Cascadian Dark Ale Recipe

[ElDuderino]

Thanks for your level headed response, damdaman. I didn't start this thread to debate whether this beer deserves it's own category or whether it's just a hoppy stout/porter or whether it's just a dark ipa or whether it even deserves to exist. I don't disagree that there can be, should be or is often a pronounced roast character in the beers people have tried in this style. I had a particular beer made by a local brewery here that I really liked and would like to make. It did not have as much roast and malt character as the Widmere black ipa or the dogzilla I've had, not that I have anything against those beers. I appreciate all the responses that have guided me closer to my goal. Many of the others, while often passionate, weren't really helpful; then again, I can't say they weren't entertaining to read.

 

[ilv4xn]

I too love the CDA and want to try my hand at making some. The brew scene in Portland is great because most of the big brewers are or were home brewers. Most are very willing to help us little guys.

Here's some information to help craft your own version of our CDA.

Malt Bill:
Base Malt 85-90%
Caramel Malt 1-5%
Black or Carafa Malt 1-5%
Chocolate 1-5%

Hop Bill:
Bitter with Nugget or Magnum
Use Simcoe, Amarillo, Cascade for late adds and dry hopping

OG: 15 Plato/SG: 1.062
6.5% ABV
70 IBU

You can add the black malt at lauter if you want to avoid too much of an
acrid element from the black malt...Sinamar (Black malt liquid color form
Weyermann is an option for coloring as well).

Happy Brewing!

 

[J8D]

In regards to the use of grains like the carafa II or III or black patent or whatever you pick, you need the color not the flavor. I have tried adding it to the mash for only the last five minutes. This would have been great if I had not also gotten a stuck sparge and ended up with the malt sitting in there for another 45 minutes. The end result was to much of a roasted flavor for what I was shooting for in an IPA. Next time I would look at putting just my darkening malt in a muslin bag so I could completely remove it from the mash during the sparge.

 

[ilv4xn]

Thought i would share the final version I am going to try on Monday

9.65 lbs. Pale Malt(2-row)
0.56 lbs. Carafa Special I Germany
0.56 lbs. Chocolate Wheat Malt
0.56 lbs. Carmel Malt 1

Hops
0.90 oz. Magnum 60 min
0.30 oz. Amarillo Gold 10 min
0.30 oz. Cascade 10 min
0.30 oz. Simcoe 10 min
0.30 oz. Amarillo Gold 5 min
0.30 oz. Cascade 5 min
0.30 oz. Simcoe 5 min
0.25 oz. Amarillo Gold 0 min
0.25 oz. Cascade 0 min
0.25 oz. Simcoe 0 min

Mash 152
Wyeast 1028

 

[dazed]

How did it turn out?