ESB with US hops

[Queequeg]

I recently drunk a bottle of Cloudwater Vermot ESB which is aggressively hopped with Simcoe & Nelson

Though I didn't think nelson played particularly well with the esters and crystal malt it has inspired me to make an ESB heavily hopped with C hops which I think will go well with a malty bill and Estery yeast.

This is what I have so far

11lb Crisp Maris Otter
0.75lb Crystal 30L
0.5lb Crisp Amber
0.5lb Flaked Barley
0.25lb special B

Bittering with Warrior

10min additions of Chinook, Centennial, cascade, columbus 0.25 oz each
30 min hopstand of chinook, centennial, cascade, columbus 0.25oz each
Dryhop with 0.5oz of Chinook and Columbus

Mash at 147F
fermented with WLP013

Est SG 1.055
Est FG 1.012
Target IBU 50

Thoughts?

 

[JKaranka]

I'd drop the special B, no place for it in a strong bitter. The light crystal and amber should be fine. I'd consider replacing the flaked barley for flaked maize. Flaked barley is quite rare in bitters compared to maize which is quite common. Unmalted barley was pretty much only used during / after WW2. If you prefer your beer darker you can always add an oz of patent malt (or preferably brewers' caramel, sinamar or something similar).

 

[rhys333]

Agree on dropping Special B. I'd also consider using C80 in place of C30. I tend to lean towards lighter crystal for American, darker for ESB.

 

[Queequeg]

I will have to see what I have in stock. I went for crystal 30 because I thought amber and C80 would be very similar in their biscuit qualities?

Edit: I have some crystal 60 in stock, so after dropping the special I will up the C60

So in revision

11lb Crisp Maris Otter
1lb Crystal 60L
0.5lb Crisp Amber
0.5lb Flaked Barley
250ml Sinamar