Thouhgts on this brown ale recipe (my first recipe)

This is my first time creating my own recipe any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am planning on brewing this one tomorrow.

Cheers!!!



Est Original Gravity: 1.061 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.014 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 6.12 %
Bitterness: 30.6 IBU
Est Color: 27.8 SRM



Amount Item Type % or IBU
3.98 lb Pale Liquid Extract (8.0 SRM) Extract 34.92 %
3.98 lb Pale Liquid Extract [Boil for 15 min] Extract 34.92 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 8.77 %
0.99 lb Special Roast (50.0 SRM) Grain 8.73 %
0.99 lb Victory Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 8.71 %
0.45 lb Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 3.95 %
0.93 oz Cascade [5.00 %] (45 min) Hops 13.4 IBU
0.25 oz Nugget [13.00 %] (45 min) Hops 9.2 IBU
0.32 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (15 min) Hops 2.3 IBU
0.65 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (2 min) Hops 0.8 IBU
0.25 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) Yeast-Ale

Going to try and ferment this one around 68 deg.


This is my first time creating my own recipe any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am planning on brewing this one tomorrow.

You are going for an American version of the "style" right ? The hopping seems to be on par for that interpretation, but there's no reaosn not to have a 60 min addition. You will have pretty much have the same basic Cascade flavour wether you add them at 60 or 45 minutes, better not waste the potential IBU ! I also find it a bit harsh as a bittering hop, but that's hair-splitting.

Have you used Fuggles before ? It has that earthy/minty thing going on when used late. Some people hate it, other love it. I'm a fan, especially in darker beers (altough I do like it in bitters). It's often cited as a substitute for Willamette and EKG but it is completly different IMHO, just like Hallertauer and Saaz.

The grain bill seems to be okay to me, except for one little thing. A pound of special roast is too much in pretty much anything. I usually add 4oz to my bitters and a touch more to darker beers: it adds dark crust, sourdough and almost a fried pancake batter thing to the mix. It's a beautiful malt, but moderation should be the name of the game. Victory I have used and don't care for, but I guess one pound is standard. It's pretty bleah, but if you want biscuit up the wazoo, you'll have it.

Seems like a nice brew.

Yes I forgot to put that in my OP. I am kinda shooting for a take off of Bells Brown Ale.
Not even close?

Thanks

also only a 45 min boil

Never had Bell's, so I can't tell. I never did a 45 minutes boil either.