Analysis

Repeated the very successful NB4 recipe that included Cascade Hops but used Pale Malt Extract  instead of LME

Bubbling started quickly and just would not stop - let beer go for 8 days until quite dormant

Sediment formed a thick spongy mass in bottom of fermenter - not as fluid as most sediments so beer bottled clearer

Tasted quite sweet and malty, with a hint of hops at bottling

Lovely golden  brown colour - should settle out just fine

As an experiment, we added a shot of Australian Bundaberg Rum * to a few bottles at bottling, plus a few others with shots of Grand Marnier

============= ++ =============

* For those unfamiliar with Australia's Bundaberg Rum, let me tell you it is the best tasting Rum in the world

Whereas other rums taste somewhat astringent, and a bit like a solvent you would wash paint brushes in, Bundaberg tastes like a Sugar Mill smells - essence of the sugar cane itself

In Australia we usually drink it with Coca Cola, and if you choose the Overproof version, it will go straight to your legs and mellow you right out

Given that our version of Newcastle is a malty, nutty brown version, we thought Bundaberg would be a natural flavour to combine it with

And the Grand Marnier ? - What the hell, it was in the cupboard

============= ++ =============

Taste Test   -  sampled the beer after four weeks inn the bottle (couldn't wait). The standard brew was not quite as strongly flavoured as NB4 but very nice and definitely Newcastle. 

We also tried samples of the Bundaberg Rum and the Grand Marnier batches.  It is amazing how strongly the flavour of each spirit came through, and both beers retained their head exceptionally well - to the last drop, in fact.  Oh, and yes, the alcohol count was right up there - definitely not drink and drive beer - or even drink and walk beer if you overdo it - the spirit goes straight to the legs.