Gluten Free American Brown Ale

[dunnright00]

That definitely helps!

And you may have answered this for me before, the Sorghum syrup, Health Food store, or LHBS?

 

[BBBF]

Get the sorghum syrup from your LHBS. It's different from the sorghum syrup/molasses that is more common in the south. I tried brewing with that once and it isn't very good.

 

[RobDSteele]

You will want to let these sit in a paper bag for at least 1 week before using.

Can you tell me why you let the grains sit in a bag for a week? Is it necessary? What will happen if I roast them and use them immediately? Also, what will these grains add to the brew? I am assuming just flavor/ color as they aren't malted.

The brew I made turned out good, but it has a metallic aftertaste. From reading here and other places I am assuming it is from the Molasses. Did you have any metallic aftertaste in yours?

Thanks!

 

[Lcasanova]

Can you tell me why you let the grains sit in a bag for a week? Is it necessary? What will happen if I roast them and use them immediately? Also, what will these grains add to the brew? I am assuming just flavor/ color as they aren't malted.

The brew I made turned out good, but it has a metallic aftertaste. From reading here and other places I am assuming it is from the Molasses. Did you have any metallic aftertaste in yours?

Thanks!

The grains sit in the bag for a week to waft away some of the harsh aromatics, I don't think it is "necessary" but overall it is a good practice. If you used them immediately you'd probably notice some different flavors but I can't attest to that.

In my experience the grains are good for adding color and some flavor, they might add some body but I don't know.

About the metallic aftertaste, I've always attributed that to the sorghum but it isn't exactly THAT noticeable.

 

[RobDSteele]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm happy with the results for a first batch, and I have definitely been drinking it. I'll be replacing the Molasses with another sweetener, probably brown sugar but I'm not sure. Just to see what it does.

Thank you again for sharing, I appreciate all the advice!

 

[Lcasanova]

I've been really craving this beer lately, unfortunately I won't be able to brew again until I move into my own place. Hopefully that's soon but I've made a few changes and will post them if I get a chance to brew this fall. Anyone else brew this originally then again and make any changes?

 

[uechikid]

I've been really craving this beer lately, unfortunately I won't be able to brew again until I move into my own place. Hopefully that's soon but I've made a few changes and will post them if I get a chance to brew this fall. Anyone else brew this originally then again and make any changes?

I didn't see where you gave a review of the brown ale. I'm very interested in how it tasted.
Thanks.

 

[Lcasanova]

I didn't see where you gave a review of the brown ale. I'm very interested in how it tasted.
Thanks.

Wow, I really never gave any tasting notes did I? And to be honest, I can't recall any specifics except that I've been craving one lately. I know it didn't have the sorghum-y aftertaste and it wasn't sweet like Redbridge...guess I'll have to brew the original again and take better notes. Maybe Androshen can give some notes on this, I think he brewed it recently and really liked it.

 

[uechikid]

Thanks. That sorghum after taste is what I'm trying to cut.

 

[Androshen]

The initial impression from the first homebrew, which was lcasanova's recipe, was "smooth". it had none of the bite associated with beer. It seemed odd to me as it was both my first homebrew and my first GF attempt.
The more I had of it though, the more I became hooked on the flavor. The kit I just finished with is a solid "OK" but then again, it may grow on me too .... but I am already figuring on repeating the brown ale ... I may just try playing with the hops a little.
Overall, I was thrilled with the outcome of the brown ale and my wife (the celiac) was estatic.

 

[uechikid]

Thanks for the review.

 

[swilfong89]

I'll be brewing this in a couple weeks and was wondering why you added the sorghum syrup at 15 min left? Anything I've read has had me adding the syrup at the beginning of the boil. Thanks

 

[Lcasanova]

It's been such a long time since I re-brewed this that I couldn't tell you. It might have had something to do with the IBU's but I don't remember. It has turned out great every time though.

Once I'm through my pipeline this one will definitely be one I brew again...hopefully soon.

 

[KevinM]

Joy Joy, tis tax season once again. 1120s &1065s here we come with one more around the corner.

I've always taken that it's just not necessary to boil the syrup. Not quite to the point where you wouldn't boil honey because of it's flavor loss.
Also, I think it is the IBUS, since a less sugar laden water is calculated to draw out more of the alpha acids from the hops. Since most of the hops have given it all away at the end, I usually add my fermentables then. (Though I admit to just pouring the water onto the syrup mass in the fermenter these past few batches.)

 

[Warthogrugby]

Does any amount of Sorghum contribute a significant after taste? I am looking at doing a gluten free batch for my Fiance this Sunday, I'm preparing the quinoa as I type, and I was wanting to avoid this after taste that I am hearing about... I was thinking of halving the sorghum as you did but replacing the three pounds with two pounds of local blackberry honey 5 minutes before flame out. Do you think this could help or do you think that the dryness that the honey will lead to may accentuate the taste?

 

[Brewup]

Question for BBBF and lcasanova. How did your beers come out. Taste, flavor, head retention, hops? I'm interested.....

 

[BBBF]

Damn... That was a while ago. I'm sure it had a lot of the sorghum twang.

I made a coffee stout more recently that was sorghum syrup, roasted buckwheat, dark belgian candy syrup and cold pressed coffee. I think that one was better.