Chocolate Blonde Ale- Critique

Chocolate Surprise
Blonde Ale
Type: All Grain
Date: 08/10/2013
Batch Size (fermenter): 6.08 gal
Brewer: Chris Cox
Boil Size: 8.90 gal
Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 60 min
Equipment: Pot (18.5 Gal/70 L) and Cooler (9.5 Gal/40 L) - All Grain
End of Boil Volume 7.10 gal
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00 %
Final Bottling Volume: 5.63 gal
Est Mash Efficiency 85.2 %
Fermentation: Ale, Two Stage
Taste Rating(out of 50): 30.0
Taste Notes:
Ingredients
Ingredients
Amt
Name
Type
#
%/IBU
7 lbs 12.0 oz
Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)
Grain
1
73.8 %
1 lbs 4.0 oz
Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM)
Grain
2
11.9 %
12.0 oz
Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM)
Grain
3
7.1 %
12.0 oz
Milk Sugar (Lactose) (0.0 SRM)
Sugar
4
7.1 %
0.75 oz
Willamette [5.50 %] - Boil 60.0 min
Hop
5
12.9 IBUs
0.75 oz
Saaz [4.00 %] - Boil 30.0 min
Hop
6
7.2 IBUs
1.0 pkg
Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05) [50.28 ml]
Yeast
7
-
Beer Profile
Est Original Gravity: 1.047 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.046 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.011 SG
Measured Final Gravity: 1.010 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 4.7 %
Actual Alcohol by Vol: 4.7 %

I also am going to add 8 oz of dutch cocoa powder 5 min left in the boil. Dutch cocoa supposedly has less of a bitter taste.

IIRC Green River in Iowa has a similar beer that adds liquid syrup at the end of boil.

Thats crazy that is the exact beer I was trying to clone. Is there any other advice out there? Mostly as it relates to the choice of grains.

chriscax said:

Thats crazy that is the exact beer I was trying to clone. Is there any other advice out there? Mostly as it relates to the choice of grains.

Click to expand...

I've never had that beer, but I think 19% cara/crystal malts is a LOT. I'd definitely look at that, and see if you really want that much cara/crystal.