I wish I knew more about building a recipe

[TBrady26]

I'd like to make a Porter or Stout or any other kind of beer that relates to the season/weather. However, I don't really have a clue on "making" beer without a pre-built recipe.

Are all HMEs done beer style specific? Am I missing an extract beer recipe building website somewhere? I know there are recipe building websites, but they all seem to be for grain recipes. I don't have the time or space to go all grain, therefore I opt for extracts.

I kinda feel like I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill on this.

Thanks,
T. Brady

 

[DurtyChemist]

Look at a lot of recipes to get a feel for what each has in common. Find a base and start there. I've thought if making my own recipe but I have too many I want to make from other people's.

 

[unionrdr]

Check out the recipe forum for some extract ideas.

 

[grimstuff]

Read Designing Great Beers by Ray Daniels. There's more than enough information in there to get you started in designing your own recipes and brewing according to style. A lot of the info is geared toward the all-grain brewer, but the fundamentals are the same.

 

[Yooper]

I assume "HME" is hopped malt extract? if so, it'd be darn near impossible to really build a recipe using it.

If you use unhopped extract, hops, grains, and yeast, you can make just about anything.

 

[TBrady26]

I assume "HME" is hopped malt extract? if so, it'd be darn near impossible to really build a recipe using it.

If you use unhopped extract, hops, grains, and yeast, you can make just about anything.

Yes, HME is hopped malt extract.

UME with grains and hops is what I figured would get me the most bang for my buck.

Thanks.

 

[TBrady26]

Read Designing Great Beers by Ray Daniels. There's more than enough information in there to get you started in designing your own recipes and brewing according to style. A lot of the info is geared toward the all-grain brewer, but the fundamentals are the same.

Pretty sure my LHBS has this book on their bookshelves. Hope they do.

 

[grimstuff]

Pretty sure my LHBS has this book on their bookshelves. Hope they do.

You'll get a lot out of it and go back to it again and again.

 

[TBrady26]

LHBS didn't have the book on the shelf, but they are researching it and ordering it for me. Looking forward to it.

Did some grain tasting when I went in to check on the book. I already have some ideas as to what grains to use with my DME choices. Looks like my first scratch recipe is going to be, either wheat based or a stout or porter. Can't wait!

 

[rexbanner]

Here's a really basic explanation:

Pale ale = base malt + 0.5 lb crystal malt

Amber ale = base malt + 1.5 lb crystal malt

Brown ale = base malt + crystal malt + chocolate malt

Porter = base malt + crystal malt + chocolate malt + roasted barley

Stout = base malt + 1 lb roasted barley

IPA = base malt + 1 lb light crystal malt + 6-12 oz hops

 

[TBrady26]

Here's a really basic explanation:

Pale ale = base malt + 0.5 lb crystal malt

Amber ale = base malt + 1.5 lb crystal malt

Brown ale = base malt + crystal malt + chocolate malt

Porter = base malt + crystal malt + chocolate malt + roasted barley

Stout = base malt + 1 lb roasted barley

IPA = base malt + 1 lb light crystal malt + 6-12 oz hops

Thanks for the info. That sounds perfectly simple and easy to work with. You da man Rexbanner

 

[501irishred]

Are you you currently using any kind of brewing software? If not, I would highly recommend getting one. I use BeerSmith, and it includes extract ingredients as well as grains, and has the ability to convert all grain recipes to extract and extract to grain.
Most the big programs will give you a good picture of what dif ingredients are doing to your recipe, and tell you if your within a particular style parameters. It is a nice tool to keep up with your recipes, but for me it's invaluable for changing or creating new brews.

 

[TBrady26]

I have Beersmith. Tinkered with it a little. I just have the trial version. I guess I need to pony up the $$$ so I'll have the full version. Would be smart since I'm planning on brewing for the foreseeable future. It's just sooooo much cheaper to make good beer, instead of buying good beer.

 

[501irishred]

Agree on all counts! Brewing beer, BeerSmith, and golf each have something in common; "A day to learn, A lifetime to master!"

 

[Curtis2010]

Read Designing Great Beers by Ray Daniels. ...

+1, Great book. I refer to it often when putting together my own recipes. This, combined with experience, and some good software (like BeerSmith) go a long way to helping design your own recipes.