All-Grain - 100% Peated Ale

Alchemist42 · 10-24-2011, 06:27 PM

Recipe Type: All Grain
Yeast: 1728 Scottish Ale Wyeast
Yeast Starter: Yes - 1 c DME/Qt
Batch Size (Gallons): 5.5
Original Gravity: 1.096
Final Gravity: 1.020 (jprojected)
IBU: 20
Boiling Time (Minutes): 60
Color: Dark Brown
Primary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): Still there
Tasting Notes: This is the 2nd run of this. 1st was amazingly smooth in the peat give the amount.

I had one the the best brewing sessions I've had in years. It all went perfectly. Like clockwork. 2nd time I've brewed it. Thought I would toss it out to share:

Brimstone Peated Ale 5.5 gallons

14 lbs Bairds Peated Malt
1 lb Bairds Peated Malt lightly toasted
1 lb Bairds Peated Malt Medium roasted (Brown malt level)

2 oz Fuggles 6.7 alpha 60 minute boil
1728 Scottish Ale Yeast Wyeast

OG 1.096
FG 1.020 projected - in the primary

Mashed grains with 10 qt water @ 135 - stabilized @ 122 F. Held 20 min.
Added 2 qt boiling water - stabilized @ 130 F. Held 20 min.
Added 4 qt boiling water - stabilized @ 142 F. Held 20 min.
Decocted 4 Qt - Boiled 5 minutes & returned - stabilized at 155 F 60 min
Iodine test clean
Decocted 8 qt - boiled 5 minutes & returned - mash out at 174 F.

Sparged with 5 gallons at 175 F. Collected 6.5 gallon total.
Boiled 1 hour with hops.
Counter flow chilled.
Pitched yeast.

Oddly (in a great way), I got a way better extraction than I expected and wanted to toss that around. Using Beer Calculus it nominally projected an OG of 1.072. But I got a whopping 1.096. The only think I can really come up with is that the PPG of 32 is way low and my eff is better than the default 75%. Bumping to a PPG of 42 and an 85% eff gets me much closer, but damn, I know I'm good but I have trouble believing that good (small humor here) - that's DME levels.

So, any thoughts about what went on? I should mention that when I did this as a small test batch of a couple gallons a couple years ago, I got similar results but chalked it up to sloppy measurements, but I'm sure of the numbers above.

Aside from all that, I'm near giddy to get this into my keg - Laphroiag's ale cousin

**passedpawn** · 10-24-2011, 06:30 PM

I'd like to hear back from you how it tastes. I like the smoke.

**Steelers77** · 10-24-2011, 06:34 PM

You should make this an Eis ale to increase the alcohol. Let hear how it tastes in about a year, way to go!

Alchemist42 · 10-25-2011, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steelers77

You should make this an Eis ale to increase the alcohol. Let hear how it tastes in about a year, way to go!

OMG why? It's already going to be over 9% - not even close to too shabby in my book. I recall the first one was amazingly quaffable after 2 months. I am certainly one to put this back for a while, but much may not be left after a year.

**smokinghole** · 11-18-2011, 02:40 AM

How's this going for you?

**dwarven_stout** · 11-18-2011, 03:02 AM

It's recipes like this that ruin smoked beer competitions. lol.

So how'd it go?

Alchemist42 · 11-19-2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwarven_stout

It's recipes like this that ruin smoked beer competitions. lol.

So how'd it go?

LMAO.

I'll have to keep that in mind

It is going well. The FG seems a tad high at 1.029, but given that it started 1.096 I think it's fine. And also that I'm going to keg it, I'm not too worried about it over carbonating should it be slightly stuck.

Regardless, it's tasting great. Liquid smoked silk. It just slides down so smooth.

Alchemist42 · 11-24-2011, 02:27 AM

Well, I kegged this up a couple days ago and have been religiously shaking it to carbonate for tomorrow. I could not take the suspense - I had to make sure I was going to serve a quality product (to three peated Scotch drinkers) tomorrow.

So I pulled a half pint. OMFG A beautiful rich red/brown topped by what I think is the densest ivory head I've ever had outside of a pint of Guinness. The aroma is of course is solid peat...but there is a great maltiness and hints of toffee in there too. And the taste. All I could hope for. The head is a thick as it looks and the smoke just melts in your mouth - suffusing delicate sweet smoke around your mouth. The ale has a touch of hops up front, breaking into that toffee and caramel (decoction mashing YEAH) and the most exquisite explosion of silky peat outside of a sherry casked dram of scotch.
(my daughter (11 - don't tell

just walked past, and ask for a taste - I agreed - 'this is what you made - it's good' - that's my girl).

Anyway - I'm in love/lust/rapture with this. Ashtray? - pashaw. Not even close. Silken ambrosia to my taste.

**passedpawn** · 11-24-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alchemist42

Well, I kegged this up a couple days ago and have been religiously shaking it to carbonate for tomorrow. I could not take the suspense - I had to make sure I was going to serve a quality product (to three peated Scotch drinkers) tomorrow.

So I pulled a half pint. OMFG A beautiful rich red/brown topped by what I think is the densest ivory head I've ever had outside of a pint of Guinness. The aroma is of course is solid peat...but there is a great maltiness and hints of toffee in there too. And the taste. All I could hope for. The head is a thick as it looks and the smoke just melts in your mouth - suffusing delicate sweet smoke around your mouth. The ale has a touch of hops up front, breaking into that toffee and caramel (decoction mashing YEAH) and the most exquisite explosion of silky peat outside of a sherry casked dram of scotch.
(my daughter (11 - don't tell

just walked past, and ask for a taste - I agreed - 'this is what you made - it's good' - that's my girl).

Anyway - I'm in love/lust/rapture with this. Ashtray? - pashaw. Not even close. Silken ambrosia to my taste.

So I guess you like it then?

I'd love to try it. Maybe I'll give it a shot this winter.

Alchemist42 · 11-25-2011, 05:52 PM

You could say that.

And it was a 100% smashing success yesterday over Thanksgiving. Albeit all peated Scotch drinkers, it was quite appreciated, termed strong, but not over the top - or no more so than Laphroiag

. One and all went back for multiple glasses.