I’m glad I didn’t bottle my Helleborus brew when I first tested it a few days ago. I thought it might have bottomed out at 1.010 but yesterday (and today) it had got down to 1.004. One the advantages of the method I have adopted recently (mashing with 10l water and then sparging with another 3l) is that I have a lot more wort and so I don’t mind doing a few samples.

The “disadvantage” is that, even with drawing extra samples, I can expect to get more bottles at the end. That’s not bad in itself but it means, with this second brew of the year, I’ve already used up most of my collection of bottles. Fortunately, I think the previous brew has now reached a drinkable state so I’ll be able to start making room for another brew in the New Year (and consider how I might store a few more bottles in future).