After following the directions from the good folks at Cooper’s, I’ve opened and tried the first two beers of my second batch.
I brewed this on July 1st — Canada Day — and bottled it on July 9th. I opened the first bottle on July 16 and the second on July 17.
The beer has a bold, hoppy character off the bat, with a lingering bitterness that is still refreshing and lively. The carbonation is moderate. I’m not sure I got the sugars correct since there seems to be a bit of a kick to it I usually associate with Bourbon. Perhaps aging it a bit longer will improve the tail end. I would like a little more liveliness in the flavour, but it’s not bad.
The brew is clear in the bottle and responds well when opened. No exuberant effervescence as I had with the last batch — a result of improper sugaring, I think, which caused bubbles to erupt everywhere.
Ultimately, this Real Ale seems drinkable. I’m not sure yet whether I like it a lot, but I believe I’ve wasted neither time nor money with this batch.
