advise me on making my own extract recipe

[Wyobrew22]

I have a random packet of Nottingham ale yeast that I refuse to let go un-used and would like to come up with my own extract recipe. I am newer to brewing and have never come up with my own recipe before and I would like to use this opportunity as a learning experience. I like beer with a good bite to it in both bitterness and alcohol but am not looking to do an IPA or any specific style for that matter, nothing overly dark either. I am thinking about using a blend of grains to steep such as carapils and maybe a light to medium caramel malt. Probably just a light or extra light DME. I am ignorant as to what each specific type of hops can do but I would like both a good bittering and aroma element. Any advice from anyone is helpful. How much DME should I use in a 5 gallon recipe? How much grain for steeping if I use 2 different kinds? Hops suggestions/pairings?

 

[PT Ray]

You can go:
American Pale Ale
Red Ale
Amber Ale
American Brown

I think those leave room to play with caramel/roasted malts and hops. Your base will be about 6.6 pounds of light LME (little less for DME) and then add your crystal and darker malts which will run 1-2 lbs. Hops can be any of the domestic citrusy type, either a single type or mix a couple. A guess would be 2-3 ounces. Does that help or is it too broad?

 

[Justibone]

http://beerrecipes.org/

Have fun!

 

[Heckle]

I am still doing extract kits myself. If your new to brewing, I would stick with kits that you can substitute (or add) one item in to see how it changes the taste.

 

[Wyobrew22]

thanks for the replies. That site is pretty awesome too! I guess as far as a style it will probably be close to an American pale ale