New Zealand Brewers

[Microphobik]

I got four silvers and a bronze.

44 on a Scottish 60/-
43 on an English Barleywine
40 on a sweet mead
38 on an English Brown
34 on Foreign Extra Stout

Unfortunately I got unlucky with a bad bottle and lost points for my bitter, and lost some points on an out of style beer as well. But I was pretty stoked with the results. Mostly just entered for feedback. Next year I'll hold back the more questionable beers.

 

[mattd2]

I got four silvers and a bronze.

44 on a Scottish 60/-
43 on an English Barleywine
40 on a sweet mead
38 on an English Brown
34 on Foreign Extra Stout

Unfortunately I got unlucky with a bad bottle and lost points for my bitter, and lost some points on an out of style beer as well. But I was pretty stoked with the results. Mostly just entered for feedback. Next year I'll hold back the more questionable beers.

Wow, good work! How did you find the feedback that you were given? I expect mine was limited because the beers were just too "wrong" so "fix your process" and "think about what you want to achieve" are probably fair calls
Funny that I felt I got more useful feedback from the Berliner Weisse than the 2 I really needed it for... but maybe I need to get closer to style before they can help!

 

[Microphobik]

Wow, good work! How did you find the feedback that you were given? I expect mine was limited because the beers were just too "wrong" so "fix your process" and "think about what you want to achieve" are probably fair calls
Funny that I felt I got more useful feedback from the Berliner Weisse than the 2 I really needed it for... but maybe I need to get closer to style before they can help!

Thanks. Kind of similar to you. The stronger the rating on the beer, the more detailed the notes were. I found it really helpful to hear what the judges picked up in the beer they liked. I got a few good suggestions on my bronze, as to areas I could look at.

The one's that were negative were mostly pretty brief. I didn't disagree with them though. The only thing I had a hard time with was a semi-sweet mead I entered that got a 19 for being out of style and "should have been entered as a sweet mead". I felt really good about this one and was surprised to see it do so poorly. On the hydrometer it finished at 0.000 but it still had an impression of sweetness. I entered it as a semi-sweet because it was almost identical to a semi-sweet mead I bought from moonlight meadery, which was the only example of "semi-sweat" I have ever had. But hey, I guess it's what it tastes like to the judge, not what it actually is. I still have two bottles of it. Next year I'll try it in the "sweet mead" category and see what happens.

 

[Mohanz]

Sounds good guys. I didn't enter any myself, but there's always next year

Pretty gutted about my latest brew, took a sample of my red ale and have found i mashed too high and it looks like it is stuck at 1.020 still at 5.38% abv but not confident its going to be any good. Any potential fixes? would batch priming in a keg help lower it?

Otherwise ill just let it condition for a bit, keg it and force carb it to see if its drinkable - otherwise ditch it.

 

[crusader1612]

Thanks. Kind of similar to you. The stronger the rating on the beer, the more detailed the notes were. I found it really helpful to hear what the judges picked up in the beer they liked. I got a few good suggestions on my bronze, as to areas I could look at.

The one's that were negative were mostly pretty brief. I didn't disagree with them though. The only thing I had a hard time with was a semi-sweet mead I entered that got a 19 for being out of style and "should have been entered as a sweet mead". I felt really good about this one and was surprised to see it do so poorly. On the hydrometer it finished at 0.000 but it still had an impression of sweetness. I entered it as a semi-sweet because it was almost identical to a semi-sweet mead I bought from moonlight meadery, which was the only example of "semi-sweat" I have ever had. But hey, I guess it's what it tastes like to the judge, not what it actually is. I still have two bottles of it. Next year I'll try it in the "sweet mead" category and see what happens.

Moonlights the one in nth canty right? I grew up down the road from it. But never tried it. Still haven't.

The only one I'm really disappointed in notes wise is my coconut porter. Put it in spice/herb/vege beer as it is a coconut beer.
To be told out of style?
The notes that irked me a touch was the appearance. 2/3: within colour parameters. I'll post the notes.

 

[crusader1612]

Moonlights the one in nth canty right? I grew up down the road from it. But never tried it. Still haven't.

The only one I'm really disappointed in notes wise is my coconut porter. Put it in spice/herb/vege beer as it is a coconut beer.
To be told out of style?
The notes that irked me a touch was the appearance. 2/3: within colour parameters. I'll post the notes.

https://nhc.soba.org.nz/brewer/entries/1985/score/share?k=95e370

 

[Microphobik]

Moonlight Meadery is one of the biggest out of the states. Michael Fairbrother is the owner and does a lot with the Brewing Network.

I would be totally stumped on where to put a coconut beer. Spice/herb/vegetable would make sense, but so would fruit beer as counter-intuitive as it sounds.

It looks like a coconut porter won something big at NHC a while back in the fruit beer category. Here's a thread on it: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=16116.0

But everyone is debating whether or not it should be in the fruit or spice/herb/veg category as well.

Just to totally geek out, it's technically not a fruit or a vegetable. It's a "drupe". New one to me: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/coconut.html

 

[mattd2]

Moonlights the one in nth canty right? I grew up down the road from it. But never tried it. Still haven't.

The only one I'm really disappointed in notes wise is my coconut porter. Put it in spice/herb/vege beer as it is a coconut beer.
To be told out of style?
The notes that irked me a touch was the appearance. 2/3: within colour parameters. I'll post the notes.

The 2015 style guidelines specifically include coconut for category 30. One reason to say it is not in style is if the coconut is not "strong" enough, e.g. if the judges can't detect it is in there are say the beer should have been entered as a standard porter instead... but I'm really the last person that should be advising on correct categories

 

[crusader1612]

The 2015 style guidelines specifically include coconut for category 30. One reason to say it is not in style is if the coconut is not "strong" enough, e.g. if the judges can't detect it is in there are say the beer should have been entered as a standard porter instead... but I'm really the last person that should be advising on correct categories

https://nhc.soba.org.nz/brewer/entries/1985/score/share?k=95e370

heres thenote. nto sure if i posted earlier.
cos it was quite hoppy, i think they may have confused it a touch. i think a generic specialty beer category might be required if it doesn't fit into any other style category.
I did note the style as american style porter, quite hoppy with a subtle coconut aroma and flavour.

 

[Pkrd]

If you want the Tuatara APA clone, Brewtopia has a good one, comes with instructions etc also: http://shop.brewtopia.net.nz/produc...cts_id=1097&osCsid=0ogdgeotma7k3hggo47vdgdp81

Mashed this this afternoon, will finish up tonight. I really love the crush from these guys.

I've split the batch, today will be standard but might go nuts with the dry hopping on batch #2.

 

[Mohanz]

^ Nice one mate

I ended up just kegging my Red Ale and force carbing it to see if its drinkable; it hasn't lowered in gravity any more. I just hope it isn't too sweet!

To replace it I brewed the NZ Pale Ale, so looking forward to that one

 

[Mohanz]

Hey how's everyone's brewing going? its been a long time between activity!

 

[crusader1612]

Not too bad. Last batch ran short on OG.

Just finished upbrewing 160 litres for my wedding in a few weeks.
Brown ale
Red ale
Pale ale
Golden ale

Next up imperial stout with Brett.

 

[Mohanz]

Nice one dude!
Im doing something similar for my house warming/engagement party, trying to get at least 5 kegs done.

Brewed a Red ale on Saturday using WPL001 California Ale - geez what a beast! went from 1.062 to 1.018 in less than 3 days! krausen was like 7cm+ haha.

I brewed a dope Saison using lime zest and a hint of lime juice using a blend of French Saison 3711 and Belgian Saison 3724. Unfortunately it got an infection so i have added some Brett and will let it age. Still tastes real good so i still have faith!

Next up will be a rebrew of above + a NZ IIPA

 

[Iseneye]

Brewing's going well. Got a grain mill so I can now save on shipping and grain costs by using a Nelson supplier which I'm stoked about.

Last beer was a 3.8% APA with Mosaic and had planned on Simcoe. However, the Simcoe bag in the freezer had a crack in it and had no aroma so ended up using Motueka instead. Combination is alright but won't do it again. Next up is a Mild, then a Munich Helles, then it's cider making season.

 

[Pkrd]

Doing my biggest beer right now, 1.080 Stone Ruination clone. Pitched 2/3 of a month old US-05 yeast cake and it went nuts for 5 days. On tap now is a 4% Beetroot Belgian, nice colour and easy drinking. Doing a Tuatara APA clone next but will sub out the NS for cascade. Also in the works is shaving the shelf racks from the kegerator to add a third keg.

 

[crusader1612]

Doing my biggest beer right now, 1.080 Stone Ruination clone. Pitched 2/3 of a month old US-05 yeast cake and it went nuts for 5 days. On tap now is a 4% Beetroot Belgian, nice colour and easy drinking. Doing a Tuatara APA clone next but will sub out the NS for cascade. Also in the works is shaving the shelf racks from the kegerator to add a third keg.

Mm mm ruination. Original ruination?

 

[Pkrd]

Mm mm ruination. Original ruination?

Recipe below... I didn't have any Magnum so used Warrior and Citra for bittering.
Ferment so active I nearly needed a blowoff on my blowoff. :rockin:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=155771

 

[crusader1612]

Recipe below... I didn't have any Magnum so used Warrior and Citra for bittering.
Ferment so active I nearly needed a blowoff on my blowoff. :rockin:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=155771

nice, i tried fresh ruination when i was in the us a few months back. it was 2.0, and i've been thinking about doing that for awhile, so nicely done.

they do some awesome beers.

 

[NZLunchie]

Planning my first brew for 2016 next week. My first all grain recipe being rebrewed......Epic Pale Ale clone.
Planning a year of funk this year. Got some wild yeast to use, some lacto/Pedio I managed to get off some silage I want to play with and I'm thinking of getting a barrel........still not 100% on that yet.

 

[Mohanz]

Oh man I am geeking out, just noticed this huge pellicle on my Saison
I thought the Brett wasnt going to do bugger all because the F.G was 1.004 and I racked it off the trub. (not to mention the pack of Brett was manufactured in April last year haha).

Keen to try it in 3months to see how its developing!

 

[crusader1612]

Oh man I am geeking out, just noticed this huge pellicle on my Saison
I thought the Brett wasnt going to do bugger all because the F.G was 1.004 and I racked it off the trub. (not to mention the pack of Brett was manufactured in April last year haha).

Keen to try it in 3months to see how its developing!

Awesome, a pellicle is designed more for oxygen protection, it shows there is some oxygen in the carboy. but don't fear, normally that means the brett is active as well, and even if it doesn't eat much in the way of sugar, it should modify the flavours, by eatingthings like dead yeast, and the longer chain sugars if there are any.

Post a pic when you can I'd love to see it.

 

[Mohanz]

Chur. Unfortunately I cant post a photo just yet as I put it in an awkward spot in the garage and I'm afraid if i move it the Pellicle will drop haha.

Anyway I just re-brewed that same beer again on the weekend with 3711 and its fermenting away now. Pretty odd that the fermentation isn't nearly as aggressive, but its looking murky as all hell. Just ramped up to 25C to get some funky esters in it :rockin: Can definitely smell that lime pushing through too.

 

[Mohanz]

Hey all,
Not sure if everyone would have seen, but pre-orders for fresh hops are open through a few HBS: I got some via The Brew House in Newtown but i believe Brewtopia, Home Brew West and Finney's Emporium are running a competition - $20 for 1kg of Motueka, Cascade and Nelson Sauvin.

 

[kiwirevo]

I brewed a pale ale today that will be dry hopped with fresh cascades when they arrive. Then I'll be brewing 2 fresh hop beers, one a wheat beer and probably a iipa or a imperial red ale

 

[crusader1612]

Hi All,
shameless Plug here for the new - Official Home Brew Club here in Christchurch.
we are launching 1st May, for anyone in the area, check outthe Faacebook event.

https://www.facebook.com/events/211099959269867/

CHEERS>

 

[Johnny-O]

Speaking of which, we also just started a homebrew club up in Kerikeri/Waipapa in the Far North. We meet on the second Tuesday of each month. Join the FB page for more info and/or come join us for a meet up: https://www.facebook.com/groups/farnorthhomebrewclub

 

[crusader1612]

Speaking of which, we also just started a homebrew club up in Kerikeri/Waipapa in the Far North. We meet on the second Tuesday of each month. Join the FB page for more info and/or come join us for a meet up: https://www.facebook.com/groups/farnorthhomebrewclub

Nice one.

 

[Donmega]

We should have a home brew club Comp... Battle of the regions [emoji106]

 

[crusader1612]

We should have a home brew club Comp... Battle of the regions [emoji106]

Haha. Sounds like a good plan.
We are actually planning a full competition at some stage soon. So will let you guys know