Scottish Heavy Walker's Gruagach 80/-

[Walker]

I need to brew it again with this method if it makes that big of a difference

It does. The difference is significant.

 

[EarthBound]

I'll be doing some caramelizing, for sure... also oak-aging for a few months and posting the results on this thread.

Thanks for the recipe, Walker.

 

[EarthBound]

Hey, is that picture from one of Grimms fairy tales?

 

[Walker]

Possibly? No idea. It's a really old illustration, but it's Scottish and I think the Grimm's stuck to mainland Europe.

 

[skeeordye11]

Those that have made this, what was your FG? I'm at 1.022 currently so I'm just wondering how that compares to others.

 

[DeNomad]

My FD was. 1.015

 

[sweetpoetatoe]

I've been trying to find a recipe that will age well while im out of town for 2 months doing work up north. Its a bit of a troublesome search through style. I've really been wanting to brew this for awhile now, Do you think 2 to 2 1/2 months would be too much for it or just plain unnecessary?

 

[EarthBound]

Just wanted to letcha know that I finally tapped this bad boy, and it's a hit. Everyone who has tasted it really likes it. The caramelization is necessary for this recipe, IMO. I did the oak-aging, and I recommend to others that they do it that way, as well.

For an 11 gallon batch, I used 8 oz of peated malt, and I think it is exactly enough. I wouldn't use more than that, for sure. I will definitely use peated malt in other scottish recipes, as well, because I think it's an integral part of this one. I let it age for almost three months, and I think that should be the minimum.

Good job on the recipe, Walker.

 

[sweetpoetatoe]

I just racked this to the secondary at 3 weeks, and was extremely astounded and enraged at the site of white mold on top, i racked it and left the mold behind anyway, it still smells amazing. This is my first infected batch, in the past I've only had a few bottles here and there. Its extremely depressing too because this is the first occasion where i finally broke down and got a good strain of yeast and had everything prepared to harvest it.
The gravity so far was at 1.022, and it has lost most visible signs of fermentation. Hopefully all will be well. I guess i should be expecting this with new orleans summers, but its still depressing

 

[rico567]

Brewed my first batch today......didn't quite hit 154 for mash, but the OG was spot on, and we'll see. I went with the additional pound of 2-row. My first reduction, and first use of peated malt. Interested to see the outcome. WY1728 pack didn't swell up a whole lot, but that's not a first. It'll do fine, I'm sure. Plan on my usual extended primary, and figure on a longer than usual conditioning.

 

[hughes_brews]

Brewed this last night and have a question. I collected about a quart of the first runnings and reduced it as mentioned. However, I added it back to the boil about 30 minutes in - just before the hop addition. Will this make a difference vs. adding it in the last few minutes?

 

[rico567]

Brewed this last night and have a question. I collected about a quart of the first runnings and reduced it as mentioned. However, I added it back to the boil about 30 minutes in - just before the hop addition. Will this make a difference vs. adding it in the last few minutes?

H'm. Interesting question. I brewed my first batch of this Tuesday, and I just did the reduction (damn near boiled over, I got lucky!), took the pan out to the garage where the boil was going, put it in and dunked the pan to rinse it out. I couldn't even tell you when I put it in..........that's a 90 min. boil, so I'm guessing halfway, maybe.

 

[dale1038]

Brewed this up today. Og was 1.057. Added back the caramelized portion with about 30 minutes left in the boil, fwiw. I'll report back in a few months. Cheers!

 

[Walker]

I don't think it'll make a difference when you add the reduction back. I always do it near the end of the boil, just because that's when I have it ready to go, but ... i doubt it matters.

 

[rico567]

I'm approaching 4 weeks in primary, so I did a hydrometer test for FG today = 1.010. Lower than I expected, given what I've read in this thread, and given that I pretty much hit the OG right on the money at 1.054. Anyway, ready to bottle and sock it away for a while....

 

[hughes_brews]

I just racked mine to secondary last night. Finished at 1.014 (O.G. 1.055) and tasted awesome. Now letting it bulk age until New Years.

 

[dale1038]

Racked mine yesterday. FG was 1.016. Tasted pretty good.

 

[rico567]

My first batch is a little over two months from brewday; a month in the fermenter, a month in the bottle. Just retrieved a tube from the basement early this morning and stuck it in the fridge, enjoying it now. Excellent, just excellent. Some of this thread indicates it may improve given some more conditioning. Can't wait....it should be amazing in that event. 4 oz. peated malt produced a flavor, but very subtle. The reduction apparently produced enough unfermentables to yield a nice blended sweetness.

 

[streetmachine]

I just brewed this yesterday. I used 10 lbs of marris otter instead of the 9 lbs of two row and 1 lb of crystal. For my first attempt at an all grain batch I think I did pretty good. Ended up with 5 gallons in the fermenter and I collected another gallon from the mash tun to make an unhopped malt beverage for a friend.

Thanks for the recipe! I'll let you know how it turns out. Its pretty dark as it sits now even without using the crystal malt. I'll try to post some pics.

 

[Walker]

The crystal is in the recipe not for color as much as it is for a rich carmel flavor, but I am sure it will be good.

 

[streetmachine]

Okay, I let the reduction boil for the 90 minutes then added it straight to the fermenter. So I would think that will help. Sorry for the resolution on this pic, I took it this morning in the basement before I left for work. The Krausen is about 1 finger tall.

 

[Punx Clever]

Just transferred this to secondary. Overshot my OG by quite a bit due to high efficiency, so I'm looking at 7% now.

Very tasty though! This one won't last long.

 

[hinke]

We got 1st place in the Scottish/Irish Ale category with this recipe at the 2012 Bluebonnet!!

 

[Walker]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeet

 

[ddarity]

Congrats Hinke! We picked up a couple golds, a silver and a bronze!

Largest attendance I've ever seen there and we have been going longer than I would care to admit. The T-Shirts and scoresheets usually don't show up for a couple weeks. They were planning on handing out the scoresheets but from I heard there were just too many and not enough volunteers.. not fact.. just what I heard. I do know that that comp is a huge undertaking and that they were really working their tales off. Hopefully they will get the results up soon. Hope to make it again next year.

CHEERZ!

 

[hinke]

Thanks!

My first time there and first time entering a beer in to the Bluebonnet

They had over 1800 entries total.

I judged one flight on Friday, then just had fun the rest of the time

 

[ddarity]

Thanks!

My first time there and first time entering a beer in to the Bluebonnet

They had over 1800 entries total.

I judged one flight on Friday, then just had fun the rest of the time

A GOLD for your first time entering!?!?! OutStanding!!!! :rockin: Congrats! Hope you entered as a new entrant!! Keep bringin it strong!!

 

[hinke]

Thanks!

Did not enter as new entrant...that's how little I know

This beer is on the schedule again. Can't wait to have it again.

 

[rico567]

We got 1st place in the Scottish/Irish Ale category with this recipe at the 2012 Bluebonnet!!

This is not surprising at all. After trying several other Scottish 80/- recipes and finding -something- lacking, after tasting my first batch of this beer I knew it was going to be a regular on my shelves. I don't know whether it's the reduction or the peated malt that does it, but it's a winner.....

 

[rico567]

Brewed my second batch yesterday; this one's a keeper for sure! I remembered to do the reduction, but it looked like the level was a bit low after I sealed up the bucket. I'll have to remember to add more makeup water next time. That 90 minute boil and the reduction definitely use more than normal.....