Gunslinger's Graff

[tim87tr]

I'm going to make 3 batches using cider. Anyone use dark malt extract and/or chocolate malt? I've got a couple ideas I want to try out.

 

[StLouisBrews]

I'm going to make 3 batches using cider. Anyone use dark malt extract and/or chocolate malt? I've got a couple ideas I want to try out.

I used the cider and i 3.3 lbs. of Munich LME, 1/2 lbs. choclate malt, 2lbs of caramel 120 and 2lbs of caramel 45. So my personal opinion: use both.

 

[tim87tr]

I used the cider and i 3.3 lbs. of Munich LME, 1/2 lbs. choclate malt, 2lbs of caramel 120 and 2lbs of caramel 45. So my personal opinion: use both.

Oh cool, I did use both in one batch last weekend. I made three: one of regular Graff with additional 1/2oz of Saaz aroma hops added at 10 min left in boil, one of just fresh cider and muntons ale yeast (thinking it would end up sweeter/higher FG with a medium attenuation yeast), and one batch very similar to yours...as follows:

Graff Dunkel

4 gal fresh cider, no preservative (24 hr Camden tabs)
2 gal water
6 oz Crystal 120
8 oz chocolate malt
2 oz torrified wheat
2 lb amber dry malt
.5 oz Chinook 11% bittering hops 30 min boil
.5 oz Saaz 4% aroma hops 10 min boil

You used a lot more LME and grains, sounds good. We'll have to report back the results of the modifications to the Gunslinger.

 

[StLouisBrews]

Nice. I used saaz and liberty on mine. Also a side. Note I forgot to mention I added half cup of honey and brown sugar as well as a teaspoon of pumpkin spice at the last fifteen of my boil. Got a little crazy lol. OG1.065

 

[StLouisBrews]

So I'm going to check the gravity tommorow. I've read other threads on Graff and how it became too dry.

I think a standard 3 week fermentation should be fine, but if anyone has some differing opinions or advice I'm all beers....er ears.:fro:

 

[Bradinator]

Not that this is anything new or unexpected, but this gets so much better with age. I bottled mine back in mid-May this year and I am finding that the tartness has mellowed out a lot.

 

[StLouisBrews]

Did my FG reading. 1.012. Its tart actually borderline sour. Wonder if I infected it somehow. Time will tell I guess.

 

[ArcaneXor]

Thankee-sai. May your days be long upon the earth!

 

[ReverendTenHigh]

Awesome. I'm really curious as to how those darker malts work with the apple...I don't recall any mention in the books that is was "dark" apple beer, just that it was strong. Oh well, it looks tasty and I'm inspired to try using some darker malt because you say its good but man, my mind just can't imagine how those would taste together...seems like they wouldn't jive and make for some pretty acrid/dry/bitter brew. did you really use 12 oz black patent and 8 oz roasted barley?

Anyway, I brewed up an all grain graf yesterday. Was shooting for 5.5 gallons but ended up with six somehow so it's a bit weaker than I wanted @ 1.052 SG. I'm considering freeze distilling the extra gallon that won't fit in my secondary.

2 lbs munich
2 lbs pale
8 oz crystal 20
8 oz crystal 40
2 oz wheat
all that mashed @ 154. I meant to pull off a bit more than 1.5 gallons but evidently i pulled off a bit more than 2 gallons wort.
boil for half hour w/ .5 oz 5.4% cascades, chill and combine with
4 gallons of fresh apple cider from local orchard (no preservatives, flash pasteurized)

pitched wyeast 1450 2 liter starter

 

[tim87tr]

Graff Dunkel

4 gal fresh cider, no preservative (24 hr Camden tabs)
2 gal water
6 oz Crystal 120
8 oz chocolate malt
2 oz torrified wheat
2 lb amber dry malt
.5 oz Chinook 11% bittering hops 30 min boil
.5 oz Saaz 4% aroma hops 10 min boil

We'll have to report back the results of the modifications to the Gunslinger.

I bottled this at 3 weeks and it has been bottled 2 weeks. I am very pleased with the results. The taste is rich, smooth, not bitter, with a dry finish (which I like). Only thing I think it needs is a little more malt flavor, which I intend to add and modify on the next batch. I like the original Graff, but this dark stuff is much much better for my tastes.

Next batch I'm going to use 1 lb of choc malt, 1 lb of crystal malt, 1 lb amber dme, 1 lb dark dme, columbus bittering hops and saaz or liberty aroma to finish. The fresh unpasteurized cider really made a difference too.

 

[Clifton]

The tartness mentioned may be due to the Apple Juice containing Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). All of the apfelweins I've made with vitamin c infused juice were crazy tart.

 

[tim87tr]

I bottled this at 3 weeks and it has been bottled 2 weeks. I am very pleased with the results. The taste is rich, smooth, not bitter, with a dry finish (which I like). Only thing I think it needs is a little more malt flavor, which I intend to add and modify on the next batch. I like the original Graff, but this dark stuff is much much better for my tastes.

Next batch I'm going to use 1 lb of choc malt, 1 lb of crystal malt, 1 lb amber dme, 1 lb dark dme, columbus bittering hops and saaz or liberty aroma to finish. The fresh unpasteurized cider really made a difference too.

I have a graff dunkel batch bottled 10 weeks that's very good. I steeped 1 lb crystal 120 and added 3 lb DME, half oz columbus 30 min and half oz liberty for 10 min. Added to 4 gal fresh unpast cider, notty yeast.

Another batch in bottle 3 weeks with 1 lb crystal 120 and 1 lb choc, 1 lb amber DME, 1 lb dark DME, half oz brewers gold 30 min and half oz liberty 10 min.

These are good base recipes to experiment with if you think you'd like a dark apple beer. Sorry no SG or FG but usually leave in primary 3 or 4 weeks and test first at 4 weeks in bottle.

 

[camgolfer]

We made a batch of this graff with some modifications and I am very happy with it. It came out a bit like a sour brown. A little sour, a little malty with some nice hop character, but it has very good flavor and has nice dark color.

 

[onipar]

Greencoat, just wanted to let you know I did a recent blog post about the Graf I brewed, and I sourced your picture from this thread for it. I gave you credit and linked to the thread. You can find it on my website's blog.

Cheers!

 

[thelema420]

i'm making a modified version of this, 5 gallons beer + 3 gallons AJ

9# 2-row
1# special B
.5# black patent
.5# roasted barley
11 cans frozen apple concentrate + water to make 3 gallons

mash 1/2oz each Yarrow & Marsh Rosemary
60min 1/2oz each Yarrow & Marsh Rosemary
30min 1/4oz Northern Brewer & Centennial (it was kicking around)

US-05
we'll see how it goes!

 

[MrOrange]

They described it to me as an 'dark apple beer.' The Gunslinger's crew were served a meal with a 'good strong graff' before heading out on their final journey.

I have read all 7 books and they never really explain what graff is. They do mention drinking it on more than one occasion but it is never really refered to as an apple beer.

 

[greencoat]

I have read all 7 books and they never really explain what graff is. They do mention drinking it on more than one occasion but it is never really refered to as an apple beer.

From The Waste Lands:

Roland leaned over to Jake, who was sitting tailor-fashion near an oval bed of bright green flowers with Oy at his side. He Hurmured: "Drink only enough to be polite, Jake, or we'll be carrying you out of town - this is graf - strong apple-beer."

So, I may have botched the spelling (one "f", not two) but it certainly is referred to as an apple beer. Also - in the paragraph before the one I quoted, it's referred to as a "dark golden liquid," so for complete accuracy, you might wanna cut out a fair amount of the dark grains.

 

[JollyIsTheRoger]

I did a quick search of some copies of the books i found online (a lot faster than flipping through the pages of the books on my shelf haha) and here is the references they make to it (I left out the simple ones that didn't make a difference such as "they were offered graf")

By the way, I should be brewing this in a week or two. Hopefully.

WARNING: THERE ARE NAMES AND EVENTS MENTIONED IN THESE QUOTES. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WILL RUIN THE BOOKS FOR ANYONE BUT IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THAT YOU MAY NOT WANT TO READ THIS SECTION

3 - The Wastelands
-- Roland leaned over to Jake, who was sitting tailor-fashion near an oval bed of bright green flowers with Oy at his side. He murmured: "Drink only enough to be polite, Jake, or we'll be carrying you out of town—this is graf—strong apple-beer."

4 - Wizard and Glass
--Her mood was not improved when she found that her graf barrel was almost empty; she blistered the air with her curses.

--Sheemie took first one barrel from Capi's back, then the other. Grunt-ing, he carried them to the huge oak tank by the back door. He opened the tank's lid, bent over it, and then backed away from the eye-wateringly strong smell of elderly graf.
"Whew!" he said, hoisting the first barrel. "Ye could get drunk just on
the smell o' that lot!"
He emptied in the fresh graf, careful not to spill. When he was fin-ished, the tank was pretty well topped up. That was good, for on Reaping Night, apple-beer would flow out of the kitchen taps like water.

--They lifted the barrels from Capi's back. Susan took a broken horse-bit from the pocket of her wrapper and used the sharp end to pry off one of the tops. She tossed the bit to Sheemie, who pried off the other. The apple-tart smell of graf filled the shed.

05 - Wolves of the Calla
--"May she always do fine!" the rancher cried, and tossed off his cup of graf in one long swallow. Eddie admired the man's throat, if nothing else; Calla Bryn Sturgis graf was so hard that just smelling it made his eyes water.

 

[JollyIsTheRoger]

I got this brewed and done with a few malt changes and it turned out amazing. I made a label for it on BEER LABELIZER and sent it off to a buddy to critique it for me and he took this picture.

And then I posted this to BrewingTV's facebook since they were talking about ciders and graffs and one thing led to another and I just sent them two bottles that they might be using in a cider/graff episode.

So thanks for the recipe greencoat.

 

[Clifton]

Thanks for the link to beerlabelizer. That's pretty sweet.

 

[greencoat]

I got this brewed and done with a few malt changes and it turned out amazing. I made a label for it on BEER LABELIZER and sent it off to a buddy to critique it for me and he took this picture.

And then I posted this to BrewingTV's facebook since they were talking about ciders and graffs and one thing led to another and I just sent them two bottles that they might be using in a cider/graff episode.

So thanks for the recipe greencoat.

Awesome!

 

[Kampo]

so what would you guys think of replacing the apple juice with say 7 cans of old orchard Cherry Pom concentrate then topped up to the correct amount of volum with water. kinda a cherry stout graff. prolly play with the hop profile a bit oo.

 

[JollyIsTheRoger]

so what would you guys think of replacing the apple juice with say 7 cans of old orchard Cherry Pom concentrate then topped up to the correct amount of volum with water. kinda a cherry stout graff. prolly play with the hop profile a bit oo.

Go for it, I just got done with my second batch of this. Made 11 gal, 5 straight up, 50/50 mix wort and juice, 3 with cranberry juice cocktail instead of apple juice, and 1 gal each of the straight aged on blackberries, raspberries, and plums.

Plums were kind of a flop, but the rest are awesome.

 

[jstrong]

where can i get the lme and hops for this recipe? preferably online.

 

[JollyIsTheRoger]

where can i get the lme and hops for this recipe? preferably online.

Here is what I did the first batch. https://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/account/edit-recipe/8f70589d

 

[TheNorthernBrewer]

And then I posted this to BrewingTV's facebook since they were talking about ciders and graffs and one thing led to another and I just sent them two bottles that they might be using in a cider/graff episode.

So thanks for the recipe greencoat.

We're including this in an upcoming episode of Brewing TV (finally!) in fall 2012! Whoop whoop! Jolly, please contact Chip Walton at [email protected] ASAP! (posted 9/12/12) Cheers!

 

[generic_aminal]

I brewed this up a couple of days ago. Cant wait to see what it tastes like... Im planning on dry hopping it, but havent decided which hops i will use... Im wondering if all of the flavors will cover up the apple. The wort tasted amazing, though.

Grandma Wrinkles Dark Hopped Cider



FERMENTABLES:
4 lb - Liquid Malt Extract - Dark (50.8%)
1 lb - Dry Malt Extract - Dark (12.7%)

STEEPING GRAINS:
0.5 lb - Caramel / Crystal 60L (6.3%)
0.5 lb - Chocolate (6.3%)
1 lb - Carapils (Dextrine Malt) (12.7%)
0.125 lb - Torrified Wheat (1.6%)
0.25 lb - Black Barley (3.2%)
0.25 lb - Roasted Barley (3.2%)
0.25 lb - Special B (3.2%)

HOPS:
0.75 oz - Centennial (AA 11.4) for 30 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
0.5 oz - Zythos (AA 10.9) for 30 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
1 oz - Simcoe (AA 14.1) for 15 min, Type: Leaf/Whole, Use: Boil
1 oz - Columbus (AA 15.2) for 15 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
0.5 oz - Zythos (AA 10.9) for 0 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
1 oz - Cascade (AA 6.4) for 0 days, Type: Pellet, Use: Dry Hop
0.25 oz - Centennial (AA 11.4) for 0 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil


NOTES:
Boil volume 2.5 gallons. Added 4.5 gallons of apple juice to chilled wort. OG of 1.072.

Generated by Brewer's Friend - http://www.brewersfriend.com/
Date: 2012-10-10 07:25 UTC
Recipe Last Updated: 2012-10-08 03:51 UTC

 

[Rowdy]

Very interested in the grandma wrinkles how did it come out?

 

[generic_aminal]

Very interested in the grandma wrinkles how did it come out?

Just threw the dry hops in on tuesday, plan on bottling it next week sometime. The beer tasted amazing before i dry hopped it. roasty, raisiny, tart, with a hop kick. i added an ounce of cascade, an ounce of amarillo, and half an ounce of simcoe to dry hop it. It smells great. ill post an update once it gets carbed up.

 

[JollyIsTheRoger]

Just threw the dry hops in on tuesday, plan on bottling it next week sometime. The beer tasted amazing before i dry hopped it. roasty, raisiny, tart, with a hop kick. i added an ounce of cascade, an ounce of amarillo, and half an ounce of simcoe to dry hop it. It smells great. ill post an update once it gets carbed up.

I just had my cranberry version again tonight, just keeps getting tastier