One 5.5gal batch of this I did with 1oz was waay too smokey...finally starting to mellow a little after almost a year now.
1/2 oz was the sweet spot for me - that batch is already gone. ;)
Could be I had especially strong peated malt? IDK...
Use 1oz (or less!) of the peated malt unless you want a Rauchbier. Seriously. 0_o
Even in a ten gallon batch, 5+ oz is insane...at least if you're trying to match Grants beer.
I now have moved to a partial mash Brown Ale that uses brown malt instead of molasses:
http://hopville.com/recipe/120855/american-brown-ale-recipes/carbons-basic-brown
...folks like it a lot better. :)
I've brewed the Scottish ale a few times now.
It works best if you remove the peated malt completely!
(Unfortunately, I can't edit the OP at this point - but I've learned by tests and experience since then that peated malt definitely has no place in a Scottish ale, not even a little bit - even...
Let me know how that tastes, Humann.
I still haven't done mine yet...I've had a few other things in the pipeline to use up the ingredients I've got on hand.
Here's my current thinking for my mini-mash version:
5.5 gallons total, 4 gallon boil.
3 lbs Light Dry Malt Extract (Briess)
3...
Here's my current version of Grant's Perfect Porter (been toying with it for a while now ;))...will brew it once I'm done with two brews I've got coming up. At this point I'm planning it as a PM:
5.5 gallons:
3 lbs Light DME
3 lbs 2 Row Pale Malt
1 lb Crystal 60L
1 lb Chocolate Malt
2...
I'd start with something straightforward that a lot of people will enjoy, something like a good Amber Ale might be the ticket: Austin Homebrew Supply American Amber