Critique my ESB recipe

[Craigweiser]

Hello - I'm looking to make an ESB that has a good hop character that isn't overpowering but also has a great malt characture.

Better Bitter Beer
Brew Type: All Grain Date: 9/12/2011
Style: Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale) Brewer: Craig K
Batch Size: 5.50 gal Assistant Brewer:
Boil Volume: 7.00 gal Boil Time: 90 min
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00 %

Brewing Steps Check Time Step
9/12/2011 Clean and prepare equipment.
-- Measure ingredients, crush grains.
-- Prepare 8.38 gal water for brewing
-- Prepare Ingredients for Mash
Amount Item Type
9.00 lb Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain
0.50 lb Victory Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain
0.50 lb Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain
0.50 lb Wheat, Flaked (1.6 SRM) Grain

-- WARNING: Preheat Mash Tun - No equipment adjustments made!
2 min Mash Ingredients
Mash In: Add 11.50 qt of water at 163.0 F
60 min - Hold mash at 149.0 F for 60 min
-- Batch Sparge Round 1: Sparge with 2.01 gal of 168.0 F water.
-- Batch Sparge Round 2: Sparge with 3.50 gal of 168.0 F water.
-- Add water to achieve boil volume of 7.00 gal
-- Estimated Pre-boil Gravity is: 1.050 SG with all grains/extracts added
Boil for 90 min Boil Ingredients
Boil Amount Item Type
60 min 2.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [5.00 %] (60 min) Hops
20 min 1.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [5.00 %] (20 min) Hops
0 min 1.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [5.00 %] (0 min) Hops

-- Cool wort to fermentation temperature
-- Add water (as needed) to achieve volume of 5.50 gal
-- Siphon wort to primary fermenter and aerate wort.
-- Add Ingredients to Fermenter
Amount Item Type
1 Pkgs London ESB Ale (Wyeast Labs #1968) Yeast-Ale

9/12/2011 Measure Original Gravity: ________ (Estimate: 1.058 SG)
9/12/2011 Measure Batch Volume: ________ (Estimate: 5.50 gal)
4 days Ferment in primary for 4 days at 68.0 F
9/16/2011 Transfer to Secondary Fermenter
7 days Ferment in secondary for 7 days at 68.0 F
9/23/2011 Measure Final Gravity: ________ (Estimate: 1.017 SG)
-- Keg beer at 42.0 F at a pressure of 12.2 PSI
4.0 Weeks Age for 4.0 Weeks at 42.0 F
10/21/2011 Sample and enjoy!

 

[PantherCity]

I would work on that grain bill. While it looks tasty it is not to style.

The victory is American, and the Vienna is German and you are using American C-40.

I would encourage you to get some simpson's medium crystal and replace the others with some biscuit malt if you want some additional malt character.

Everything else looks good!