BoHo Lager

Something tells me this one is going to be a "bloody beauty" as the Aussies would say.  Based on a mash up between a traditional Czech Pilsen and a Bavarian Wheat Lager, this brew is as twisted as its creator.  Why not also try some high intensity high alpha acid Galaxy Hops at Boil kick off, lob in a Styrian Goldings Hop Plug late in the boil and then dry hop with that wonderful Czech beauty, the Saaz.  Based on a golden light & wheat malt mix up with a Wyeast Bohemian Lager.  Took a while to get going but the little Boho Beauty is up and bubbling through the air lock to Daddy's delight.  Dedicated to the Bohemians in BoHo Victoria, this beauty is best enjoyed in serenity locations like Bonnie Doon on the side of a now full Lake Eildon perhaps with a freshly caught trout if your a lucky man or women who been casting flies to catch 'em.  If not, don't stress.  There is always a 'bloody beaut' Boho Lager to lick your lips around.  Off to check the brew now...

Racked this baby off on 16 Oct for some settling time and bottled 11 days later on 27 Oct.  Deep golden lager with some amber hues on bottling.

First tasting today (Sun 20 Nov; 3.5 weeks in the bottle) and I gotta say I'm liking this little puppy!  Still some clarification to go and a very yeasty nose but no denying the Galaxy hop in there and its a big resin hop hit early that could possibly benefit from some more stronger malt to offset the astringency but I don't mind it. Certainly grows on you by half way down the glass and I have no doubt the flavours will round out and mellow with age. Reckon it will hit its straps in 3 weeks time but could keep gettting better out to Christmas if it lasts that long!

PS Tasted great with some home cooked Pizza!  Cut away that cheese no problem at all. Yum!

International Nutta Brown Ale

Back to brewing @ home after a 17 year hiatus the climes told me it was time to get nutty and go brown!

Grabbing a good old Black Rock Nut Brown Ale kit on the recommendation of friends @ Grain & Grape it just did not feel like enough!  Kit brewing is the cheats way out to home brew so why not chuck in some Willamette hops and a couple of Fuggles hop plugs with a Wyeast London Ale Yeast and oh yeah, why not chuck in some East Timor Organic Coffee Beans late in the boil for a great roasted nutty taste :-)

Dry hopped in the fermenter with the Fuggles hops and brewed at 18 degrees Celsius.

Brewed on: Sat 18 July 2011 Bottled on: Sat 2 July 2011 Best after: Oct 2011

It's a wonderful deep brown clear drop with a big bold hoppy head and dry hop finish.  Internationally sourced ingredients, the International Nutta Brown Ale is a winner!

It's good to be back brewing after 16 years off!  16 years too long my friends.  Brew on :-)

Xtreme Jinja Ninja

Take the kitchen sink throw that in the boil and the laundry one and your starting to get close to the Xtreme Jinja Ninja.  Brewed on a base Coopers Ginger Beer kit 980g with the goodness of Lemon Juice & Pulp, 3 limes and  the rind of Lemon, Orange and Kafir Lime Leaves.  Hold on there's more...Cinamon Sticks, Fresh Mint, Pride of Ringwood Hops, Beechworth Honey, Brewing sugar to get the abv up to 4%, large green and small red chilli, new and old ginger root, cloves, cardanom pods and lemon grass.

Pitch in a Wyeast Lambic Blend and a Coopers Ale Yeast for back up - we need this baby to brew :)

Oh yeah, why not add a pommace of dry ingredients into the fermenter to steep yet more flavour - more fresh ginger, mint leaves, lemon grass stalks, whole chilli and more Pride of Ringwood hops.

Can a ginger beer taste like ginger beer and finish like whisky with a warm glow down your throat?  I think so, but why not taste it yourself - stock is truly limited with only 29 bottles and 10 put aside from the Ginger Ninjas.

Ingredients: Coopers Ginger Beer Kit, Old & New Ginger Root, Brewing Sugar, Beechworth Honey, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Kafir Lime Leaves, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Lemongrass,  Mint, Hops, Chilli, Cloves, Lambic & Ale Yeast, Saccharin & Cyclamate.

abv 4% alc/vol

Brewed on: 3 July 2011 Bottled on: 15 July 2011 Best after: 10 Nov 2011

Brew on!