Mr. Beer Blonde Ale "upgrade"

[madman960]

I have a Mr. Beer Blonde Ale kit. I can extract, 1 bag booster, and yeast under lid.

I will have some Cara-pils, Vienna, and Crystal 10L left from my Centennial Blonde. I also have some Centennial and Cascade hops left as well.

I will have half a pound of each grain and half an ounce of each hop left.

My question is: How would you modify the recipe with these ingredients? Or should I wait until I place an other order and get more grain?

Thanks;

Bill

 

[WoodlandBrew]

That sounds good to me. I would add everything you have listed. I would add the hops at 10-15 mins from flame out. The only thing I would order would be some better yeast. A pack of US-05 would do the trick.

 

[madman960]

That's what I was thinking. Just was not sure it was enough grain to make a difference. I have some US-05 on hand.

Thank you for the reply.

Bill

 

[madman960]

How does this recipe look?

1 can CAB hme, 1 lb extra light dme, .5 lbs cara-pils and caramel 10L, 24 oz molasses, .5 oz cascade and centennial at 15 min.

How much water should I use?

Thanks;

Bill

 

[WoodlandBrew]

One pound of fermentables per gallon of water is reasonable, so that recipe should be fine for a 5 gallon batch of a brown ale.

 

[Yooper]

It really depends on taste- I hate the taste of fermented molasses and would find 24 ounces in a 2.5 gallon batch undrinkable. BUT, if you love it, then you'd find it palatable.

24 ounces of molasses is a huge amount. How many jars is it?

You have one can of HME- 3 pounds? 1 pound of extract, and 1.5 pounds of molasses. That's like nearly 30% molasses. In my opinion, that sounds terrible.

I hate do differ with others who give the go-ahead, but it really doesn't sound like something drinkable will result with 27+% molasses. Either my math sucks, or I'm missing something that others are seeing, but I would give this ingredient list a big "no".

 

[Colorowdy]

This is what I would do. Assuming it is a 15 oz can from Mr. Beer.
2 gallon batch
8 oz vienna
8 oz carapils
8 oz crystal 10
Steeped at 155 for 30 minutes
1 lb extra light dme
30 minute boil
.5 Centennial 15
.5 Cascade 15
.25 tsp ginger 5
.25 tsp cinnamon 5
.25 tsp nutmeg 5
.25 tsp allspice 5
1 can lme flameout
2 oz molasses flameout
1 package us-

 

[madman960]

I ended up using 1 15 oz can hme, 2 pounds light dme, booster, .5 lbs cara-pils, .5 lbs vienna, and .5 lbs caramel 10L. .25 oz cascade and .25 oz centennial 20 min and 5 min. Putting 5 gallons in carboy with rehydrated US-05.

Thanks for all the replies.

Bill

 

[WoodlandBrew]

Your final recipe sounds like it will make a fine beer.

I agree that 24oz of molasses is quite a bit. I probably should have mentioned that in my reply, but figured if the OP must just really like molasses.

 

[Yooper]

I ended up using 1 15 oz can hme, 2 pounds light dme, booster, .5 lbs cara-pils, .5 lbs vienna, and .5 lbs caramel 10L. .25 oz cascade and .25 oz centennial 20 min and 5 min. Putting 5 gallons in carboy with rehydrated US-05.

Thanks for all the replies.

Bill

Did you use a hydrometer and take an OG? Those ingredients are very light for a 5 gallon batch, depending on how much "booster" you used (one bag is 13 ounces?) you should get an OG of somewhere around 1.035. It isn't enough ingredients for a 5 gallon batch. It will be thin and low in alcohol, but if that is what you wanted then of course that's fine.

 

[madman960]

Yooper;

I just bought a test tube today. I have yet to take a gravity reading. Beer is brewing nicely. I will take a reading on the 8th.

Woodland; I have never had molasses in beer. Thought it might be a better substitute for the booster.

Thank you;

Bill

 

[madman960]

Bottled this last night. Did not take a gravity reading. Tastes decent.