My first recipe

[Sam516]

I have never all grain brewed before- only extract brewed twice
so... here is my first created recipe ever...
I am going to either brew a clone Jai Alai IPA recipe or this one that I made...can I get some advice/help choosing between them?

Recipe: First Recipe Ever Test
Brewer: Sam
Asst Brewer:
Style: American Pale Ale
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 6.52 gal
Post Boil Volume: 5.98 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 4.60 gal
Estimated OG: 1.054 SG
Estimated Color: 6.4 SRM
Estimated IBU: 43.2 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 82.8 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
9 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM) Grain 1 90.5 %
8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 2 4.8 %
8.0 oz Munich Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 3 4.8 %
0.25 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 45.0 min Hop 4 9.3 IBUs
0.25 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 30.0 min Hop 5 7.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 6 20.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Amarillo [9.20 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 7 6.2 IBUs
1.00 oz Amarillo [9.20 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 8 0.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 9 0.0 IBUs
1.0 pkg SafAle English Ale (DCL/Fermentis #S-04) Yeast 10 -

 

[Sam516]

Recipe: Jai Alai Clone
Brewer: Sam
Asst Brewer:
Style: Imperial IPA
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 6.52 gal
Post Boil Volume: 5.98 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 4.60 gal
Estimated OG: 1.090 SG
Estimated Color: 9.7 SRM
Estimated IBU: 69.2 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 82.8 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
15 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 90.2 %
12.5 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 2 4.5 %
12.5 oz Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 3 4.5 %
2.0 oz Victory Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 4 0.7 %
0.50 oz Ahtanum [6.00 %] - First Wort 60.0 min Hop 5 8.4 IBUs
0.50 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - First Wo Hop 6 19.5 IBUs
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 7 10.8 IBUs
0.25 oz Ahtanum [6.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 8 3.8 IBUs
0.25 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 60. Hop 9 8.9 IBUs
1.00 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) Fining 10 -
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 11 2.8 IBUs
0.75 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 12 3.8 IBUs
0.75 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 5.0 Hop 13 5.3 IBUs
1.00 oz Ahtanum [6.00 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 6.0 Hop 14 1.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] - Steep/Whirlpool Hop 15 2.5 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 6.0 Hop 16 1.6 IBUs
1.0 pkg London ESB Ale (Wyeast Labs #1968) [124. Yeast 17 -
2.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] - Dry Hop 10.0 Days Hop 18 0.0 IBUs

 

[chickypad]

It may not be a bad idea to brew a medium range beer rather than something imperial strength on your first run, and until you get your system dialed in. I also see you're assuming 83% mash efficiency, you might want to set it in the 72-75% range until you get some real numbers on your system.

I think your pale recipe looks pretty good. I don't know that you need both a 30 and a 45 min addition but if it makes the IBU's come out where you want them then it's fine. I'd dry hop too.

 

[Sam516]

I changed the recipe a bit...
I put in 72% for mash eff and beersmith calculated the est effic as 82.5...
what does that mean?

Recipe: First Recipe Ever Test
Brewer: Sam
Asst Brewer:
Style: American Pale Ale
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 6.52 gal
Post Boil Volume: 5.98 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 4.60 gal
Estimated OG: 1.054 SG
Estimated Color: 6.4 SRM
Estimated IBU: 41.7 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 82.8 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
9 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM) Grain 1 90.5 %
8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 2 4.8 %
8.0 oz Munich Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 3 4.8 %
0.50 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 30.0 min Hop 4 15.5 IBUs
1.00 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 5 20.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Amarillo [9.20 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 6 6.2 IBUs
1.00 oz Amarillo [9.20 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 7 0.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 8 0.0 IBUs
1.0 pkg SafAle English Ale (DCL/Fermentis #S-04) Yeast 9 -
0.50 oz Amarillo [9.20 %] - Dry Hop 7.0 Days Hop 10 0.0 IBUs
0.50 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Dry Hop 7.0 Days Hop 11 0.0 IBUs

 

[prpromin]

+1 to the above advice. Something a little smaller will help you dial in your system and let you know what you should expect with efficiency, boil off, tun dead space, etc. It took me 2-3 brews to get the numbers all set. Once you do, the rest is easier.

EDIT: The efficiency numbers Beersmith spits out are based on the default equipment profiles. Once you know how your system works, change the numbers to match what you get. After that, you'll be better able to calculate likely efficiency.

 

[Sam516]

So
For this first batch my buddy who brews every weekend (hes good) is coming over- helping me and letting me use some of his old supplies:

5 gallon cooler for mash tun
hoses
kettles
etc

i got a standup freezer for free and converted it into an outdoor fermenter with a digital johnson controller
i bought a better boy
so i dont really have my own equipment yet- i figure I brew this batch and i slowly buy my equipment for good deals on craigslist etc- my friend will let me use whatever he has in the meantime