21lbs of fermentables in a 5g batch?

[heckofagator]

I was looking around the web for a snickerdoodle recipe. I found this one, and was planning to make it soon

http://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/view/258169/jack-s-snickerdoodle-cream-ale

but then I noticed there were 21lbs of grain and lactose in there. Does that seem like a bit much? I've only made 15 batches, but I don't think I've had anywhere near that much. Maybe half that at most, IIRC.

Is that recipe off or......?

 

[d3track]

Built for 40% efficiency- you'll have to adjust for your system

 

[Aristotelian]

It says 40% brewhouse efficiency, so yeah, you could cut everything by half. Not sure what that guy's process is, but that is pretty terrible. Even so that is going to be a very sweet beer with 1.020 FG.

 

[WarrynPeace]

Certainly seems off, I notice his efficiency is only 40% as well. I would look for other recipes or alter this to fit your efficiency level. If you do not know your efficiency level, a good start is 75%.

 

[Kharnynb]

40% efficiency it says, maybe very high mashing temps?

 

[heckofagator]

good catch guys. yeah, I don't know my efficiency. I do BIAB but I'm sure it's not perfect. I want to do a 2.5-3g batch and I'm ok with a little less alcohol percentage, so maybe I'll half the amounts twice and I'll get close.

 

[ThomasPaine]

It takes a lot of water to mash 21 lbs. this means that if you are going for 5 gallons, you won't be sparging. 40% is about right if you aren't able to wash the grain with a sparge due to that fact that you will have a 15 gallon pre boil volume and have to boil off 10 gallons if you sparged

 

[m00ps]

personally, I wouldnt follow any recipe from someone with 40% efficiency. I have never heard of anything that low...I dont think that guy knows what hes doing

 

[JonM]

You can get to 1.062 with much less grain.

 

[kh54s10]

Agreed that there is something off with that recipe. When I use 21 pounds of grain I get in the 1.090 - 1.100 range.

There are free recipe builders online. Input your own ingredients using a recipe as a starting point. If you don't know your efficiency start with about 70 percent, which is about average.

 

[WrQth]

If all that is wanted is the first runnings wouldn't that account for the low efficiency?

I was reading recipes in a book Modern Homebrew Recipes by Gordon Strong sometimes he only wants the first runnings since they are better for a reason I don't recall.

 

[CGish]

This recipe made me curious, so I put it into BeerSmith and adjusted for my system.

This is set at 68% efficiency and has the S.G. and bitterness adjusted for the top edge of the cream ale style. The color is still too high, but snickerdoodles are dark ...

Type: All Grain
Batch Size: 5.50 gal
Boil Size: 7.62 gal
Boil Time: 90 min
End of Boil Vol: 5.82 gal
Final Bottling Vol: 5.25 gal
Fermentation: Ale, Two Stage

5 lbs 10.0 oz Pale Ale Malt 2-Row 48.1 %
2 lbs 14.0 oz Pilsner 24.6 %
1 lbs 8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt 20L 12.8 %
7.0 oz Barley, Flaked 3.7 %
7.0 oz Corn, Flaked 3.7 %
13.0 oz Milk Sugar (Lactose) 7.0 %
0.60 oz Cascade [7.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min 15.6 IBUs
0.25 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 15.0 mins)
0.50 oz East Kent Goldings (EKG) [6.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min 4.0 IBUs
1.00 tsp Servomyces (Boil 10.0 mins) - (This is a guess on the dosage - follow the package instructions.)
1.0 pkg Cream Ale Yeast Blend (White Labs #WLP080) [50.28 ml]
2.00 Items Vanilla Beans (Secondary 2.0 weeks)
2.00 Items Cinnamon Stick (Secondary 2.0 weeks)

Mash at 152 for 60 minutes

Est Original Gravity: 1.054 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.015 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.3 %
Bitterness: 19.6 IBUs
Est Color: 7.2 SRM

Perhaps this will give you a starting place if you still want to try this beer. You can change the finishing gravity by raising or dropping the mash temperature. A finish around 1.020 (like the original) would require a mash of 158 degrees for 60 minutes. I suspect that would be cloying sweet with this grain bill. However, I haven't brewed this beer, so I may be wrong.

Good Luck,
Cody

 

[heckofagator]

hey Cody, thanks for taking the time to do that. I can definitely work with this. Actually planning a trip for some supplies this weekend so I think I'll pick up the grains to try this brew.

 

[ThomasPaine]

If all that is wanted is the first runnings wouldn't that account for the low efficiency?



I was reading recipes in a book Modern Homebrew Recipes by Gordon Strong sometimes he only wants the first runnings since they are better for a reason I don't recall.

Yes, this was my point. 21 lbs for a five gallon batch at that SG will be pretty much just first runnings. Unless you sparge the **** out of it and boil off 10 gals for a much higher efficiency.