James Morton - Brew

Wise words

 

On reflection, my TTP tastes good but i prefer slightly hoppier, bitter beers. I'll do this one again but tempted to add 20g of Citra at the start of the boil for bitterness. Thoughts?

 

I always use the high alpha acid Magnum or Apollo for bittering at the start of the boil. Save your Citra for the dry hop!

Also, you could maybe try adjusting the suphate/chloride ratio of your water to get more bitterness and hop pop, assuming you haven't already?

 

Yeah great point about the hops Iain. The watery chemistry is a little beyond my knowledge at the moment though. Thanks tho, it's prompted me to do some research.
Cheers

 

I've made TTp twice and enjoyed it both times, done the Helles recently and its not bad either and today, right now in fact, I'm making the Broon Ale. Hadn't really had that many Brown Ale's until trying the Cloudwater one earlier this year so decided to finally give it a punt. Just trying to decide on the Imperial Joystick or Pub as my yeast for this. Joystick is based on Rouge 'Pacman' and they use it in their HazelNut Brown so I figure at the higher end of its temp should be good for the Broon or the esb style yeast which is Pub but I'll likely save that for an esb.

 

Hmmm water chemistry is something i need to read up on. Is it vitally important? I live in the West of Scotland where the water is quite soft.

 

If you are happy with the beers you are producing it is not vitally important. Have a read of this excellent thread by Strange Steve, it's where quite a few of us started :)

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/beginners-guide-to-water-treatment.64822/

 

Incidentally, my TTP definitely improved with age. I have a feeling i'm too impatient and start drinking as soon as carbonation is done hahaha. What's the average time for ageing, conditioning, maturing etc? Depends on the beer i suppose?

Anyhoo. I've just kegged my Oldy Worldy English IPA from the Brew book. WOW!. If you like good old bitter beer, try this. It smells and tastes oldy worldy, in a good way. Maybe my best brew yet. Verdict after carbonation and conditioning.

Cheers

 

Hi Ian, I'm in Ayrshire where the water is also very soft. It's ideal for IPAs, wheat beer, lager, anything up to dark amber beer. My porters and stouts have always been pretty disappointing. Even with water treatment. But as Braziliain said, if you're happy with your beers just now, then I'd just continue to do what you're doing.

 

Would anyone recommend this book then?

 

Most of his recipes are too strong and extravagant on the hops for my tastes, but it's still a good read he writes about beer very enthusiastically. I've done a few of recipes which have all been good. I recommend it

 

To be honest I'm quite a fan of extravagantly hopped beers so this book may bode well for me. Thanks.

 

I have 4 brewing books, this one, Radical Brewing, Greg Hughes, and a collection of recipes from small craft breweries. I always find myself returning to James Morton's book, for both recipes and advice.

I wholeheartedly recommend it.

 

Thanks for that, I'll ask Santa nicely for it!

 

It's an excellent book. Very informative and not at all dusty or dry in its delivery.

 

Mainly based on BIAB but a superb book nonetheless. There's scope to adapt the recipes to suit.

 

its my go to book. done about 6 or 7 from it now. have the extra oatmeal pale ale carbing as we speak.

 

I've just put an order in for ingredients to do the extra, extra special bitter and the oldy worldly English IPA. I will be using S-04 and mangrove jacks m42, will be interesting to see how they turn out. 5 packs of hops needed!

 

the firsts three are the only 3 books i have. radical brewing just collects dust, greg hughes is good for old school recipes and i use that quite a bit but i love the recipes from Jams Martin so far.