Suggestions for simple ESB recipe

**DrinkNoH2O** · 03-08-2010, 07:45 PM

Hi All,
I bulk ordered some Cascade and Willamette hops and wanted to use that combo in a Bitter/ESB, and also use Notty as I just ordered several packets of that yeast. Here's what I came up with for a simple Bitter, please let me know what you think regarding the grain bill/hop schedule:

Style: Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale)
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (35.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Boil Size: 6.41 gal
Estimated OG: 1.055 SG
Estimated Color: 13.7 SRM
Estimated IBU: 40.5 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
9 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM) Grain 81.82 %
1 lbs Victory Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 9.09 %
12.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 6.82 %
4.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 2.27 %
1.00 oz Cascade [7.50 %] (60 min) Hops 26.6 IBU
0.50 oz Cascade [7.50 %] (20 min) Hops 8.0 IBU
0.50 oz Williamette [5.50 %] (20 min) Hops 5.9 IBU
0.50 oz Cascade [7.50 %] (0 min) (Aroma Hop-SteepHops -
0.50 oz Williamette [5.50 %] (0 min) (Aroma Hop-SHops -
1 Pkgs Nottingham (Danstar #-) Yeast-Ale

Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge
Total Grain Weight: 11.00 lb
----------------------------
Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge
Step Time Name Description Step Temp
60 min Mash In Add 13.75 qt of water at 165.9 F 154.0 F

**DeathBrewer** · 03-08-2010, 07:48 PM

It isn't to style for a true ESB to use cascade and I would never use it for bittering. The grain bill looks good and the Willamette will work great.

**DrinkNoH2O** · 03-08-2010, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeathBrewer

It isn't to style for a true ESB to use cascade and I would never use it for bittering. The grain bill looks good and the Willamette will work great.

I'm trying to use up what I have on hand... maybe I could use a little Magnum for bittering? Or possibly all Willamette?

Or I might just keep the Cascade, it's derived from fuggles I believe. This could be like an American Bitter or something like that... I just want a nice, simple, malty beer with a decent amount of bitterness. I'd like to get the biscuity flavors from the Victory malt as well as the additional flavor from teh Notty vs. US-05/1056.

**DeathBrewer** · 03-08-2010, 08:13 PM

Magnum would be good for bittering. A little flavor cascade would be ok...if you want an "American" bitter.

**david_42** · 03-08-2010, 10:40 PM

Move your aroma Cascades to 60 minutes and just have the Willamette at zero. Drop the Cascade flavor add. This will boost the IBUs a bit and give you a more authentic flavor/aroma.

Ooompa Loompa · 03-08-2010, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrinkNoH2O

I'm trying to use up what I have on hand... maybe I could use a little Magnum for bittering? Or possibly all Willamette?

I've made several brews with all willamette and they were quite tastey. Of course non of them were ESBs, but I love willamette as an all around hop, so I think it would come out tastey regardless

**DrinkNoH2O** · 03-09-2010, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david_42

Move your aroma Cascades to 60 minutes and just have the Willamette at zero. Drop the Cascade flavor add. This will boost the IBUs a bit and give you a more authentic flavor/aroma.

Thanks for the suggestions, that does make more sense. I'll just use the Cascades as a bittering hop, and with this shipment being 7.5% AA I think they will do the job nicely. I'll then use the Willamettes for flavor and aroma hopping.

Here's the new schedule I came up with, still gives me 38 IBU's which is right around what I was shooting for:

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
9 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM) Grain 81.82 %
1 lbs Victory Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 9.09 %
12.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 6.82 %
4.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 2.27 %
1.00 oz Cascade [7.50 %] (60 min) Hops 26.6 IBU
1.00 oz Williamette [5.50 %] (20 min) Hops 11.8 IBU
1.00 oz Williamette [5.50 %] (0 min) (Aroma Hop-SHops -
1 Pkgs Nottingham (Danstar #-) Yeast-Ale

**DeathBrewer** · 03-09-2010, 05:54 PM

Sorry to cause controversy, but I wouldn't use cascade for bittering. It's a rather harsh bittering hop.

**DrinkNoH2O** · 03-09-2010, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeathBrewer

Sorry to cause controversy, but I wouldn't use cascade for bittering. It's a rather harsh bittering hop.

What would be a good substitute then? Either way I have to go the LHBS to get the grain, maybe I'll pick up an oz or two of something.

I def. want to keep the Willamette as the featured hops in the recipe.

**passedpawn** · 03-09-2010, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrinkNoH2O

What would be a good substitute then? Either way I have to go the LHBS to get the grain, maybe I'll pick up an oz or two of something.

I def. want to keep the Willamette as the featured hops in the recipe.

I just made a very tasty ESB. I used Saaz at 60/20/1 minute.