VF# 8

The experience of VF#8 should not have been forgotten, but sadly I think it was.... Fresh Hops from the hop garden in the South East of South Australia and a great big mess!! Blocked hoses - blocked pump - a heap of grain and a big learning curve!
Current hop production at that time restricted us to barely one brew, having tested the hops quality by self administering tea - and nearly defecating myself! Note to self: do not swallow the hop tea!! So we put all our eggs in this basket - hoping for a bitter ale, see the title IPA on the picture above it ended up more of an English ale with beautiful malt character, and the fresh hops aided in the clean finish. This was all luck - having no idea of the actual bittering quality of our fresh hops except for the digestive quality it eventuated in a very good ale. Wonderfully balanced and with lovely toffee quality - obviously gained from the Munich and Amber malts. Oh well lets not stuff up the next hop harvest ale!?! Read VF#11 for the debacle.

Giles