Christmas Ale - Need your input.

[clblittle]

So, im starting to think about doing my 2012 Holiday ale. Last year it was a kit from the local brew store and a good one. I wrote this from scratch and am unsure of it, so any input is very much appreciated.

Recipe: Christmas Ale 2012
Style: American Brown Ale
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 12.57 gal
Post Boil Volume: 11.44 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 10.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 9.25 gal
Estimated OG: 1.055 SG
Estimated Color: 40.9 SRM
Estimated IBU: 39.6 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 79.2 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
13 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) Bel (3.0 SRM)
4 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM)
3 lbs Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM)
2 lbs Biscuit Malt (23.0 SRM)

2.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 15.0 min
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 0.0 min

1.00 Items Cinnamon Stick (Boil 0.0 mins)
1.00 tbsp Nutmeg (Boil 0.0 mins)

1.0 pkg California Ale (White Labs #WLP001)

2.00 tbsp Tahitian Vanilla (Bottling/Kegging)


Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Light Body, No Mash Out
Total Grain Weight: 22 lbs
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash In Add 30.70 qt of water at 163.5 F 150.0 F 75 min

Sparge: Fly sparge with 8.34 gal water at 168.0 F

 

[Poobah58]

Not sure what you're looking for but that is going to be one dark & malty mofo. I would start with 3 lbs C60 (13.6%), 2lbs Chocolate (9%), 1.5lbs Biscuit (6.9%) and 15.5lbs (70.5%) Pale. That will still be quite malty and dark. Adjust next batch if necessary. Consider a wee bit of ginger...

 

[Obliviousbrew]

I´ll even put a little less specialty malts than that 2 pounds of chocolate malt can be overwhelming for some people (but I love chocolate malt). I´ll add a little special b (I just love special B) but that´s just me. Strongly agree about a little ginger (carefull you can over do it easily) and if you think you put very little you can always add some to secondary or put it with your priming solution

 

[clblittle]

I figured that would be a malt monster. I am very new to trying to do my own recipes, so you guys' input is greatly appreciated. Here is where I am at now:


Recipe: Christmas Ale 2012
Style: American Brown Ale
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 12.57 gal
Post Boil Volume: 11.44 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 10.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 9.25 gal
Estimated OG: 1.049 SG
Estimated Color: 26.3 SRM
Estimated IBU: 41.6 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 79.2 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
15 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) Bel (3.0 SRM) Grain 1 77.9 %
2 lbs 8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 2 13.0 %
1 lbs 4.0 oz Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 3 6.5 %
8.0 oz Special B Malt (180.0 SRM) Grain 4 2.6 %

2.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 5 36.6 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 6 5.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Ginger Root (Boil 0.0 mins) Herb 7 -
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 8 0.0 IBUs
1.00 Items Cinnamon Stick (Boil 0.0 mins) Spice 9 -
1.00 tbsp Nutmeg (Boil 0.0 mins) Spice 10 -
1.0 pkg California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) [35. Yeast 11 -
2.00 tbsp Tahitian Vanilla (Bottling 0.0 mins) Spice 12 -