Licorice Stout - bottling day

 

Finally got the licorice stout bottled. We purposely diluted it down to below 8% as it just tastes better and bottle conditions at slightly lower gravities. It ended up at 7.7% ABV which is quite respectable and will keep well. Beers are sometimes matured for a couple of weeks. I believe that an ale is classed as an old ale when it has been matured for around 4 weeks. This was matured for 7 weeks so hence the term 'Vintage' coined by Sara.=

 Labels by Sara and Emily

 

We sterilized 60 bottles as weren't sure how many would be needed after diluting the stout - our biggest ever bottle tree.

Really looking forward to it, the taste is very rich but smooth and not too roasty with the licorice root and chocolate malt. The bottles will rest in the utility room for a week for conditioning and then go in the garage which is cool and dark. It should be ready to go around mid December.