I know I'm crazy, but although we just entered 2010, I'm already thinking about next year's projects. My plan is to do some sort of long-aged big beer each year. My first was a "barley wine" (for lack of a better description) with some peat-smoked malt and fresh spruce tips. This year I decided to go with a little more straight forward barley wine, but included some molasses and muscovado sugar. For NEXT year, I'm already thinking about doing an Imperial Oaked Porter. I figure if I start thinking about it now and asking questions I have a whole year to really nail down the recipe. This is what I've got so far:
For a 3 gallon batch:
OG - 1.094
SRM - 34.4
8 lbs Maris Otter (3L) - 71.1%
2 lbs Light Munich (7L) - 17.8%
1/2 lb Chocolate Malt (450L) - 4.4%
1/2 lb Light Crystal (45L) - 4.4%
1/4 lb Dark Crystal (120L) - 2.2%
Hops - ??
Since I want to oak this, I'm not really sure what type of hops to use. What goes well with Oak? I've used mostly UK varieties so far, but was thinking something American might be a nice change of pace.
My idea is to ferment this then rack ontop of some oak cubes (variety? toast? amount? time?)
So, the questions I have right now are:
1) how does the 1st draft of the grist look? does it need some black malt or roasted barley?
2) what to do for a hop schedule?
3) what to do about the oak schedule?
Yes, I am addicted to this hobby and I'm not ashamed to admit it! :fro:
For a 3 gallon batch:
OG - 1.094
SRM - 34.4
8 lbs Maris Otter (3L) - 71.1%
2 lbs Light Munich (7L) - 17.8%
1/2 lb Chocolate Malt (450L) - 4.4%
1/2 lb Light Crystal (45L) - 4.4%
1/4 lb Dark Crystal (120L) - 2.2%
Hops - ??
Since I want to oak this, I'm not really sure what type of hops to use. What goes well with Oak? I've used mostly UK varieties so far, but was thinking something American might be a nice change of pace.
My idea is to ferment this then rack ontop of some oak cubes (variety? toast? amount? time?)
So, the questions I have right now are:
1) how does the 1st draft of the grist look? does it need some black malt or roasted barley?
2) what to do for a hop schedule?
3) what to do about the oak schedule?
Yes, I am addicted to this hobby and I'm not ashamed to admit it! :fro: