Critique my recipe for a Nut Brown Ale?

[hpaq]

This is the first recipe that I've tried to come up with on my own. I've spent the last few months homebrewing when I can. I've done 2 kits and a couple recipes that my LHBS offered up. I'd really like to brew my own version of a nut brown ale, but I haven't formulated my own recipe before. I've spent a lot of time reading on here and here's what I think might work. Please tell me if you see errors or if you have any suggestions (I only kinda know what I'm doing!).

This is for an extract 5 gal batch, 3 gal boil. If you guys have some suggestions that would make this better, let me know!

Grains
0.25 lbs Victory
0.25 lbs Special B
0.5 lbs Chocolate
0.5 lbs Crystal 60
0.5 lbs Biscuit
0.25 lbs Malto Dextrin

Sugars
Amber DME - 4 lbs
Light LME - 3 lbs
1/2 oz molasses

Hops
1 oz Fuggle @ 60 min
1 oz Kent Goldings @ 15 minutes
Irish Moss - 1 tsp @ 10 min

American Ale Wyeast


According to Brewer's Friend:
OG - 1.058
FG - 1.015

 

[Hello]

I think it's more complex than many nut browns that I've been reading about. Lots more variety in the grains but it can work. However, doesn't biscuit malt and victory malt bring the same thing to the table? I would use one or the other.

 

[LoloMT7]

I'd drop the 1/2 oz molasses, and the biscuit malt also (yes it is similar to Victory). The Malto Dextrin could me skipped as well or go for it if you like. Most importantly Welcome to Homebrewtalk!

 

[hpaq]

I'd drop the 1/2 oz molasses, and the biscuit malt also (yes it is similar to Victory). The Malto Dextrin could me skipped as well or go for it if you like. Most importantly Welcome to Homebrewtalk!

Thank you! I've been lurking for months. I think I will drop the biscuit, but isn't malto dextrin important for body & head retention? I think I will keep the molasses, I made a brown ale recipe that used brown sugar and loved it.

 

[LoloMT7]

Thank you! I've been lurking for months. I think I will drop the biscuit, but isn't malto dextrin important for body & head retention? I think I will keep the molasses, I made a brown ale recipe that used brown sugar and loved it.

I guess your doing a partial mash or 'steep' and then using extracts so you could go for it with the malto dextrin. From most of the reading I've done people say "skip it and mash higher" (doing all grain). I have used it once and didn't notice a big difference.

 

[Yooper]

This is the first recipe that I've tried to come up with on my own. I've spent the last few months homebrewing when I can. I've done 2 kits and a couple recipes that my LHBS offered up. I'd really like to brew my own version of a nut brown ale, but I haven't formulated my own recipe before. I've spent a lot of time reading on here and here's what I think might work. Please tell me if you see errors or if you have any suggestions (I only kinda know what I'm doing!).

This is for an extract 5 gal batch, 3 gal boil. If you guys have some suggestions that would make this better, let me know!

Grains
0.25 lbs Victory
0.25 lbs Special B
0.5 lbs Chocolate
0.5 lbs Crystal 60
0.5 lbs Biscuit
0.25 lbs Malto Dextrin

Sugars
Amber DME - 4 lbs
Light LME - 3 lbs
1/2 oz molasses

Hops
1 oz Fuggle @ 60 min
1 oz Kent Goldings @ 15 minutes
Irish Moss - 1 tsp @ 10 min

American Ale Wyeast


According to Brewer's Friend:
OG - 1.058
FG - 1.015

It's "too much". What I mean is, too many different malts that are doing basically the same thing, plus doubling up on the already high crystal malts by using amber DME. The 1/2 ounce of molasses is a small amount- so you won't know it's there. But if it's not enough to matter, I'd leave it out.

Overly complicated recipes are not better. Complex is good, complicated creates "muddy" flavors.

I have a really good nut brown recipe at home that I love (I'm not at home right now) so I don't have it available, but it's very similar to the one in Jamil Zainasheff's "Brewing Classic Styles". I'd highly recommend looking at that one, and simplifying that grainbill a lot.

"Less is more" really applies for brewing recipes.

 

[hpaq]

Based on your and others suggestions, what if I did:

1 lbs Victory
1 lbs Special B
0.5 lbs Chocolate

no molasses

 

[LoloMT7]

Based on your and others suggestions, what if I did:

1 lbs Victory
1 lbs Special B
0.5 lbs Chocolate

no molasses

yup that looks better for sure.

 

[pieman396]

I was under the impression that victory and biscuit malts don't break down unless they are mashed, even if you are just trying to get flavor by steeping. They only really contribute color. If someone can prove me wrong I'd be pretty excited though, I haven't done my own brown ale yet because of this.

 

[dcp27]

Based on your and others suggestions, what if I did:

1 lbs Victory
1 lbs Special B
0.5 lbs Chocolate

no molasses

i love the stuff, but 1lb special B is probably too much in a nut brown.

I was under the impression that victory and biscuit malts don't break down unless they are mashed, even if you are just trying to get flavor by steeping. They only really contribute color. If someone can prove me wrong I'd be pretty excited though, I haven't done my own brown ale yet because of this.

you'll get flavor steeping, you just won't get much gravity contribution

 

[Yooper]

I like that better! I also like special roast (NOT special B) in a nut brown.

I just looked up Jamil's recipe and it's got this grainbill (6 gallon batch):

7 pounds English pale ale LME

.75 pound special roast
.5 pound victory
.5 pound crystal 40L
.25 pale chocolate

I've used regular chocolate as well, and still really like the pale chocolate in an English brown.

The victory will give the beer toasty/nutty flavors, the crystal 40L would bring some sweetness and caramel character (but not too much), and the low amount of chocolate means not too much roast. More chocolate might get you more into a brown porter type of character.

 

[hpaq]

do you think that this recipe will end up very " nutty" tasting?

 

[sfgoat]

do you think that this recipe will end up very " nutty" tasting?

Maybe a little too nutty. I'd drop the victory all together since it's pretty much the same thing as biscuit and a little biscuit goes a long way.