First Recipe Question

celtic_man81 · 12-23-2006, 05:24 AM

I am new to the home brewing world, but I do feel ready to be making my own recipe. I have done about 5 batches of beer (the 5th being the best turned out). Three using beer kits (the rest were custom and didn't turn out, one using purely herbs, the other may have turned out if I hadn't burned my batch

. Anyways, I am trying to make a dark ale of sorts. I have been reading bits and pieces from "Home brewing for Dummies" and it insinuates that you have to use regular grains along with "specialty grains" (if you are using them), such as crystal malt. My question is, can I use "Specialty grains" only, or do I have to have regular grains as well? The book refers the regular grains as the "building blocks" (which is why I am asking). Thanks for suggestions.

**Orfy** · 12-23-2006, 08:55 AM

It depends.

If you are using malt extract then this can be your building blocks (Bulk)

There are 2 types of speciality grain.
Some will had to the building blocks (bulk) of the beer by adding feremntable sugar. So for these you'd replace the extract. They'll also add colour and flavour.
Others will just add flavour and colour and will add little to the bulk of the beer.

My advice, if experimenting, change small things to start until you build your skill level so you don't waste precious beer and money.

**RichBrewer** · 12-23-2006, 11:48 AM

I would also suggest getting a better book about home brewing. It sounds to me with the questions you've asked Home Brewing for Dummies didn't really give you enough information.
There are some good ones out there. My recommendation is Charlie Papazian's The New Complete Joy of Home Brewing.

At your level of brewing you are probably going to do an extract with steeped grains beer. You will be using grains such as crystal, chocolate, and dextrin. They don't have to be mashed to be used.

When you do formulate your recipe, post it here. We can help you refine it.

celtic_man81 · 12-24-2006, 02:02 AM

Finally! My password is reset! I was going to respond sooner, but for some reason my password got screwed up. Anyways, I do have a pseudo recipe, as I am still tweeking it. The various amounts ie; 3 oz, 5 lbs, 1oz, are from various recipies. I was trying to figure out and average estimate (so I do use too much of something or too little). As for the PH balances, I am just going to tweek those if I need to.

Crystal Malt, 10-120 (in degree Lovibonds): 6 oz, 8 oz, .5 lb, 2 lbs
Special "B", 221: .33 lbs
Choco... Malt, 350: 6 oz, .75 lbs, 1 lb
Black Malt, 500: 2 oz, 12 oz, .25 lbs, 1 lb

Hops

Challenger, 6.5-8.5 (Alpha): 1.5 oz
Fuggles, 4-5.5: 1.5 oz, 2 oz

Finishing Hop(s)

Saaz, 3-6: .33 oz, 1.25 oz,

Yeast

Stout Ale, Irish Ale

Extra

Cinnamon: 2-3 sticks
Corriander: 1 oz seeds
Allspice: --
Nutmeg: --
Ginger: --
Chocolate: --
Liquorice: 1-2 sticks

Surgar

Corn surgar: 3-3.5 kg
Mollasses: 6 oz 12 oz
Maple syrup: .5 cup - 1cup

Adjunct(s)

Oats: 2 cups - 1 lb
Irish Moss: 25 g - 50 g

PH Balance

Chalk:
Gypsum:
Epsom Salt:

**david_42** · 12-24-2006, 02:23 PM

I can't even guess from this what kind of ale you are trying to make. There are enough numbers here to make about 30 styles.

You should decide what style you are trying to make, then find some recipes, brew one of those, THEN make mods.

**Orfy** · 12-24-2006, 03:16 PM

Why all those different sugars? Why sugar at all? Not over 3.5kg of the stuff.
I don't think you can call that beer.

You need to use a malt base to call it beer.

**the_bird** · 12-24-2006, 03:24 PM

Yeah, that's not really "beer". You need some extract in there. Honestly, you have way, way too many "extras" going on in that recipe. Take a step back, work with an established porter or stout receipe, get that dialed in before doing too much of the out-of-the-box stuff. Do a batch straight-up, then try adding some mollasses, then maybe some of the other stuff, but doing it all at once? I would highly doubt you'd end up with somethingterriby drinkable, even if you subbed out malt extract for the corn sugar.

celtic_man81 · 12-24-2006, 03:49 PM

OK, as I've said before, I am still fudging the numbers. The stuff listed is just things I would like to include; it may or may not be added. This is just more of an idea right now. As I put it, a pseudo recipe. It isn't a final recipe. I would though like to keep the hops and the grains in I have listed. Also, like I said the numbers I have (ie; 6 oz, 8 oz, .5 lb, 2 lbs), are numbers I got from various recipies just to give me an idea of what I can add (or subtract).

Quote:

Originally Posted by david_42

I can't even guess from this what kind of ale you are trying to make. There are enough numbers here to make about 30 styles.

You should decide what style you are trying to make, then find some recipes, brew one of those, THEN make mods.

To answer your question, I am trying to make a dark stout or ale.

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_bird

Yeah, that's not really "beer". You need some extract in there. Honestly, you have way, way too many "extras" going on in that recipe. Take a step back, work with an established porter or stout receipe, get that dialed in before doing too much of the out-of-the-box stuff. Do a batch straight-up, then try adding some mollasses, then maybe some of the other stuff, but doing it all at once? I would highly doubt you'd end up with somethingterriby drinkable, even if you subbed out malt extract for the corn sugar.

You are right, I did leave out malt extract. I wasn't sure what to put in, so I didn't put it in (as well as I forgot to put a heading for it). Sorry 'bout the confusion.
If any of you can make suggestions, it would be most appreciated.

**Orfy** · 12-24-2006, 03:54 PM

Just to say well done at having a go at your own recipe. But it pays to follow proven recipes/tecniques to get going.

Take out the Sugar and replace with dried or liquid malt extract, then you'll have beer. Try to make it easy by using less ingredients. And I'd definitely forgo the spices. Let the malt give it the taste.

Here's a nice one.

http://hbd.org/cgi-bin/recipator/recipator?#tag

If you get it right and you like it then try changing/adding things.

celtic_man81 · 12-24-2006, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orfy

Just to say well done at having a go at your own recipe. But it pays to follow proven recipes/tecniques to get going.

Take out the Sugar and replace with dried or liquid malt extract, then you'll have beer. Try to make it easy by using less ingredients. And I'd definitely forgo the spices. Let the malt give it the taste.

Here's a nice one.

http://hbd.org/cgi-bin/recipator/recipator?#tag

If you get it right and you like it then try changing/adding things.

Nice! Thanks a lot, I'll give that a try as well.