My Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale attempt

[Henry22]

I would do about half in the beginning so it is approximately the same gravity as the finished wort for hop utilization. Then with about 10-15 minutes left I would add the remaining LME.

I am just using American oak cubes I got from the wine section of Northern Brewer. I am not soaking the cubes in bourbon so I can oak it first until I have the oak flavor right, then I am going to add the bourbon second. To get the right bourbon flavor, I will probably test in 1 ounce samples and put small amounts in until the flavor is right and then scale it up to the full batch size.

Sounds good, let me know what works for you because I will probably follow the same oak/bourbon regimen.

Was going to purchase the ingredients from my LHBS but they are absurdly expensive. I would have to spend about $30 just to get the LME. So Im going to order online. Could I use light DME instead of LME and just account for the difference (1lb LME=.85lbs DME)? How much oak chips do I need and what type (and toast)? Also which yeast would be best? On Northernbrewer I cant seemed to find Crystal 40, all they have medium to extra dark.

Easiest thing would probably be for someone to just list off everything they ordered.

Sorry for all the questions, first time brewing without a kit. Thanks

 

[MrSparkleQ]

Sounds good, let me know what works for you because I will probably follow the same oak/bourbon regimen.

Was going to purchase the ingredients from my LHBS but they are absurdly expensive. I would have to spend about $30 just to get the LME. So Im going to order online. Could I use light DME instead of LME and just account for the difference (1lb LME=.85lbs DME)? How much oak chips do I need and what type (and toast)? Also which yeast would be best? On Northernbrewer I cant seemed to find Crystal 40, all they have medium to extra dark.

Easiest thing would probably be for someone to just list off everything they ordered.

Sorry for all the questions, first time brewing without a kit. Thanks

No problem, its a big step and this is a fairly complicated brew to start on. DME would be fine at .85 of the original amount. Use Caramel 40, it is the same as Crystal 40. I am using a medium toasted amerian oak. I will use 1 oz of cubes. I used Wyeast 1098(WLP007 if you prefer) with a 2L starter. It ferments quickly at 65ºF, it is probably done here 1 week in, but I am in no hurry and will let it sit another week.

 

[Buckeye_Brewer1]

I'm going to be trying a similar extract strategy. I plan on using the northern brewer English pale ale kit plus adding 3.3 lbs of amber dme with the last 3.3 lbs of gold dme as a late addition. I'm going to add flaked wheat to the steeping grains to try to better match the all grain recipe. I do plan on soaking the nb wood chips in bourbon but only add the chips. If necessary I will add the bourbon to the bottling bucket to taste.

 

[Henry22]

I think I might alter an ingredient kit too because the ingredients seperate are pretty expensive. I priced everything on NB and it was over 60 shipped. Hoping an ingredient kit can get me there for under 40 plus shipping.

Is a yeast starter totally necessary, don't have the necessary equipment to do one yet.

Another thing to note is KBBA is just KY ale aged in bourbon barrels and it's an Irish red type ale I believe. Was the recipe the brewer gave for KY ale?

 

[MrSparkleQ]

I think I might alter an ingredient kit too because the ingredients seperate are pretty expensive. I priced everything on NB and it was over 60 shipped. Hoping an ingredient kit can get me there for under 40 plus shipping.

Is a yeast starter totally necessary, don't have the necessary equipment to do one yet.

Another thing to note is KBBA is just KY ale aged in bourbon barrels and it's an Irish red type ale I believe. Was the recipe the brewer gave for KY ale?

Yea, that is expensive. I love getting a 50 pound sack of grain for $36 and getting a few batches out of it. A yeast starter wouldn't be necessary, but really helpful. You could pitch an additional package of yeast or use dry yeast. Yes, the recipe we are basing this off of a previous posters communications from the brewmaster for the Kentucky Ale.

 

[OHIOSTEVE]

Henry22( great rifles BTW) Yes I assume the recipe I was given by the brewer was the KY ale.. it was VERY good even prior to the oaking. As for a starter it does not take any fancy equipment.. nothing but some type of sanitized container with some sanitized foil over the top.

 

[gobraves1090]

Can you only do bareel aged brews in all grain brewing or can you do it with an extract kit?

 

[Henry22]

Henry22( great rifles BTW) Yes I assume the recipe I was given by the brewer was the KY ale.. it was VERY good even prior to the oaking. As for a starter it does not take any fancy equipment.. nothing but some type of sanitized container with some sanitized foil over the top.

Might have to do the yeast starter. Are you referring to Henry repeating rifles? haha. Still trying to figure out the cheapest way to get the ingredients but still be true to the beer.

 

[Henry22]

I'm going to be trying a similar extract strategy. I plan on using the northern brewer English pale ale kit plus adding 3.3 lbs of amber dme with the last 3.3 lbs of gold dme as a late addition. I'm going to add flaked wheat to the steeping grains to try to better match the all grain recipe. I do plan on soaking the nb wood chips in bourbon but only add the chips. If necessary I will add the bourbon to the bottling bucket to taste.

I think I am going to go this route to save some money instead of buying individual ingredients. Are you going to use the Wyeast 1098 or the yeast recommended for this kit. If you have brewed this, what were the exact amounts of the extra ingredients you added.

 

[Henry22]

Just added up everything if I used the NB english pale ale kit and it was expensive as well, 58. I guess this will be an expensive brew no matter what.

English Pale ale 27.99
Wyeast 1098 6.99
Oak cubes 2 oz 2.99
Briess Amber DME 3lbs 11.50
Flaked wheat 1lb 1.99
Plus 7.99 for shipping.

Thinking I might wait on this and get some more experience before tackling this.

 

[MrSparkleQ]

Can you only do bareel aged brews in all grain brewing or can you do it with an extract kit?

You can barrel age anything, it doesn't matter where you start.

 

[Buckeye_Brewer1]

Just added up everything if I used the NB english pale ale kit and it was expensive as well, 58. I guess this will be an expensive brew no matter what.

English Pale ale 27.99
Wyeast 1098 6.99
Oak cubes 2 oz 2.99
Briess Amber DME 3lbs 11.50
Flaked wheat 1lb 1.99
Plus 7.99 for shipping.

Thinking I might wait on this and get some more experience before tackling this.

I had meant to say the Amber LME which is about 9.99 for the 3.15 lbs carton. Also i was considering using Wyeast 1728 Scottish Ale because it is suited for high gravity ales. I also plan on using to starter since the OG should be in the 1.066 to 1.070 range. Overall an expensive brew but it turns out it will be well worth it.

 

[Henry22]

Going to do this AG after all using the BIAB method. Is it ok if I dont sparge at all and start off with my preboil volume? Should I use US or UK fuggles? Thinking UK since Kent Goldings are UK as well. And is flaked wheat ok?

Thanks. Priced it out and its $38.00 on NB w/o shipping. Not too bad.

 

[Wreck99]

I really enjoyed the original KBBA too. But I'm new to homebrewing, so after some experience I'll definately have to give this a try.

 

[Henry22]

Im thinking about splitting my batch 2.5 and 2.5 and doing half Kentucky Ale and half Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.

 

[MrSparkleQ]

Going to do this AG after all using the BIAB method. Is it ok if I dont sparge at all and start off with my preboil volume? Should I use US or UK fuggles? Thinking UK since Kent Goldings are UK as well. And is flaked wheat ok?

Thanks. Priced it out and its $38.00 on NB w/o shipping. Not too bad.

That works, I have never done BIAB, but I've heard of others getting better efficiencies than I do with it. You will need more than your preboil volume due to grain absorption. There should be some information out there on how much you can expect. I used all UK hops/yeast etc. I am not sure about flaked wheat, it will probably work, but I just used malted wheat.

 

[Henry22]

That works, I have never done BIAB, but I've heard of others getting better efficiencies than I do with it. You will need more than your preboil volume due to grain absorption. There should be some information out there on how much you can expect. I used all UK hops/yeast etc. I am not sure about flaked wheat, it will probably work, but I just used malted wheat.

Any wheat will do?

 

[MrSparkleQ]

Any wheat will do?

Check out this thread. If you are mashing it looks like either will work, but flaked wheat may get a lower conversion than malted and have a slightly different taste.

I will be kegging mine on Thursday or Friday. I am going to be naturally carbonating in the keg and adding oak. I will put it in a hop bag and pull it out when it tastes right. Sounds like some "research" of the original is in my near future.

 

[Henry22]

Check out this threat. If you are mashing it looks like either will work, but flaked wheat may get a lower conversion than malted and have a slightly different taste.

I will be kegging mine on Thursday or Friday. I am going to be naturally carbonating in the keg and adding oak. I will put it in a hop bag and pull it out when it tastes right. Sounds like some "research" of the original is in my near future.

If you can get your hands on it its quite tasty. I got my parents to bring me down some KBBA and Kentucky Light when they came to visit.

 

[Henry22]

Priced this out on brewmasterswarehouse.com where you can build the recipe and order the exact amount of ingredients you need (minus hops, those are still 1oz packets) and it came out about $8 cheaper than NB. It came out to $38 shipped which is pretty damn good for this recipe. I saved and shared it on there if anyone wants to take a look, its under wood-age beers (its a english pale ale, irish red ale hybrid so I put it there). I used white wheat, wasn't sure if that was good or pale wheat would be better.

http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/recipe/e3ba337e/

 

[MrSparkleQ]

If you can get your hands on it its quite tasty. I got my parents to bring me down some KBBA and Kentucky Light when they came to visit.

Yea, I had my wife pick up 6 4-packs a couple years back when she went down that way. I have had to ration them so they last.

I kegged my batch this morning. It finished at 5.2P (about 1.020), so hopefully it isn't too sweet as that is a little higher FG than expecting. It is still 6.6 ABV with 70% attenuation. I decided that I am going to force carb this one and add the oak in the next couple days.

 

[Henry22]

I was thinking that maybe the reason Ohiosteve's KBBA clone came out more bourbon is because he used a bourbon barrel stave chopped up and soaked in bourbon. Thats like 2x the bourbon flavor. Im curious for yall to report back about how yours taste.

I just ordered the ingredients off of brewmasterswarehouse and it was like $31 which isnt bad at all for everything. Im going to soak my oak chips in bourbon and see how that works out unless yall report back that it still has a lot of bourbon flavor.

 

[Henry22]

Bump, how are everyone's going?

 

[DoubleAught]

I will be adding my oak chips this coming weekend after 3 weeks in the primary.

 

[Henry22]

Brewing mine this weekend. Still thinking that Ohiosteves is overly bourbony because of the bourbon barrel stave and then the soaking. I am going to soak my chips and only add them. If more bourbon flavor is needed, Ill add it for botttling.

Let me know how everyones goes.

 

[DoubleAught]

I'm oaking for 7 days, then adding 675 ml of Makers Mark during bottling. This has worked well for porters, not sure how it will on the lighter body of the ale..we shall see.

 

[Henry22]

Any thoughts on adding vanilla beans/extract? Read in another thread of a KBBA clone that there wasnt enough vanilla flavor. They werent using the recipe Ohiosteve posted and since thats directly from the brewer, Im hesitant to follow their advice.

 

[Stevo2569]

Brewing mine this weekend. Still thinking that Ohiosteves is overly bourbony because of the bourbon barrel stave and then the soaking. I am going to soak my chips and only add them. If more bourbon flavor is needed, Ill add it for botttling.

Let me know how everyones goes.

Im on batch 5 of a similar recipe posted in another KBBA thread. Every time I get a little closer. Ive come to the conclusion that until I get a barrel that the beer will not be exact. On my last couple batches I have added the oak for 3 weeks and then the rest of the bourbon to taste. My current oaking process is to soak the oak and 1 Madagascar vanilla bean and repeat above statement. Batch 2 got infected and had to drink it quickly before the sourness took over too much. Which was no problem with a few bros help. I added some more bourben and even slightly soured it was well recieved. So I bake then char the American white oak since then.
IMO the grain bill is not nearly as important as the oaking process. I hopping to have a once used 5 or 15 gal barrel next time I brew it. Cheers and good luck.

 

[rasdas]

Did the NB kit on monday and it is fermenting away...curious to see how everyone's turns out...

 

[DoubleAught]

Any thoughts on adding vanilla beans/extract? Read in another thread of a KBBA clone that there wasnt enough vanilla flavor. They werent using the recipe Ohiosteve posted and since thats directly from the brewer, Im hesitant to follow their advice.

I've never thought about the vanilla taste, but now that you mention it I realize that I have tasted vanilla in it. Perhaps a little extract might do the trick, however no clue on the amount.