Welcome to our Fourth Newsletter.
This year, Aussie Brewmakers will endeavour to keep you up to date with the latest and the greatest in all things brewing. If you have missed any of our previous Newsletters or are a new customer, you can find them all on our Website. This newsletter will be the last hard copy we will mail to everyone. All future newsletters will be posted to our Website and all registered users will be advised by email to visit our site to view the latest news. Anyone without access to email will continue to receive their copy in the mail.
Trial and Error
As with most hobbies, there is an element of trial and error in home brewing. However, if you follow the basics you can’t go too far wrong. Also, with some experimentation you can create some amazing drinks yourself, which will amaze you and your friends. So, if you have any home brewing news or secrets you wish to share, please contact us and we will publish it in Home Brew News and our website.
New Products
We have just taken delivery of some new products from Edwards Essences. These include:
Super Smooth Kentucky Bourbon. This is a premium quality Bourbon with an extra smooth character, typical of the Kentucky style. Very similar to Jim Beam Black Label.
Rum Royale Liqueur. A barrel aged rum liqueur rich in chocolate and smooth vanilla notes. Very similar to “Bundaberg Rum” Royale Liqueur.
Mature Oak (Spirit Enhancer). A truly exceptional mature Oakwood extract, especially suitable for Bourbon, Sour Mash and Whisky.
Smokey Peat (Spirit Enhancer). A flavour enhancer for the connoisseur. Smokey Peat develops the smokey, burnt wood character typical of some Scottish Whisky’s. It can also be used in other dark spirits such as Brandy, Bourbon and Rum.
Spirit Dilemma
As we were preparing for Christmas last year and a multitude of visitors (including relatives, friends, freeloaders, dogs, cats, etc), we discovered a cupboard full of spirits which we had previously made for our taste tests but were very ordinary . Not wanting to inflict these concoctions on the visitors (our reputation would be in tatters) or throw them away, we decided to distil them again and separate the good alcohol from the rubbish. This was easily done by adding 50% water and slowly distilling at 78C using a super reflux still. This also works for beer, wine or any other terrible drop you may have lying around.
Glen Fiddich Taste Test
Last month, we conducted a blind taste test to determine the closest essence to Glen Fiddich single malt Whisky. Two of our best selling single malt essences were compared against the real Glen Fiddich. The results were as follows:
Winner: Edwards Single Malt Whisky. This was the best essence by a country mile. Then, after we added some Smokey Peat we couldn’t tell the difference between this product and the real Glen Fiddich.
Runner Up: Samuel Willards Gold Star Single Malt Whisky. A long way behind.
Extra Yeast
Following on from an article we ran last month on the range of Brew Cellar Yeasts, we were asked the question, “ What to do with the yeast that comes with the can if we use a Brew Cellar Yeast?” Don’t throw it away but store them in the fridge is the answer. Then later on if you are making a beer that has the same yeast add the two yeasts together for a double whammy. The extra yeast will promote a more vigorous fermentation which will result in a better beer. However, don’t mix different yeasts together as it doesn’t work.
Product of the month - Alcotec 24 Turbo Klar
Alcotec 24 Turbo Klar is January’s Product of the Month. It is the best product available to clear your spirit wash.
It removes the solids and semi-soluble compounds which can be cooked on the element during distillation which give the finished spirit unwanted taste and smell. We thoroughly recommend this product for the following reasons:
a. 24 hours after it has been added, you can see the improvement in the wash. It will be almost clear except for the residue sitting on the bottom,
b. There is no unpleasant smell of sugar being cooked on the element during distillation,
c. The final spirit will not only look and smell better but will also contain a higher alcohol content, and,
d. Less time is needed to filter the spirit.
The directions are simple: After fermentation is complete, degas the wash by stirring vigorously for 1 minute, then resting. Repeat this process until there is no sign of air bubbles then add Part A and stir in for 1 minute. Leave for 1 hour then gently stir and add Part B. Stop stirring after Part B has been added then allow 24 hours before distilling. Use 1 pack (A B) per 25 litre wash.
Liqueur Recipes
We have included our “Classic” Liqueur recipes in our recipes section at the top of this page. Please take a look and perhaps try one or two. All are very good but our favourites are Grand Marnier and Kahlua.
35 Day Wine Kit Update
Our first wine, a Sav Cab, was bottled 9 weeks ago and should be ready for a tasting in 4-5 weeks. Our second wine, a Merlot was bottled last week. We have just started our third wine, a Sav Blanc, which should be in the bottle in another 28 days. After all are rested we plan to have a tasting session for anyone interested in making their own wine. We will advise the date when we get a little closer.
Some Drinking Trivia
This is the true story of a US navy ship - The U.S.S. Constitution. This combat vessel carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last 6 months of sustained operations at sea. However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log....... ”On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum.” Her mission: “To destroy and harass English shipping”. Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum. Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there on 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine. On 18 November, she set sail for England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each. By 26 January 1799, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a Whisky Distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch Whisky aboard by dawn. Then she headed home. The U.S.S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, after almost seven months at sea, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no Whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water.
Dextrose vs. Cane Sugar
Our biggest selling Turbo Yeast is Alcotec 48. This can be used with 8kg of cane sugar or 9kg of dextrose and 21 litres of water @ 40C. So, which is best? The end result is very close but dextrose tends to make a cleaner wash but cane sugar is cheaper.
Please also read all the instructions on the pack, as other yeasts have different starting temperatures and specify different ingredients. For example, Still Spirits Triple Distilled Yeast recommends 6kg of turbo sugar or 7kg of dextrose @ 30C plus Turbo Carbon and Turbo Clear.
Happy Home Brewing
Regards Aussie Brewmakers
