1985-01 Geordie Scottish Export
January 1985
This was my first beer, make from a can of Geordie Scottish Export ale. It came out well enough that I was hooked.
Note that in this context, “kit” means a can of malt extract that has been flavored with hops to be whatever the label calls it.
Ingredients
| Malt | Geordie Scottish Export kit |
| Steeping Grains | 1 lbs crystal malt |
| Water Salts | Brewstart (amber) |
| Sugar | 2 lbs corn sugar |
| Yeast | Geordie (included in kit) |
| Priming Sugar | 3/4 cup |
Method
| Note: my “log” from this time period was just a list of ingredients & basic actions.
What I remember is that I brought 1 gallon of water to boil with the water salts, then dissolved the malt extract, then the corn sugar. I then boiled for 1 hour. In the primary I put 3 gallons of water, then poured the boiled wort in. Topped up to 5 gallons and sprinkled yeast on top. I’m certain this one boiled over, teaching me a HUGELY valuable lesson about beer making. |
01/05/1985 SG 1.036 |
| Racked, added priming sugar, and bottled.
SG after priming was 1.008. |
01/10/1985 SG 1.005 |
Notes
| Yield | no recorded, but roughly 54 bottles |
| Alcohol | 4.190% |
| 01/24/1985 | First tasting after 2 weeks. Slightly bitter, poor carbonation.
[My first beer — like every newbie, I was REALLY in a hurry to try it!] |
| 01/31/1985 | Much improved, similar to Budweiser. |
| 04/04/1985 | Good batch! [I quickly learned to let the beer age, as time tremendously improves the beer.] |