Is this Best Bitter recipe going to work? How can I improve it?

[tomsan]

82% Maris Otter Pale
10% Torrified Wheat
8% Crystal 120L

g variety type usage time AA IBU
15 Target Pellet Boil 60 minutes 11.0 26.2
8 Fuggles Pellet Boil 20 minutes 4.8 3.7
8 Fuggles Pellet Boil 5 minutes 4.8 1.2

Nottingham ale yeast

OG 1.050
FG 1.012
Color 13.5° SRM
Efficiency 70%
Bitterness 31.1 IBU (tinseth)
BG:GU 0.62
Alcohol 4.8% ABV
Calories 166 per 12oz

 

[Queequeg]

I suggest you cut back on the torrified wheat, at 10% your'll probably taste it and imo it doesn't have a particularly nice taste. I have use a little as 3% before in English styles with excellent foam, better than malted wheat.

Personally I would use crystal 80L with perhaps a touch of chocolate malt for colour.

IMO crystal 120L will be to burnt, raisin flavored for a bitter, crystal 80L will give you more the caramel flavor that is typical of the style.

You can cold steep (overnight) the chocolate malt separate from the mash and add it during vorlauf, this minimizes flavor contributions.

Also you want to make the mash at the thick end of the scale, a thick mash is one of the things typical of the English brewing process.

 

[Queequeg]

Personally I would not use Fuggles either as there are some many more interesting British hop varieties

 

[aimlessbum]

Not entirely within style, but I make mine with 4oz of Carapils so I get a bit more of that beautiful pillowy head.


90%- MO
6% - 60L (I like a little bit less crystal in mine)
4% - Carapils

For hoping, I do 1oz of Sterling at 20min, and a mix of EKG (2oz) and Fuggles (1oz) at flameout. Turns out a really nice bitter with good hop flavor and malty presence without being overbearing on either. If I'm feeling crazy, I hop it with 2oz of something interesting or weird. Cascade, anyone???? :rockin: