Top End Lager

[Rob Courtney]

When I was in Tasmania, I tried an XPA that was 3.5% and it wasn't too bad and it made me want to give a beer  a go, I haven't brewed. At 3.5% I thought it was at least worth a shot.

When it came due for hops I went a little stronger than the 10gms of hallertau that is suggested and went 10gms each of Hallertau and Lemondrops. Not quite 3 weeks in and I have tried a stubbie, no head retention at all (may have been the glass) but carbonation is fine.

It looks watery and really doesn't have a strong taste to it outside of the hops but it is a... well mid strength beer. I can see it being a good beer to neck on a really hot day though, the hops give the beer something to work with .

Next time I have one, in a week or two I will take a photo

 

Edited February 17, 2023 by Rob Courtney

[Rob Courtney]

I sweare I will post a photo but I'm pretty big on "Yeah, won't do this again". I mean it'd be a fine 35 degree beer because you could knock a bunch of pints off and still get up at 6am the next morning and function.

Outside of that though, not a huge amount to recommend it, maybe go Citra as the hop, maybe?

[Rob Courtney]

So, this is it and to be fair, a Stella glass is the way to go with this beer, it was much better.

Don't confuse that with I would brew it again as I wouldn't but that brought the best out of the beer

[Rob Courtney]

So 8 weeks in with this one now and it is probably at its best. I reckon it improves with the right hops choice but i am struggling at present to make that call.

As I have said, good hot weather drinking, if the waether was above 35 (about 100f) then I think this beer has its place. For me though, it is a little watery and in this mild summer I have had, doesn't quite hit the mark.

In saying that though, if you hold it against the spate of mid/4% low carb beers that have come out in the last 2-3 years, it stands up OK

 

[Rob Courtney]

On 24/03/2023 at 11:35 PM, Rob Courtney said:

So 8 weeks in with this one now and it is probably at its best.

 

Bad call, really bad call.

Needed one more week, it's actually pretty good now, like really improved. Still think the hot weather call is spot on, if only I had some decent weather to guage it against

[Gillies Brewing]

I saw a post on the FB someone made of one of these at 2 weeks with amazing head, I was gobsmacked.

Considering having  a go at it for my next ”IPL" attempt

[Rob Courtney]

3 hours ago, Gillies Brewing said:

I saw a post on the FB someone made of one of these at 2 weeks with amazing head, I was gobsmacked.

Considering having  a go at it for my next ”IPL" attempt

Interesting, wonder if they used Maltodextrin in it?

 

 

[Gillies Brewing]

Yeah I wondered that too, but said it was their first go so I wouldn't have guessed so. I'd definitely dissolve a spoon or two and chuck that in if I did it.