Mudshark Vanilla Caramel Porter Clone

[autonomist3k]

I had this beer and it's damn good, so I'm attempting to clone it because they didn't respond to my email.
This is what I've come up with so far, let me know what you think!!!

Est Original Gravity: 1.058 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.015 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.6 %
Bitterness: 27.2 IBUs
Est Color: 34.2 SRM
mash at 156 for 60 min

9 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 76.0 %
1 lbs Caramel Malt - 90L 6-Row (Briess) (90.0 SRM) Grain 2 8.0 %
12.0 oz Barley, Flaked (1.7 SRM) Grain 3 6.0 %
12.0 oz Carafa Special III (Weyermann) (470.0 SRM) Grain 4 6.0 %
8.0 oz Special B Malt (180.0 SRM) Grain 5 4.0 %

0.75 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 6 14.3 IBUs
0.75 oz East Kent Goldings (EKG) [5.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 7 13.0 IBUs

1.0 pkg Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05) [50.28 ml] Yeast 8 -
5.00 Vanilla bean (Secondary 0.0 mins) Spice 9 -


I can't seem to find a good way to copy it from beersmith and put it on here in a convenient format, any pointers on that would be appreciated.

 

[ZebulonBrewer]

How much do you like vanilla? I did 2 beans in a 5 gallon batch and, to be honest, it was too much vanilla for me. Also, 12 oz for the Carafa III seems a little high, unless you want malty flavor from strictly the caramel 90, flaked barley, and special B. Why not some roasted barly, or chocolate malt. Yeast looks good. Love that combination in a lot of beers.

Just some of my thoughts, I haven't had the commercial version of this myself.

As for beersmith, it shouldn't be hard to put in as long as you have your equipment set up well for your process.

 

[autonomist3k]

I figured 5 beans because that's what the Dry dock urca vanilla porter calls for, and it's probably about the same amount of vanilla, I might take it down to 4 though.
I used the Carafa Special iii for the color and due to it being dehusked and smoother than chocolate malt or roasted barley, because it was a very smooth porter.
I chose the Crystal 90 and special B to try to get more caramel flavor.

What makes you think the Carafa Special iii is too high?

 

[ZebulonBrewer]

More-so talking out of my ass with the carafa because I don't usually see it in those amounts. However, with or being such a smooth malt the more I think about it the more I think you'll be fine

 

[autonomist3k]

I have no way of knowing, because I've never used it, I'm just going off of what I've read about it.