Trying to hit an ABV with a known SG

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EricCSU

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Hey guys,
I am trying to clone a favorite beer of mine. I know the SG and ABV. I even know most of the recipe. I don't know the mash temp however. What temp should I mash at to get 6.8% from the recipe below? I need my FG to be 1.011-1.012. I am going to use an appropriate starter on a stirplate, chill, decant, and pour the yeast slurry...so I should have plenty of yeast. (never mind the exactness of the ingredients...I will be rounding off. It is just what beersmith does when you adjust for bitterness, gravity, etc.)

BeerSmith Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Brewer: Eric
Asst Brewer:
Style: English IPA
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (35.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.50 gal
Boil Size: 7.54 gal
Estimated OG: 1.063 SG
Estimated Color: 9.4 SRM
Estimated IBU: 54.1 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
12 lbs 5.5 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM) Grain 91.53 %
9.1 oz Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 4.23 %
9.1 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 75l (75.0 SRM) Grain 4.23 %
13.78 gm Centennial [9.70 %] (60 min) Hops 19.2 IBU
42.00 gm Cascade [5.50 %] (Dry Hop 10 days) Hops -
27.55 gm Cluster [7.00 %] (60 min) Hops 27.7 IBU
13.78 gm Cascade [5.50 %] (10 min) Hops 2.2 IBU
13.78 gm Fuggles [4.50 %] (10 min) Hops 1.8 IBU
13.78 gm Fuggles [4.50 %] (5 min) Hops 1.5 IBU
13.78 gm Cascade [5.50 %] (5 min) Hops 1.8 IBU
14.00 gm Fuggles [4.50 %] (1 min) (Aroma Hop-SteepHops -
14.00 gm Cascade [5.50 %] (1 min) (Aroma Hop-SteepHops -
1.20 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1.20 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs Dry English Ale (White Labs #WLP007) [StarYeast-Ale
 
1.063 to 1.012 is about 81% apparent attenuation.
I haven't used wlp007 but it is listed as 70-80%
I would probably go with around 150*
 
It is from a brewpub in CO. Nothing famous.

I was thinking 148-150, it looks like we are on the same frequency.

I wonder if he uses carapils for foam stability and then mashes lower to dry it out and compensate for the reduced fermentability of the carapils.

ER
 
1.063 to 1.012 is about 81% apparent attenuation.
I haven't used wlp007 but it is listed as 70-80%
I would probably go with around 150*

I would go lower, 148. Low atten yeast + Carapils would make this thing tough to convert.

I would also take out the carapils and mash higher. Chances are good he uses the carapils due to some piece of equipment that has a restriction. Many breweries seem to use it as a replacement for high mash temp. There is no reason to worry about foam in a beer with that many hops.
 
Just to update:

I kept the recipe the same, and decided to play with one variable: mash temp. I mashed at 147F. I was shooting for 148F, but got 147F and decided not to mess with it.

FG was 1010. It attenuated even farther than I anticipated, or wanted. It is still carbing right now, so I can't tell you much about how it tastes.

I will probably mash at 150F next time to see if I can hit 1012-1013.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Eric
 
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