Like I said in my previous reports, my racking cane got clogged so my volume was a bit light and my efficiency was a bit off being my first batch with my new water supply, so this is a high end APA or a low-end IPA, either way a damn tasty beer!

I was a bit concerned about the slow performance of the Nottingham yeast, but like I said I was fermenting this rather cool, in the 56/57F range.  Well the beer turned out great, this was the first time I used Amarillo hops and really enjoy them, I prefer this Amarillo/Cascade blend over soley Cascade.  I’ll stop rambling about the beer, here’s my review with a picture of the beer!  Try the recipe out, if you like hops, you’ll love this!

At a couple months age (and even at just over one month) this beer is fantastic. It pours fairly clear golden-orange color with a moderate white head. The aroma is quite hoppy, lemon-citrus qualities from Amarillo and Cascade hops. The flavor is moderately hoppy with a noticeable, yet not tongue splitting hop bitterness. The beer finishes with a nice linger of hop flavor and a bit of sweet, nutty malt. The carbonation is moderate and body medium.This beer turned out wonderful, a refreshing, very flavorful pale ale!

The beer on the left is the beer from the fridge and the beer on the right is the cellar temperature beer.  The cellar temperature beer held a frothier head than the cold beer, I can’t say why.  The pours were equally agressive and glasses were both clean.  Anyway, the aroma of the cellar temperature beer was much roastier than the cold beer, I think part of that was due to temperature differences as well as the fact the cellar beer had a much larger head.  A larger head delivers a more intense punch of aroma.  The color of the beers were the same, very dark brown, not quite black.

The taste of the these two beers were (not surprisingly) very similar.  Both have a moderately roasted flavor, medium/light body and low carbonation.  The finish is rather dry, but not too dry.  There may be a hint of hop flavor in there as well, tough to say.

So what do I think?  I think it’s a good beer, not a great a beer.  The next time I make this brew there are some changes I want to make.  Here is a key part of making great homebrew.  Take great notes.  Note what you like, what you don’t like, and how you would change things.  You won’t remember 6 or 9 months from now!

I purposely went for low carbonation since too high of carbonation on a dry stout can overly accentuate the dry/acrid nature of the beer to a point where it is overwhelming.  Next time I’d prefer just a bit more carbonation, ideally I’d have a nitrogren beer engine, but I’d settle for just a bit more carbonation.

The body is purposely lighter bodied since this is not supposed to be a big thick beer, but rather a beer you enjoy through the night of playing cards.  To me it still needs something a bit more.  Next time I will mash at a slightly higher temperature.  The slightly higher mash temperature will give the beer a higher finishing gravity, and hence a bit more sweetness and more body.

I wouldn’t mind a bit darker color and bit more roasted flavor.  So I think I will increase the roasted barley a bit and maybe try pulverizing the roasted barley.  I have read that pulverizing roasted barley can darken the color and slightly change the flavor profile.

So there you have it.  The Beamish Irish Stout turned out pretty good.  There is room for improvement, but until next time, I’ve got a little over a case of tasty dry stout left to drink.

Good luck with your brewing

Kiltlifter is Scottish Style Ale that has a slightly hazy orangeish-amber color and a nice fluffy off-white head.  The aroma is quite malty, sweet and bready.  The flavor is, as expected, rather malty, just a bit of hop in there and finishes dry with some lingering bready/nuttyness.  If you’re in the western US or can find Four Peaks in store by you, pick up a 6 pack, it’s a tasty brew!

Check back again soon!  I hope to get back on the brewing horse at my new house soon!  I’ll probably update my Beamish Irish Stout with a review and some pictures.

The beer pours a clear copper color with a white head that leaves a nice lacing.  The aroma has a moderate spicy, citrus hop character as well as a medium-low toasted malt aroma.  The flavor is moderately malty, some sweetness with a pronounced, moderate spicy hop flavor.  The bitterness is moderate.  The beer

finishes crisp with a lingering hop flavor and slight sweetness.  The body is medium-full and carbonation is moderate.  Overall a nice brew, an Oktoberfest meets an American Amber Ale.  I especially like the balance of very robust hop and malt flavors.

With the leaves changing I can’t help but keep with the Oktoberfest theme.  I thought I’d share some notes on a new Oktoberfest I recently tried:  Great Lakes Oktoberfest.  This one is definitely one of my favorites and worth every penny!

This fest pours a brilliant copper color with moderate white head, just like the picture from their website!  The aroma is moderately malty, spicy, biscuity, grainy, and a bit sweet.  The flavor is highly malty; biscuit and bread-like, spicy malt and a spicy, earthy low but noticeable hop flavor.  The finish is exceptionally smooth and pleasantly dry.  Carbonation moderate-low and body is full.  Overall an exceptionally smooth, flavorful beer.  A great example of the style.