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matrix4bOver Labor Day, I labored. I put together 3 batches of Rockbiter brew in exactly the same way, same potions.
Checking my notes, I cut back a bit on the energizer and nutrients.
I also needed to use wildflower honey rather than my preferred Alphafa. So there will be some differences. But all the 3 batches are the same.
Instead of a full tablespoon of Yeast Energizer and a table spoon of yeast nutrient, I used 1/2 a table spoon or 1 1/2 teaspoons. I noticed that I got my measurements wrong origionally. It should be only 1 teaspoon of each noramlly. Didn't sound right. But I did use my Lavin D-47 yeast. Same as always.
When it comes time, I will backsweeten, clairify, then Oak.
The point of this batch is to taste the different oak levels. That being Lightly toasted oak, Medium toasted oak, and heavy toasted oak. Treat them exactly the same otherwise. I am also taking gravity readings at each racking. But then I can refine my rockbitter formula to it's best advantage and know what the different tastes will be like with my other batches.
I have a few people making guesses that the medium toast will be the tastiest due to it's the same toast level most used in a good aged burbon.
But we shall see. Details as it develops. I don't have the gravity measurements with me but I did write them down and the temp the measurment is taken at. This, I gather affects the true gravity.
So, what will it be, Lightly toasted, Medium or Heavy toast? I wonder what will win out as a favorite.
The next test that I do a rockbitter may be over a year off and it will be another binary test. Rockbiter with step nutrients and rockbitter without.
So how step nutrients work is during the fermentation process the gravity is taken and you put in a little nutrient at the begining and the rest is put in after the 1/3 sugar break. That is when the yeast has eaten 1/3 of the sugar and should be slowing down a bit, More nutrients at that time helps to keep from stressing out the yeast and produce fewer fusel alcohols(the type of alcohol that tastes like hard alcohol) and end result is a smoother mead quicker.
So there's that. This will make my lazy hobby something more active if it pans out to make too much of a difference.
So Rockbitter tests:
1) Rockbiter Trio: Tale of Three Toasts
2) Rockbiter Step up: To Step Nutrient or no.
3) Rockbitter Yeast Extravaganza: A Test of several Yeasts.
4) Rockbitter Honey Test: A test of a few different honey?
I will still be doing my other batches and I am limiting myself to once a year at most for the Rockbitter tests.
Here's what I have:
In Carboy:
Chocolate Pair: A Chocolate Mint and A Chocolate Hazlenut (or just Chocolate)
Blueberry Lemon
Rockbitter Trio: Tale of Three Toasts
In carboy soon:
Fall: Pumpkin Hazlenut
Possible Late Winter: Strawberry Oat or Mango
Summer: Bamboo Jasmin, Bluebery (something thinking Thyme not sure)
Possible Summer: Another Lime, maybe Lime Vanilla or a Lemon Basil
Next Fall will be another Pumpkin as I think that a Pumpkin type brew will be a staple in the fall.
That's the Plan. Oh, I have enough Peaches for another Lightly peach batch too. Hmm maybe a Peach Ginsing.
That's all for now
Checking my notes, I cut back a bit on the energizer and nutrients.
I also needed to use wildflower honey rather than my preferred Alphafa. So there will be some differences. But all the 3 batches are the same.
Instead of a full tablespoon of Yeast Energizer and a table spoon of yeast nutrient, I used 1/2 a table spoon or 1 1/2 teaspoons. I noticed that I got my measurements wrong origionally. It should be only 1 teaspoon of each noramlly. Didn't sound right. But I did use my Lavin D-47 yeast. Same as always.
When it comes time, I will backsweeten, clairify, then Oak.
The point of this batch is to taste the different oak levels. That being Lightly toasted oak, Medium toasted oak, and heavy toasted oak. Treat them exactly the same otherwise. I am also taking gravity readings at each racking. But then I can refine my rockbitter formula to it's best advantage and know what the different tastes will be like with my other batches.
I have a few people making guesses that the medium toast will be the tastiest due to it's the same toast level most used in a good aged burbon.
But we shall see. Details as it develops. I don't have the gravity measurements with me but I did write them down and the temp the measurment is taken at. This, I gather affects the true gravity.
So, what will it be, Lightly toasted, Medium or Heavy toast? I wonder what will win out as a favorite.
The next test that I do a rockbitter may be over a year off and it will be another binary test. Rockbiter with step nutrients and rockbitter without.
So how step nutrients work is during the fermentation process the gravity is taken and you put in a little nutrient at the begining and the rest is put in after the 1/3 sugar break. That is when the yeast has eaten 1/3 of the sugar and should be slowing down a bit, More nutrients at that time helps to keep from stressing out the yeast and produce fewer fusel alcohols(the type of alcohol that tastes like hard alcohol) and end result is a smoother mead quicker.
So there's that. This will make my lazy hobby something more active if it pans out to make too much of a difference.
So Rockbitter tests:
1) Rockbiter Trio: Tale of Three Toasts
2) Rockbiter Step up: To Step Nutrient or no.
3) Rockbitter Yeast Extravaganza: A Test of several Yeasts.
4) Rockbitter Honey Test: A test of a few different honey?
I will still be doing my other batches and I am limiting myself to once a year at most for the Rockbitter tests.
Here's what I have:
In Carboy:
Chocolate Pair: A Chocolate Mint and A Chocolate Hazlenut (or just Chocolate)
Blueberry Lemon
Rockbitter Trio: Tale of Three Toasts
In carboy soon:
Fall: Pumpkin Hazlenut
Possible Late Winter: Strawberry Oat or Mango
Summer: Bamboo Jasmin, Bluebery (something thinking Thyme not sure)
Possible Summer: Another Lime, maybe Lime Vanilla or a Lemon Basil
Next Fall will be another Pumpkin as I think that a Pumpkin type brew will be a staple in the fall.
That's the Plan. Oh, I have enough Peaches for another Lightly peach batch too. Hmm maybe a Peach Ginsing.
That's all for now