English Pub Bitter II, ESB – 2008
December 21, 2008 – 1:45 pmThis was the second attempt at an English Pub Bitter, and it is actually more like an Extra Special Bitter (ESB) this time given the IBUs at 43+. I am very happy with the results, the beer is definitely bitter, but not flooring. It has a nice malty flavor, a pretty deep golden hue, and a crisp finish. Head retention has been good.
| Target Volume (Gallons) | 5 | |||
| Total Cost | $39.39 | |||
| Yield (ounces) | 595 | |||
| Cost per 12 oz bottle | $0.79 | |||
| Boil Time | 60 | min | ||
| GRAINS | Pounds | Points/Gal | Total Points | Cost |
| Light DME | 5.5 | 46 | 253 | $18.00 |
| Steep – 30 min at 150 F | ||||
| British Malt | 1 | 28 | 28 | $1.49 |
| HOPS | Ounces | Alpha Acids | Boil Time (min) | Cost |
| Magnum | 1 | 14.00% | 60 | $2.00 |
| Cascade | 1 | 6.00% | 60 | $2.00 |
| Yamhill Goldings | 1 | 4.00% | 20 | $5.95 |
| Yamhill Goldings | 1 | 4.00% | 10 | |
| YEAST | White Labs British Ale | Cost | ||
| Attenuation Low | 63% | $6.95 | ||
| Attenuation High | 70% | |||
| Optimum Temp | 65-68F | |||
| Flocculation | ||||
| Starter | No | |||
| STATS | ||||
| Expected Original Gravity | 1.056 | |||
| Expected Final Gravity | 1.017 – 1.021 | |||
| IBUs | 43.89 | |||
| Apparent Attenuation | 74.07% | AA = 1 – FG / OG | ||
| Alcohol By Volume – Theoretical | 5.54% | |||
| Alcohol By Volume – Potential | 5.25% | |||
| BREWING: | Brewed out doors, that was fun | |||
| ½ tbs Irish Moss at start of boil | $0.10 | |||
| Burton Salts – 5 tsp, package says 1 tsp per gallon | $0.75 | |||
| Water Source Wort | Tap water, 3.5 gallons | |||
| Water Source Dilution | Tap water | |||
| DATES | Date | SG | Cum. Days | Notes |
| Brewed | 09/14/08 | 1.054 | 0 | |
| Racked | 09/20/08 | 1.018 | 6 | |
| Bottled (SG pre bottling) | 09/28/08 | 1.014 | 14 | |
| OK TO DRINK BY (60 days): | 11/13/08 | |||
| BOTTLING | ||||
| Priming Method | 4 oz Corn Syrup | $0.40 | ||
| Caps, cleaners, etc | $1.75 | |||
| Container | Capacity | Qty | Total Volume | |
| Lagunitas | 22 | 6 | 132 | |
| Half Liter (Deutsch) | 17 | 7 | 119 | |
| Bottle | 12 | 18 | 216 | |
| Jug | 64 | 2 | 128 | |
| Total Bottled: | 595 | |||
| TASTING | ||||
| 10/03/08 | 19 | Strong bitterness present, needs to carbonate more. | ||
| 10/28/08 | 44 | Brings a new meaning to ‘extra special bitter’. | ||
| Not sweet at all, a bit of a malt flavor, mostly the magnum hop bitterness comes through. | ||||
| Strong bubbles and head formation. | ||||
| 12/20/08 | 97 | The oxy caps are awesome! English friend I know says it reminded him of the ‘better stuff’ at home. | ||