Am contemplating entering a coupla beers in the Home Counties Craft Brewing festival on the 15th Nov in Sutton (I’ve not had the pleasure of going there since I was made redundant by Securicor about 5 years ago…). The Summer Lightning clone will be one I enter as a strong bitter (8C in the BJCP?). The other probably the fuggles/bramling x/amber malt thing I brewed as an Ordinary bitter (8A).
However, the ordinary one doesn’t quite meet the “low to moderate” carbonation requirement as for some reason, unless it is kept at about 4 degrees, the whole pint wants to try to make it’s way out onto the floor when I crack the top off. I have no idea why this is so over carbonated – only 1/2tsp sugar in each…? I spent a good hour last night slowly releasing the pressure in each bottle and finally recapping each one. What a ballache. Eventually, I think I got it to a manageable level – still a fair bit of carbonation, but hopefully it won’t decide that someone’s lap is a better place than in the bottle or glass when the top comes off.
Still, I’m not holding out too much hope for either – just a bit of fun and a chance to get feedback on the beer from someone “in the know”, and maybe meet some other homebrewers.
Oh – I have a brewing post to do at some point too – second outing for the Hopback yeast, and just coming to the end of its term in the fermenter.
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