hop tea added - 27th July
Cold crash - 31st July
Bottled - 2nd August
Move out to shed - 2nd September
First taste - 6th November
The first thing I noticed when I opened the first bottle was that it hadn't carbonated very well. I don't like very fizzy beers, but this needs more carbonation. It's not flat, but it's not far off. Secondly, there's absolutely no head at all. I have poured 5/6 over the weekend and they're all the same. I don't understand the carbonation issue, as I did what I do for every brew and have never had a problem before. It was fermented in the brew fridge at 20ºC and I used the same temperature for secondary - again, what I always do..
The flavour is actually quite good - it just doesn't look very pretty. There's a definite hop aroma (the kit uses Simcoe, Citra and Mosaic in tea bag form) and a nice bitterness at the end. That said, it's a little bit thin. For me, it's crying out for some light spraymalt, which would have given it some body and also (in my experience), a decent head. It's perfectly drinkable, which is just as well given that I've got 40 pints to get through, but I was expecting a lot more from this kit. The previous two kits I've done have been Mangrove Jacks and in both cases I added the MJ extract. There's no doubt that this gives the beer real body and I have to say, both kits were far better than the Dead Phony. I'm at the point now where given the extensive range, I see no good reason to move away from Mangrove Jacks at present.
Given the lack of carbonation and head, I'm guessing that something went slightly wrong along the way, but I have absolutely no idea what it might be. I'd love to hear from someone who's had success with this kit - anyone?
Kit started - 17th July
Hop tea added - 27th July
Cold crash - 31st July
Bottled - 2nd August
Move out to shed - 2nd September
First taste - 6th November
The first thing I noticed when I opened the first bottle was that it hadn't carbonated very well. I don't like very fizzy beers, but this needs more carbonation. It's not flat, but it's not far off. Secondly, there's absolutely no head at all. I have poured 5/6 over the weekend and they're all the same. I don't understand the carbonation issue, as I did what I do for every brew and have never had a problem before. It was fermented in the brew fridge at 20ºC and I used the same temperature for secondary - again, what I always do..
The flavour is actually quite good - it just doesn't look very pretty. There's a definite hop aroma (the kit uses Simcoe, Citra and Mosaic in tea bag form) and a nice bitterness at the end. That said, it's a little bit thin. For me, it's crying out for some light spraymalt, which would have given it some body and also (in my experience), a decent head. It's perfectly drinkable, which is just as well given that I've got 40 pints to get through, but I was expecting a lot more from this kit. The previous two kits I've done have been Mangrove Jacks and in both cases I added the MJ extract. There's no doubt that this gives the beer real body and I have to say, both kits were far better than the Dead Phony. I'm at the point now where given the extensive range, I see no good reason to move away from Mangrove Jacks at present.
Given the lack of carbonation and head, I'm guessing that something went slightly wrong along the way, but I have absolutely no idea what it might be. I'd love to hear from someone who's had success with this kit - anyone?
