Wednesday, 1 April 2026

Let's Brew Wednesday - 1995 Youngs Ram Rod

A Youngs Ram Rod beermat featuring a drawing of the head of a ram.
For some reason, there’s no Ram Rod – at least as far as I can find – in the 1990 Youngs brewing book. Perhaps they were just bottling Special Bitter as Ram Rod. As quite often the two beers had the same gravity.

That’s not the case here, as this version of Ram Rod has an OG 4º higher than Special. And quite a high degree of attenuation that leaves it pushing 5.5% ABV.

There’s not a great deal to the recipe. Just pale, crystal and enzymic malt, and some sugar. There were four types of pale malt, as was usual at Youngs. The sugar was something called FS5. Not sure what that is. But, as earlier No. 3 invert was used in the same way, I’ve substituted that.

Three types of hops were used. All English. Sadly, with no indication of variety or vintage. I’ve had to almost double the quantities to hit the bitterness level recorded in the brewing record. 

1995 Youngs Ram Rod
pale malt 10.75 lb 92.83%
crystal malt 150 L 0.50 lb 4.32%
No. 3 invert sugar 0.33 lb 2.85%
Fuggles 70 min 1.25 oz
Goldings 10 min 0.50 oz
OG 1051
FG 1010.5
ABV 5.36
Apparent attenuation 79.41%
IBU 31
SRM 12.5
Mash at 150º F
Sparge at 165º F
Boil time 70 minutes
pitching temp 62º F
Yeast WLP002 English Ale

 

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