Red Plum Ale

[rodwha]

A bit late for critique as I prefer but figured I'd post anyway.

I had made an old ale about a year ago as I wanted to do a beer that I'd age for a bit (6+ months). After about 3-4 months I tried one and was amazed at how plum-like it was. So this is my take on a more sessionable plum beer that I decided to see if I could make red by using carared. This is my 5.5 gal batch:

7.5 lbs 2-row
1.25 lbs soft white wheat berries
0.75 lb Special B
0.5 lb carared
1 oz Willamette (7.7%) @ 70 mins
US-05

1.050/1.010
5.2% + ~0.2% priming sugar
25 IBUs
12 SRM

I to shoot for a mash of 152-154* as usual with a 1.5 qt/lb thickness. My water, though not thoroughly tested (using online annual water report), after treating (75% RO dilution) is ~ Ca 72, Mg 9, Na 19, Cl 86, SO 99, and with a mash pH of 5.38 (I shoot for middle of the road in case any numbers may be off). I use Brewer's Friend's advanced water calculator using the grain bill to estimate the pH with my water.

I know that's flying by the seat of my pants, and likely there are many who would scoff, but the price of the testing equipment is a bit too much, and I read those pH strips aren't even accurate.

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

I've also used Melanoidin for red color. As for the plum flavor, you don't mention what yeast you used. I've found some yeasts (Trappist comes to mind) give a plummy flavor, especially at higher fermentation temps. The Special B may also give you some of that.

 

[rodwha]

Melanoidin, huh? Thanks as I've not seen that.

US-05 yeast.

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

Oops. Yeah, I missed the US-05. I've heard of that getting peach flavors but not plum. One thing I just though of is you could try carmelizing some of your first runnings and then adding it back to the boil. That can get you some plummy flavor. I did it with about a gallon of first runnings. Boiled it separately from my main boil until it got really syrupy then added back to the main boil. A gallon ended up as about 12 oz of carmelized syrup. I really liked the results and it was definitely a plummy flavor.