Praise for Jamil's Ordinary Bitter

[George]

After listening to the bitter style show a few weeks ago, I made the ordinary bitter exactly as recommended. It's kegged and carbed now and all I can say is WOW. From 1.036 down to 1.014, kegged and drinking in 16 days.

This stuff is outstanding. At 2% alcohol, I could drink this forever. Drinks like soda, tastes like BEER. I had 6 pints last night - the first one on an empty stomach - just to see what it would do. No hint of a buzz whatsoever. Some of you might not consider that a good thing, but for my purposes, it's great. Low calorie, too. And it still tastes great! I've got 7% stuff on tap too when I want that.

I saved the 1968 from this one and I think I'd better make another batch quickly. This time I'll try willamette instead of EKG since I've got lots of it and no EKG left. I may have this on tap from now on.

Thanks, Jamil!

[Danno]

The FG sounds a bit high. I suspect the second batch on that yeast will help attenuate it better.

[George]

You're right; I fumble-fingered that. It got down to 1.012, just in bounds for the low-attenuating 1968. I wouldn't want it much dryer though. It's very well-balanced as it is. Good stuff.

[Speyedr]

George, do you have that recipe handy?

[George]

George, do you have that recipe handy?

Sure, just like Jamil said on the show, except that my LHBS didn't have 120L so I had to sub 80L. Oh, and I needed a little extra northdown to hit my bitterness target. It's an odd size because I canned 3 gallons of it for starters.

Code: Select all

Ordinary Average Bitter

A ProMash Recipe Report

Recipe Specifics
----------------

Batch Size (Gal):         8.50    Wort Size (Gal):    8.50
Total Grain (Lbs):       11.00
Anticipated OG:          1.035    Plato:              8.87
Anticipated SRM:           9.2
Anticipated IBU:          29.8
Brewhouse Efficiency:       75 %
Wort Boil Time:             90    Minutes


Grain/Extract/Sugar

   %     Amount     Name                          Origin        Potential SRM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 86.4     9.50 lbs. TF Halcyon Pale Ale Malt      UK             1.037      2
  9.1     1.00 lbs. Crystal 80L                                  1.033     80
  4.5     0.50 lbs. Special Roast Malt            America        1.033     40

Potential represented as SG per pound per gallon.


Hops

   Amount     Name                              Form    Alpha  IBU  Boil Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1.00 oz.    Goldings - E.K.                   Whole    6.60  16.5  60 min.
  0.50 oz.    Goldings - E.K.                   Whole    6.60   6.3  30 min.
  0.50 oz.    Goldings - E.K.                   Whole    6.60   1.6  5 min.
  0.25 oz.    Wye Northdown                     Pellet   7.90   5.4  60 min.


Yeast
-----

WYeast 1968 London Extra Special Bitter


[Speyedr]

All Grain Starters?? You are the MAN!!

Thanks!

[gfoster]

I actually really like low alcohol milds on occasion. The 60/- I did came in at 2.7% and the 70/- is a hair under 4% if I remember correctly. I normally brew to around a 5 to mid 5 % target although I've had a few near 7% as well.

I think session beers are great, especially if you want to come home over lunch, let the dog outside, have a sandwich and a beer before you get back to work.

-- Gary F.

[photoguy]

I have this same recipe in the fermenter now. I started at 1.035 and a week later I am at 1.015. I used 8 1/2 lbs of english pale malt and white labes 002. It smells awsome, but I am curious, as to why the fermentation is taking so long? I didn't use a starter, just pitched from the tube.