The Best Desert Scottish Ale

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Chimone Theo

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AZ BABY!!!
Well I know it's not the season for this type of brew, especially when you live in phoenix (100+ degrees for 100 days!!!!). But I like my scottish ales any time. The key is to lighten them up with some rice or sugar substitute. Not an adjunct fan but desperate times call for desperate measures.

So What is the best "Light Summer Scottish" in everyones opinion?
 
Mine are usually just Golden Promise to whatever gravity, then a touch of roasted barley (like an oz of 675° for 5g) and then sometimes a quarter pound of wheat and/or chocolate, or chocolate wheat for that matter. Some people put crystal in, but I'd recommend a half pound or less (any color rating). If you like it on the rich side, mash anywhere up to 158°. Unless you're making a wee heavy, there's no need for adjuncts unless you just want them. For an easy-drinking 70/ or 80/, mash around 152-154°. If you like, pull the first quart of runnings and boil them down while you're sparging and bringing everything up to a boil before adding it back in.
Bittering charge to right about half of the OG (30 IBU's for a 1.060 OG, e.g.) and then maybe a half ounce at 15m (not traditional, but I can't help myself) and you're good. Be sure to chill way down so you can get those low-60's ferm temps. Let it ferment long and slow and cool for about two weeks before checking the gravity. If you have the ability, drop it to 50° then rack and hold it for a week before kegging/bottling, and keep the carbonation fairly low (~2.3 vols) for a smooth body.

Here's two, a simple and a more complex one:

10 lbs 4.0 oz Pale Malt, Golden Promise (Thomas Fawcett) (3.3 SRM) Grain 98.2 %
2.0 oz Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 1.2 %
1.0 oz Roasted Barley (Crisp) (675.0 SRM) Grain 0.6 %
0.75 oz Magnum [14.00%] (45 min) Hops 27.5 IBU
1 Pkgs Scottish Ale (Wyeast Labs #1728) Yeast-Ale

Measured Original Gravity: 1.055 SG
Measured Final Gravity: 1.016 SG
Actual Alcohol by Vol: 5.1 %
Bitterness: 27.5 IBU
Est Color: 12.3 SRM

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9 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt, Golden Promise (Thomas Fawcett) (3.3 SRM) Grain 94.1 %
4.0 oz Biscuit (Dingemans) (22.5 SRM) Grain 2.5 %
2.0 oz Chocolate Wheat (Weyermann) (415.0 SRM) Grain 1.2 %
1.5 oz Roasted Barley (Thomas Fawcett) (609.0 SRM) Grain 0.9 %
1.0 oz Caraaroma (Weyermann) (130.0 SRM) Grain 0.6 %
1.0 oz Carared (Weyermann) (40.0 SRM) Grain 0.6 %
0.75 oz Target [11.00%] (60 min) Hops 26.7 IBU
0.25 oz Goldings, East Kent [5.00%] (10 min) Hops 1.3 IBU
1 Pkgs Scottish Ale (Wyeast Labs #1728) Yeast-Ale

Measured Original Gravity: 1.054 SG
Measured Final Gravity: 1.015 SG
Actual Alcohol by Vol: 5.1 %
Bitterness: 28.0 IBU Calories: 43 cal/pint
Est Color: 14.8 SRM
 
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