BRY-97 Trial Brew

Hi All,

After getting my hands on some of the new Danstar BRY-97 American West Coast Ale yeast, I wanted to do a test brew with it.  I haven't had good experiences with Danstar previously when I used the Munich yeast (produced horrible flavours and was never great), but I have high hopes for this new one.  Most of what I'm reading is that it's ferments quickly, thoroughly, with a clean flavour at high temps and compacts quite well.

This is the recipe I brewed with this yeast:

Columbus IPA

Code name:  "Explorers Should know better"

Batch:  20.5L

IBU:  96 approx.

OG:  ?

FG:  ?

Brew date:  29/01/2013

Estimated ABV:  5.5%

Actual ABV:  ?

Recipe:

1.4 Kg Sorghum Syrup @ 60 minutes

250g Maltodextrine @ 60 minutes

30g Columbus  Hops (12% AA) @ 60 minutes

15g Columbus Hops (14.6%AA) @ 15 minutes

1 x whirlfloc tablet @ 15 minutes

1tsp Yeast nutrient @ 5 minutes

1tsp Calcium Carbonate @ 5 minutes

60g Columbus Hops (14.6%AA) @ 5 minutes

1.4 Kg Sorghum Syrup @ 0 minutes

250mL Amber Candy Syrup @ 0 minutes

*** Cold Crash ***

1 packet of Danstar BRY-97 Yeast

Dual Spires Black Lodge

Great name, even better beer.  Thanks to the generosity of another brewer who goes by the name "rlbois1" on homebrewtalk website I've been able to brew a new dark beer.  I didn't think I was alone in my love for this brew so I decided to get some other beer drinkers opinions.

This is the brew in question:

And here is the review from my wife and another fellow brewer (fwiw both drink a lot of great craft beers).  This beer was served from the keg.

Review 1:

• Creamy off white head
• Murky red colour
• Good carbonation
• Some hops and sorghum malt on the nose.  Balanced between them both.
• Firm bitterness
• Light body
• Some twang
• Licorice into finish with no esters.
• Last mouthful was "dry, lasting hop bitterness, nice tarry sweet balancing note"
• Overall a good beer 6 out of 10

Review 2:

• Rich aroma, sweet
• Strong hops on the tongue
• Candy syrup and molasses lingers in aftertaste
• Taste liquorice in the aftertaste
• Fuller mouthfeel compared to my other gluten free beers
• Lacing evident in the glass
• Fairly clear
• 7.5 out of 10 - Overall very drinkable. 

Thanks again to rlbois1 for the recipe which you can find here -> Dual Spires Black Lodge Ale