Saturday 10 September 2022

Let's Brew - 1889 Harveys SB

I’m pretty sure that SB stands for Stock Beer. Pretty sure, but not certain. It certainly has the characteristics I’d expect of a Stock Ale.

Why is that? Because it looks very much like the strongest Mild Ale, XXX. It’s a few points higher in gravity, but the grist is the same. Same two elements – pale malt and No. 3 invert sugar – in the same proportions.

The difference lies in the hopping rate which was 35% higher in SB. Which is what you would expect in a beer intended to undergo a long fermentation. A minimum of 12 months, would be my guess. Not sure what the vessels used in this process were. Possibly trade casks. Or some wort of large r casks. There’s no indication in the brewing record, sadly.

Just two types of English hops, East Kent from the 1887 harvest and Kent from 1888. I’ve guessed that the former were Goldings and the latter Fuggles. 

1889 Harveys SB
pale malt 13.75 lb 83.33%
No. 3 invert sugar 2.75 lb 16.67%
Fuggles 95 mins 2.00 oz
Fuggles 60 mins 2.00 oz
Goldings 30 mins 2.00 oz
OG 1079
FG 1019
ABV 7.94
Apparent attenuation 75.95%
IBU 58
SRM 17
Mash at 152º F
Sparge at 165º F
Boil time 95 minutes
pitching temp 58º F
Yeast White Labs WLP025 Southwold


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Try to get WLP025. Thats one of their vault strains. And their vault never seems to open.