All-grain recipe feedback required.

[ALEXJAZZ008008]

This is my first proper All-grain batch and I'm looking for some feedback on a stable English bitter recipe I've concocted.

5kg/11lb Maris otter
300g/11oz Crystal
100g/4oz Chocolate
50g/2oz Black
300g/11oz Munich
250g/9oz Wheat

This will be mashed at 65c/ 149f for 2 hours using the BIAB method.

40g/1.5oz Bullion 90mins
20g/0.8oz Fuggles 10mins
20g/0.8oz Fuggles dry hop 14days in secondary

This will be boiled for 90mins.

Fermented with house yeast which closely resembles Newcastle yeast.

Thanks in advance!

 

[beeber]

Why are you using black malt? For color? Without the black malt, this looks good to me. I think it will have more porter qualities with the black malt. Love the hops!

 

[ALEXJAZZ008008]

I was planning on using the black patent to balance the crystal, do you think its un-needed?
The colour is slightly on the darker side as is...

 

[beeber]

Yes the black malt is not needed here. Unless you want that black malt "bite". The hops will balance the crystal just fine.

 

[RM-MN]

Why are you planning to mash for 2 hours? Aren't your grains milled at all? My grains are milled pretty fine but I've been getting pretty good results mashing at 152 for 10 minutes.

I wouldn't suggest you do your batch as a 10 minute mash but 30 to 60 should be plenty.

What do you expect to get from a 90 minute boil? Are you looking for the darkening that the longer boil would give you? Do you plan to need more water boiled away? Most of us boil for 60 minutes.

 

[ALEXJAZZ008008]

I had heard that mashing for longer at lower temperatures lead to a more fermentable and dryer beer in all, I'm kinda scared that my beer may come out cloyingly sweet. Would it be better to only mash for 60mins at a higher temperature?

Plus, I only intended to boil for so long to properly isomerise my hop oils, again would this be better at 60mins?
If I were to lose a lot of water volume during the boil would it be acceptable to add more water towards the end of the boil?

Thanks!

 

[poptarts]

buy beersmith or use one of the 100 free tools online. They will help you alot

 

[MrFeltimo]

60 min mash @ 149 is plenty, its not that low of a temp.
Agree on the NOT using the black malt too.
if it were me i wouldnt even put in the chocolate, just use a little more crystal Extra dark stuff.
However, give it a go, im sure it'll be great. experiment with it and enjoy.
Dan

 

[ALEXJAZZ008008]

Ok, thanks!
I'll nerf the black patent, might bump up the crystal as well based on what's been said...

However, if I were to mash for longer at a lower temperature for a dryer and more fermentable beer what would you recomend?

Other than that would you say this is a go?

Thanks!

 

[RM-MN]

Ok, thanks!
I'll nerf the black patent, might bump up the crystal as well based on what's been said...

However, if I were to mash for longer at a lower temperature for a dryer and more fermentable beer what would you recomend?

Other than that would you say this is a go?

Thanks!

I have a pale ale in my fermenter that was mashed at 152 for only 10 minutes. The final gravity is at 1.012. Do you still think you need a long mash to make your beer fermentable?

 

[ALEXJAZZ008008]

Wow!
How do you manage that, is that through single infusion mash and batch sparge?
I presume your not using BIAB?

 

[RM-MN]

Wow!
How do you manage that, is that through single infusion mash and batch sparge?
I presume your not using BIAB?

I am using BIAB, the grains are milled really fine or I wouldn't have my full conversion so quickly. I did a small sparge to get my pre boil volume right and pick up just a little more efficiency and pitched twice as much yeast as I should have, a full pack of dry yeast in a 2 1/2 gallon batch. Ferment was at 62 ambient for a few days, then brought to 72.

 

[ALEXJAZZ008008]

Do you buy your grain milled so fine or do you mill your grain again once you've purchased it?

 

[RM-MN]

The nearest LHBS that has a mill to use is 150 miles away so I buy my grains in bulk and mill them myself. I have a Corona style grain mill like this one. http://www.discounttommy.com/p-189-...er-for-wheat-grains-or-use-as-a-nut-mill.aspx

Notice the price and then also notice that there is free shipping in the continental US. It makes a nice way to mill the grains for BIAB. I have it set as tight as it will go.

 

[MrFeltimo]

If your looking for the dryer beer, one of my fav receipes is as follows
91% M/O
9% extra dark crystal
1# corn suger
7.25 lbs of grain, really cheap
Mash at 153, a little higher to account for all that corn suger.
60 min hop
15 min hop

Its my goto English Pale Ale.

Good Luck.
Dan