All-Grain - Slim's Graham Cracker Ale

**SD-SLIM** · 05-23-2011, 04:05 PM

Recipe Type: All Grain
Yeast: Safale S-04
Yeast Starter: 1.33l
Batch Size (Gallons): 5
Original Gravity: 1.044
Final Gravity: 1.01
IBU: 16.5
Boiling Time (Minutes): 60
Color: Brown
Primary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): 21 Days at 68
Tasting Notes: Nice smooth flavor, English Ale meets Chocolate Graham Cracker!

Hello All...Awhile a ago I was playing around with graham crackers in a beer and finally came up with a recipe I like:

9lbs Pale Malt, Mariss Otter
2lb Graham Cracker
0.5lbs Crystal 80
.25 Chocolate Malt
Handful of Rice Hulls
Mash 154
1lb Brown Sugar
2.0oz East Kent Golding (60 Minutes)
1.0oz Fuggles (15 minutes)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (10 minutes)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (10 minutes)
3 ounces cocoa (10 minutes)
Safale S-04 Yeast

As I started experimenting with this beer, I found out that graham crackers were originally developed to curb masturbation (I'm not kidding look it up), so my beer label went along with the original reason why it was developed!
I will post pictures after I brew another batch today...I hope everyone enjoys this as much as I did!

ao125 · 05-23-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD-SLIM

...I found out that graham crackers were originally developed to curb masturbation (I'm not kidding look it up)...

So do graham crackers + chocolate cancel each other out?

**SD-SLIM** · 05-23-2011, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ao125

So do graham crackers + chocolate cancel each other out?

Together its really smooth, the first time I brewed it, I didn't include the chocolate and it just didnt seem right! if you are looking for a strong graham cracker flavor...then your right, drop the chocolate.

**mountainman13** · 05-24-2011, 05:45 AM

Definitely on my to-do list of recipes.

ao125 · 05-24-2011, 12:16 PM

All kidding aside, how does the 1# graham cracker work? Do you just buy a box or two of graham crackers, crumble them up, and throw them into the mash?

MazdaMatt · 05-24-2011, 12:42 PM

That label is rude inappropriate for these forums... Don't you have a larger image?

**SD-SLIM** · 05-24-2011, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainman13

Definitely on my to-do list of recipes.

Cool, let me know how it turns out...this is a fun one to brew because the smell is amazing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ao125

All kidding aside, how does the 1# graham cracker work? Do you just buy a box or two of graham crackers, crumble them up, and throw them into the mash?

A box of graham crackers is 14 ounces, so you will need to buy two boxes and if you really like graham cracker, then throw both boxes in!
As for the prep, break them up in to small pieces...I did a few experiments with these before I began and anything under a 1/4 inch will disintegrate, which is what you want to happen to maximize the conversion, but I didnt want them turned in to flour at the beginning because I didnt want a stuck sparge...so I doughed in all the other ingredients first and finished with the graham cracker, in the end I had no problem with my sparge.

**SD-SLIM** · 05-25-2011, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

That label is rude inappropriate for these forums... Don't you have a larger image?

LOL...I do, just couldn't get it loaded because of the resolution!

djonas · 06-08-2011, 11:34 PM

SD-SLIM, what brand of graham crackers did you use? If they were a common brand, did you notice any ill effects by additives or preservatives to factors such as head retention?

**SD-SLIM** · 06-09-2011, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djonas

SD-SLIM, what brand of graham crackers did you use? If they were a common brand, did you notice any ill effects by additives or preservatives to factors such as head retention?

I used Nabisco brand Honey Maid...the are 100% whole grain and preservative free. I had no issue with head retention, but in my first few attempts at this I added torrified wheat but later found it wasn't needed.