My latest batch of beer, based on Graham Wheeler’s recipe for Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby ale, is now happily fermenting away. It started at an original gravity of 1.053, slightly below the target but still much higher than most of the beers I brew. Whether it turns out very strong depends on how the yeast does. If it stops at the target of 1.015, the result will be about 5% ABV (strong beer) but it could go higher.

It should be ready to bottle up in a week or two, in which case it will be just about ready to begin supping around the winter solstice although it will be better in mid-January or later, particularly if it does turn out to be a high ABV result.