ESB - little help...

[21Hokie]

Just cracked open my first all-grain ESB and I'm thrilled with the taste!! Very close to Fuller's by the perception of my immature palate. Recipe below (btw, the recipe was given to me by Doug John, owner of Pints O'Plenty in Virginia. Doug is a brewing wizard - winning on a national scale)
13 lbs Maris Otter
1 lb Honey Malt
1 lb Cara Pils
1 oz Black Patent
1 oz Crystal 60
Mash at 155 degrees for 90 minutes
1 oz Target Hops for 60 min
1 oz Challenger Hops for 20 min
1 oz North Dawn for 10 min
1 oz Kent Goldings for 5 min

Tube White Labs liquid 002

Question is this....
My beer is darker than the Fullers. Can I simply cut back on the Black Patent to lighten my brew. Mine is also not nearly as clear. I did use Irish Moss but I only left it in the secondary for 1 week. What are my best options for really getting this thing clear?

Thanks in advance....

 

[frankstoneline]

If the brew is too dark, cutting back the black patent will lighten it.
As for clarity, move it to a colder place (garage or something) after fermentation is complete and let it drop brite. Also leaving in secondary a bit longer should help, and adding irish moss in the boil could help as well.

 

[ghpeel]

1oz Crystal 60? That seems too small to do anything noticeable.

 

[Wig]

I thougth the same on the 1oz of 60.

I also haven't crunched the numbers, but it looks 'big' for an ESB with 13lbs of MO. Just a trivial comment, I love bitters and English ales.

How is that North Down? Never tried it.

 

[badlee]

Fullers is too light anyway.

 

[21Hokie]

I've only been brewing for about 7 months....went straight to all-grain from the jump off. I have been following recipes - nit nearly knowledgeable to craft my own or know how to adjust at this point. To be frankly honest, I don't know why the 60 is in there I do know it tastes really good and I want it to be clearer! I appreciate all of the insight.
Cheers!

 

[21Hokie]

I thougth the same on the 1oz of 60.

I also haven't crunched the numbers, but it looks 'big' for an ESB with 13lbs of MO. Just a trivial comment, I love bitters and English ales.

How is that North Down? Never tried it.

At the time of this brew, I didn't sparge (and that may be bad form) but that was his reasoning for the additional grain???? That make any sense?

As for the North Down - ya got me....the beer tastes great!

 

[21Hokie]

What is the function of Crystal 60? What is the best resource for understanding what qualities specific grains will add? Maris or Optic for an ESB?

 

[Wig]

It makes sense to add more grain if you expect an inefficient mash.

Crystal 60 is roasted grain. 60 represents the lovibind, or color level. You can read about different kinds of grains here in the homebrewtalk wiki: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Grain
or here : http://www.howtobrew.com/section2/chapter12-1.html

Both optic and mo work well in an esb. I have used both, as well as golden promise, for bitters with excellent results. I thin MO is more popular because it is more available.

optic: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Optic
Maris Otter: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Maris_Otter
GP: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Golden_Promise