How to scale a recipe up to be "Imperial"?

[Microphobik]

Hi all,

Just wondering what the consensus is on how to scale up the gravity of a recipe without dramatically changing the malt and roast flavor. Do you just add more base malt to get the gravity you are looking for? Do you scale up or down any of the specialty grains?

For example, I have a Porter recipe I really like. But it's just 5 percent. I
d like to bring it up to 8 or 9 percent but I want to preserve the same basic chocolate and roast profile, more or less.

What's the best approach?

 

[helibrewer]

The base malt is what will increase your gravity. The other grains MAY need to be increased some but not necessarily since your volume is not changing. Experimentation is really the only way to dial it in since the increased alcohol content will effect the final flavor profile.

 

[Microphobik]

Thanks.

 

[Joon75]

Increase base malt and or add dextrose.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[hoppypoppy77]

I would think to up base malt, make sure to rebalance hops as well! Get more ferment sugars in there!

 

[hoppypoppy77]

Just remember dextrose will up gravity and dry out beer. Good for big IPAs. But if it's a malt forward beer like barley wine you might not want to use!!?