How Does This Look For An ESB?

[Helms]

8.5lbs pale LME
1lb crystal 60l
50g EKG at 60min
25g Fuggles at 30min
25g EKG at 0 min.

I'd like to use Nottingham for the yeast due to availability, though I'm concerned it may make it too dry for the style.

Any comments or opinions will be appreciated.

 

[GreenwoodRover]

If you can find S-04 (usually at most LHBS for less than $2) it works for the style...

 

[ajf]

Looks good to me, but I'd also recommend the S-04 over Nottingham.

-a.

 

[D-Ring]

If you can find S-04 (usually at most LHBS for less than $2) it works for the style...

Does the EKG pretty much make it an ESB?

 

[ryane]

personally i like a bit of biscuit in an esb, you might try adding about 0.5#

 

[GreenwoodRover]

^+1, unless the extracts are english (muntons) then i feel it's already there, but i'm all for steeping more specialty grains, so i say go for it....
Maybe if biscuit isn't your deal than maybe some victory....

 

[Helms]

Thanks for the advice so far. I'm trying to make this my first ever beer that doesn't include any mail order supplies, so options are limited. That's why I'm straying away from some recipes with more complex grain bills. Biscuit is not available, although victory is. I would like to use S-04 as recommended in Brewing Classic Styles, but as far as I know, I can't get it here. If Nottingham really isn't appropriate I may end up using liquid yeast. I'd rather not though as I'm sick of making starters. Thanks again.

 

[cmdrico7812]

Aren't ESBs generally characterized by a lower alcohol content? Somewhere around 3.3% or so? It seems the 8.5 lbs of LME would give it quite a bit of alcohol. Just my thought.

 

[big supper]

Aren't ESBs generally characterized by a lower alcohol content? Somewhere around 3.3% or so? It seems the 8.5 lbs of LME would give it quite a bit of alcohol. Just my thought.

No....ESB is like an English Pale ale. Bitters could be around that ABV.


Edit- +1 on some biscuit

 

[cmdrico7812]

I stand corrected. I was rearranging the three different styles of bitter.

 

[jldc]

If you can't find s-04, you could try Windsor. It's made by the same company as Notty and should be available at the same outlets.