KingBrianI
Well-Known Member
I've always liked Old Speckled Hen - at least when it's fresh and bottled (I don't much care for the nitro widget can stuff). So I figured why not just make a batch so I can have it on tap anytime I want. There's a recipe in Brew Your Own British Real Ale, but like most of the recipes in there, Graham seems to have simplified it for the benefit of novice brewers. Namely, he substituted white sugar and black malt for what I believe is probably invert sugar used in the real thing. So I made up a batch of invert No. 2, cultured up some Morland yeast from a couple of bottles of Hen's Tooth, and got to work.
Old Speckled Hen
OG 1.050
IBU 32
SRM 11
80% Maris Otter
12% Invert No. 2
8% British Medium Crystal
(I also added 1 oz. of acidulated malt to get my mash pH to 5.3)
45g First Gold @ 60 min
14g EKG @ 10 min
And, as I mentioned, Morland's own yeast
Brewday went well. The yeast smelled a little harsh in the starters I stepped up from the bottle dregs of the Hen's Tooth, but I'm crossing my fingers it produces a good beer, hopefully with those beautiful esters in the real thing. I'm a little worried about their condition after the trip across the ocean, though, since it took a while for that first 100 mL starter of the dregs to get going. I've also read that Morland (at least used to) use a dual-strain culture. Whether or not this is still the case, and if both have managed to make it in my starter I don't know. In about 3 weeks hopefully everything comes together, though!
Now for some pics!
Putting that Grainfather to work
Homemade Invert
Crazy cooling setup to deal with my hot groundwater
Pumping into the FV
Giving this stuff a try since I love how bright OSH is and I want mine to be pretty too!
Nailed OG
Almost nailed color. Maybe after fermentation and clearing it'll be closer
Don't let me down Morland yeast!!
Comfy Cosy in the Fermentation Fridge
Old Speckled Hen
OG 1.050
IBU 32
SRM 11
80% Maris Otter
12% Invert No. 2
8% British Medium Crystal
(I also added 1 oz. of acidulated malt to get my mash pH to 5.3)
45g First Gold @ 60 min
14g EKG @ 10 min
And, as I mentioned, Morland's own yeast
Brewday went well. The yeast smelled a little harsh in the starters I stepped up from the bottle dregs of the Hen's Tooth, but I'm crossing my fingers it produces a good beer, hopefully with those beautiful esters in the real thing. I'm a little worried about their condition after the trip across the ocean, though, since it took a while for that first 100 mL starter of the dregs to get going. I've also read that Morland (at least used to) use a dual-strain culture. Whether or not this is still the case, and if both have managed to make it in my starter I don't know. In about 3 weeks hopefully everything comes together, though!
Now for some pics!
Putting that Grainfather to work
Homemade Invert
Crazy cooling setup to deal with my hot groundwater
Pumping into the FV
Giving this stuff a try since I love how bright OSH is and I want mine to be pretty too!
Nailed OG
Almost nailed color. Maybe after fermentation and clearing it'll be closer
Don't let me down Morland yeast!!
Comfy Cosy in the Fermentation Fridge