Brewing buddy and I made a really nice English Brown last year, loosely based on Newcastle Brown (the kind in the cans, not the spoiled crap that shows up in the clear bottles). I wanted to provide our 2013 recipe, our tasting notes, and then provide my draft proposed changes. I will add that I have brewed all grain for several years, but am a relative newcomer to British grains and yeast.
Here's what we brewed, and the things we wanted to change.
2013 Recipe (12 gallons post boil):
14.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 57.85 %
4.00 lb Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 16.53 %
1.75 lb Biscuit Malt (23.0 SRM) Grain 7.23 %
1.00 lb Brown Malt (65.0 SRM) Grain 4.13 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 4.13 %
1.00 lb Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 4.13 %
0.60 lb Pale Chocolate (200.0 SRM) Grain 2.48 %
0.50 oz EKG [7.10 %] (80 min) Hops 5.6 IBU
2.00 oz Fuggles [5.20 %] (60 min) Hops 15.7 IBU
1.00 oz Fuggles [5.20 %] (15 min) Hops 3.9 IBU
2 Pkgs British Ale (Wyeast Labs #1098) Yeast-Ale with 2L starter
OG: 1.050 SG
FG: 1.011 SG
Bitterness: 25.2 IBU
Est Color: 14.1 SRM
Single Infusion Mash at 151 F
2013 Notes:
Preliminary 2014 Brown Ale (12 gallons post boil):
18.00 lb Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 83.72 %
1.00 lb Biscuit Malt (23.0 SRM) Grain 4.65 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 4.65 %
0.75 lb Pale Chocolate (200.0 SRM) Grain 3.49 %
0.50 lb English Medium Crystal (77.0 SRM) Grain 2.33 %
0.25 lb Chocolate Malt (450.0 SRM) Grain 1.16 %
2.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [7.20 %] (80 min) Hops 23.0 IBU
1.00 oz Fuggles [5.20 %] (15 min) Hops 3.9 IBU
2 Pkgs British Ale (Wyeast Labs #1098) Yeast-Ale with 2L Starter
Est OG: 1.050 SG
Est FG: 1.013 SG
Bitterness: 27.0 IBU
Est Color: 17.0 SRM
Single Infusion Mash at 153
Thoughts? Is it too roasty to be considered English at this point?
Here's what we brewed, and the things we wanted to change.
2013 Recipe (12 gallons post boil):
14.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 57.85 %
4.00 lb Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 16.53 %
1.75 lb Biscuit Malt (23.0 SRM) Grain 7.23 %
1.00 lb Brown Malt (65.0 SRM) Grain 4.13 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 4.13 %
1.00 lb Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 4.13 %
0.60 lb Pale Chocolate (200.0 SRM) Grain 2.48 %
0.50 oz EKG [7.10 %] (80 min) Hops 5.6 IBU
2.00 oz Fuggles [5.20 %] (60 min) Hops 15.7 IBU
1.00 oz Fuggles [5.20 %] (15 min) Hops 3.9 IBU
2 Pkgs British Ale (Wyeast Labs #1098) Yeast-Ale with 2L starter
OG: 1.050 SG
FG: 1.011 SG
Bitterness: 25.2 IBU
Est Color: 14.1 SRM
Single Infusion Mash at 151 F
2013 Notes:
- I had a bag of US 2-row left over and wanted to use it. I used an 80/20 split of US/UK and added 1 lb Munich to balance it back towards a biscuity base. I'd like to try and avoid that this time, and just go UK base.
- We really liked the touch of roast from the Pale Chocolate. Our notes said we could push this slightly farther next time.
- The major draw back was that we thought it was slightly "watery" and could have used a little more body.
Preliminary 2014 Brown Ale (12 gallons post boil):
18.00 lb Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 83.72 %
1.00 lb Biscuit Malt (23.0 SRM) Grain 4.65 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 4.65 %
0.75 lb Pale Chocolate (200.0 SRM) Grain 3.49 %
0.50 lb English Medium Crystal (77.0 SRM) Grain 2.33 %
0.25 lb Chocolate Malt (450.0 SRM) Grain 1.16 %
2.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [7.20 %] (80 min) Hops 23.0 IBU
1.00 oz Fuggles [5.20 %] (15 min) Hops 3.9 IBU
2 Pkgs British Ale (Wyeast Labs #1098) Yeast-Ale with 2L Starter
Est OG: 1.050 SG
Est FG: 1.013 SG
Bitterness: 27.0 IBU
Est Color: 17.0 SRM
Single Infusion Mash at 153
- To address the slightly "watery" backbone, we've upped the level of Crystal with a darker crystal addition. I've also proposed raising the mash temp up to 153.
- To address the desire for extra roast, I was thinking of adding the smidge of Chocolate Malt.
- Since I've added two darker malts, I dropped the Brown malt. I know they are entirely different flavors, but I thought it was too much to keep it in there with the Biscuit, 2 Crystals, and 2 Chocholates already happening.
- Last change was the hopping - I have no idea why I did the weird 80 minute and 60 minute additions on the 2013 version. Decided to simplify that.
Thoughts? Is it too roasty to be considered English at this point?