Imperial red critique please

[Joetuo]

I want to do an imp red this weekend and this is what i have come up with....How does it look? Any suggestions?

13.00 lb Pale Malt, Maris Otter (Thomas Fawcett) (3.0 SRM) Grain 73.65 %
2.65 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (Crystal II) (60.0 SRM) Grain 15.01 %
1.50 lb Biscuit (Dingemans) (22.5 SRM) Grain 8.50 %
0.50 lb Cara 45 (Dingemans) (47.0 SRM) Grain 2.83 %
1.50 oz Simcoe [12.20 %] (60 min) Hops 47.2 IBU
0.50 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (45 min) Hops 15.4 IBU
0.50 oz Cascade [5.00 %] (30 min) Hops 5.0 IBU
0.50 oz Cascade [5.00 %] (15 min) Hops 3.2 IBU

 

[bolts]

The Crystal looks rather heavy. I'm a fan of the recipes that use a touch of chocolate for color and don't get to heavy on the caramel/crystal flavors. If you like a hop taste/aroma in your red I'd shift the Cascade later in the boil and bump them up.

Some other reds to look at -- I made the Gordon clone a while back and enjoy it.

http://www.mrmalty.com/late_hopping.htm
http://hopville.com/recipe/305967/imperial-ipa-recipes/gordon-clone

 

[dcp27]

+1, all that crystal will clash with the hops. Id drop the total crystal to around 5-7% and move those hops later in the boil. IMO hops added in the 20-45min range are wasted since they're under utilized and get no aroma and minimal flavor.

 

[Joetuo]

thanks for the input I think I will drop the crystal down. I am going for a clone of Great lakes Nosferatu. According to their website this is all they use. I started out with the high crystal to try and get the big body and flavor.

Malt
2-Row Base Malt: Allows color and flavor from other specialty malts to come through; makes for very clean beer
Crystal 77: Contributes to reddish color and adds slight aroma and flavor; contributes great deal to body of beer
Special Roast: Contributes subtle hints of toasty and biscuit flavors

Hops
Simcoe: Unique, non-traditional bittering hop; provides high levels of bitterness with smoothness
Cascade: Popular in American pale ales; provides citrusy/grapefruit aroma and flavor; complements heavy malts

 

[Joetuo]

ok here is the update i am thinking now.

13.50 lb Pale Malt, Maris Otter (Thomas Fawcett) (3.0 SRM) Grain 81.82 %
1.50 lb Biscuit (Dingemans) (22.5 SRM) Grain 9.09 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (Crystal II) (60.0 SRM) Grain 6.06 %
0.50 lb Cara 45 (Dingemans) (47.0 SRM) Grain 3.03 %
2.00 oz Simcoe [12.20 %] (60 min) Hops 65.0 IBU
1.00 oz Cascade [5.00 %] (20 min) Hops 8.1 IBU
1.00 oz Cascade [5.00 %] (10 min) Hops 4.8 IBU

 

[helmstreet]

How'd this turn out? I've been putting together my own clone of nosferatu.