For this batch, we tested out some squid ink on Juli’s Witbier the week prior to see if this was going to taste remotely good. Turns out, this may just be a nice balance of fruit (from the yeast) and savory salty component from the squid ink.
We brewed 11 gallons total and split in two just in case the squid ink totally sucked. Both beers got the same yeast as well as fermentation temperature. The Squid Ink batch will be entered in Stone Brewing Company’s AHA Rally Saturday March 15, 2014. Well, turns out this may not be the right entry for the Stone Rally since they recently announced the winner for their Brewers’ Spotlight Series; it was a Black Rye Kölsch! So I’m currently trying to figure out what else I can submit.
Update: I ended up entering my Dark Roots – Barrel Aged Sour Stout.
Wanna Cuttle – Squid Ink Kölsch (6C Kölsch)
Lead Brewer: Dave
Brew date: 2/8/2014
- Step Mash:
- 128°F for 25 minutes
- 152° for 45 minutes
- brought to 168° over ~20 minutes
- Sparged at 170°
- Final volume: 11 gallons
- Standard Kölsch
- OG: 1.049
- FG:1.008
- ABV: 5.4%
- IBU: 27
- Squid Ink Kölsch
- OG: 1.053
- FG: 1.009
- ABV: 5.8%
- IBU: 27
Grain Bill:
- 14 lb (83.6%) German Pilsner
- 1.5 lb (9%) Munich (Light)
- 12 oz (4.5%) Wheat (Flaked)
- 8 oz (3%) Corn (Flaked Maize)
Hop Schedule (90 minute boil):
- 60 minutes – 2.0 oz Fuggles (5.1% AA, pellet)
- 20 minutes – 1.5 oz Fuggles (5.1% AA, pellet)
- 20 minutes – .5 oz Hallertauer (4% AA, pellet)
Miscellaneous:
- 32 g Squid Ink (4 – 8 g packets)
- 1 tsp WLN1000 Yeast Nutrient, added to boil at 20 minutes
- 2 capsules Servomyces
- 2 Whirfloc tablets
Fermentation:
- White Labs WLP029 German Ale Yeast (2 vials and made a 2L starter decanted to about 750ml), 90 seconds pure O2 prior to pitch.
- Fermented at 58° for 4 days, then brought up to 62°.
Carbonation and bottling:
- 2/18/14 – Squid Ink version: gravity check: 1.009, not black at all, definitely adding sinamar. The non-inked version is at 1.010.
- 2/18/14 – Squid Ink version: added 8 oz sinamar, color is now deep brown, still clear – not muddy
- 2/23/14 – Squid Ink version: gravity check 1.009, Regular version: gravity check 1.008.
Bitter Barley 