First Recipe EVER

[skeletor]

Hey Guys and Gals,

Ive only been homebrewing for about 2 months, just started AllGrain, Still have been working off other peoples recipes... My main goal is to be able to make beer taste like whatever! I want... So I just made this recipe a few minutes ago, and was wondering what yawl might think of it...

Thanks!

9 lbs Pale malt belgian 2 row
3 lbs German Munich Malt
2 lbs 60* Crystal Malt
1 lb Victory Malt

.5 oz. Magnum Hops 1 hour
.5 oz Horizon Hops 1 hour
.5 oz Amarillo Hops 15 Minutes
1 oz Cascade Hops 5 minutes
1 oz Sterling hops Dry hopped into Keg

White Labs California Ale Yeast V


Comments Please before I buy this all today!!

 

[Bob]

What's your brew length? If you're looking at a 5-gallon batch, I think you've got twice as much crystal and Victory as you need.

According to ProMash, you're looking at OG 1.081, SRM 18, IBU 64 in five gallons. That's a pretty big beer. Double it, and you've got a really tasty session beer, at OG 1.040, SRM 11, IBU 37.

Victory is a malt a little of which goes a long way. It's very biscuity, nutty and toasty. A half-pound in five gallons is quite enough, IMO. With the crystal, that much in five gallons will render the finished beer cloyingly sweet.

Cal V is always a good choice!

Regards,

Bob

 

[skeletor]

Maybe more like this?

9 lbs Pale malt belgian 2 row
3 lbs German Munich Malt
.5 lbs 60* Crystal Malt
.5 lb Victory Malt

mash at 155 for 60 minutes
sparge at 165 no recirculating pump yet
boil for 60 minutes

.5 oz. Magnum Hops 1 hour
.5 oz Horizon Hops 1 hour
.5 oz Amarillo Hops 15 Minutes
1 oz Cascade Hops 5 minutes
1 oz Sterling hops Dry hopped into Keg

White Labs California Ale Yeast V

Oh, And thanks for the help!!!

 

[Chriso]

NOW that grain bill is talkin' to me. 13 lbs is far more manageable. I'd still be tempted to drop it to 8# Pale 2-Row and 2# Munich, just to keep it balanced. It'll be interesting for sure.

And I'm with Bob, anything over .5lb Victory malt has a tendency to become *very* overpowering.

 

[shaggynuts24]

beware of the specialty grains

they smell great, look great, and leave you wanting to make sure that greatness is imprinted on your beer's flavor

too much of a good thing will kill a beer

looks like you have an awesome recipe though ... trial and error is the best way

 

[TexLaw]

If that's the light Munich (~8L), then I'm all over that recipe. If it's the dark (~20L), I'd cut it back to about a pound and maybe add a pound or so of the light Munich.

That Cali V is one of my favorite yeasts out there, but beware that it sometimes has a bit of a poo smell to it. That's not a contamination, just Cali V. If you like the Cali V, and you want to try something else other than Cali I, check out the Pacific Ale yeast sometime. It has quickly risen to one of my favorites, as well.


TL

 

[skeletor]

Thanks guys!

So im assuming the hops sound fine?
:rockin:

 

[Chriso]

Well... they're intriguing, that's for sure. Whatcha envisioning? Is there something you're "Going for" with them?

I'm just curious. They are a little "all over the place" - but that is not a criticism... I'm just saying that I've got no clue how it'll taste. Looking at them seperately:
Magnum is a great bittering hop and is very clean
Never used Horizon, but again, a very suitable bittering hop
Amarillo is the friggin' bomb, and is delicious in any American ale
Cascade is the quintessential American hop (thanks in part to SNPA making it its flagship hop)
Never used Sterling before.

In short, should be fine, but will be hoppy. That's a good thing, right?

 

[TexLaw]

I also thought the Sterling was unusual, but I think it will work fine. It's a nice, spicy sort of hop - something of a Saaz or other noble hop substitute with a mellow aroma. It expect it could add some pleasant complexity to the aroma.


TL

 

[skeletor]

Brewing this currently.

unfortunately they didnt have all of the hops I was looking for. Ended up with

2 oz cascade
1 oz magnum
2 oz sterling

and what im kinda going for would be i guess the equivelent of a Californian oktoberfest IPA LOLOL. pretty bitter, but kinda like biting into a loaf of bread at the same time. definitely hearty...

 

[Chriso]

Cool. If you're not to the boil yet, I recommend:

1oz Magnum @ 60
1oz Cascade + 1oz Sterling @ 10
1oz Cascade + 1oz Sterling Dry Hop

 

[Saccharomyces]

The hop bill you originally posted looks a lot like what I have for a Broken Halo clone I haven't brewed yet. It would have been a winner, I think.

 

[skeletor]

Cool. If you're not to the boil yet, I recommend:

1oz Magnum @ 60
1oz Cascade + 1oz Sterling @ 10
1oz Cascade + 1oz Sterling Dry Hop

yea thats exactly what I was thinking too.

Thanks again for your help dudes

I will definitely let yawl know how it turns out