Quick! I don't understand this recipe......

[dogbrew]

Hello, sorry to be brief but I have already made a rookie mistake. I started brewing today without realizing that this recipe has left out a few details. Details that are probably "duh" to seasoned guys, but I am left scratching my head.

So what do you make of this? It's the Bad Santa winter beer from BYO. My questions are at the end....

5 gallon/19-L, extract with grains; OG = 1.085; FG = 1.018; IBU = 40; ABV = 8.6%

Ingredients:

7.5 lbs. (3.4 kg) light dried malt extract
1.0 lb. (0.45 kg) Munich malt
0.50 lb. (0.45 kg) Carahell® malt (19 °L)
0.50 lb. (0.45 kg) CaraMunich® malt (30–40 °L)
1.0 oz. (28 g) black patent malt
13 fl. oz. (384 mL) maple syrup
1.5 lbs. (0.68 kg) dried cherries
12 AAU US Northern Brewer hops (60 mins) (1 oz./28 g of 12% alpha acids)
Wyeast 1084 (Irish ale) yeast
1 vanilla bean (split)
3 cinnamon sticks (3 inches, broken into pieces
Step by Step:

Steep grains in 3.0 qts. (2.8 L) of water at 152 °F (67 °C) for 45 minutes. Boil for 60 minutes, initially reserving half of the malt extract. Remove 2 qts. (2 L) of wort and steep cherries. Add remaining malt extract and maple syrup with 15 minutes left in the boil. Add cherry steeping wort at end of boil. Ferment at 62–64 °F (17–18 °C). Dry spice in secondary for 2–3 weeks.

Ok, so I'm steeping my grains now, but when it says to boil for 60 min, it does not say to add any water... I presume I need to add water before boiling, but how much? Enough to boil 3 gallons? Enough for 3 gallons plus the 2qts I will be removing?

Next it says to remove 2qts to steep my cherries, which will then be added back in at the end of boil... so when exactly do I remove the 2qts for the steeping of the cherries? Immediately after topping up with water? After adding half the extract but before boiling? After the protein break? I can't figure out when I should remove the 2qts, which would also indicate how long the cherries should steep.

It doesn't say if I should strain out the cherries when I add it back in at the end of the boil.

Thanks so much. I really appreciate your insights.

 

[unionrdr]

Sounds like they mean to reserve half the 7.5 lbs of DME for the end. add all the malts together to make the wort,then reserve 2 qts for the cherry re-hydrate.

 

[dogbrew]

So you would add half the DME (that part I do understand) and immediately take out your 2qts to steep the cherries, as you begin the 60 min boil with the remainder... yes?

 

[unionrdr]

No. You use only half the DME with the other malts to make the wort. Then reserve 2 quarts for the cherries.

 

[dogbrew]

Oh, and I am now to the stage where I "think" I should probably be adding water to the grain tea... I've always added enough water to make a 3 gallon boil, does that seem right to you?

 

[Safa]

(not an expert, but my take since you need urgent help)

Depends on the size of your kettle, if its big enough I would go ahead and fill it up to a full boil, doing a full boil gives better hop attenuation and stuff.

So if it were me this is what I would do:

-Steep the grains.
-Add water to read 5.8/6 gal (if your kettle is big enough to handle this much wort + anticipated hot break)
-Bring to boil
-Remove from heat.
-Add half the extract. Mixing well.
-Add hops.
-Put back on heat, watch out for hot break.
-Once settled and boiling again, remove the 2qts for cherries, steep cherries.
-Add other half of extract and maple syrup @15 to go
-End of Boil: Add cherry wort (not cherries), turn off heat and cool your wort however you plan on doing that.
-Once cooled, take OG, pour into Primary fermenter and pitch yeast.


If your kettle isn;t big enough, you could lust boil as much water as you can safely fit, and then when you pour the wort into your primary you can top it up to reach desired level (5gal I guess) - Make sure you mix super super well because the wort will be heavy and sugary compared to water, will not want to mix. After doing the mixing, before adding yeast, take your OG.

 

[dogbrew]

Thanks for your reply, but probably due to my inexperience, I am more confused than before. I steeped the grains for 45 min... done.
Now it says boil for 60 min. Fine, but I presume I need to add some water before boiling for 60 min, right? So I'd add water, half the DME, and the hops, bring it to a boil, and let it roll for 60 min. Did I get that part right?
If I got that part right, then at what point am I removing the 2 qts to steep the cherries?

Sorry, you're trying to help and I'm not getting it. You might have to explain it to me like I'm a 5 year old.

 

[dogbrew]

Thanks Safa, that helps a lot. And thank you Uninordr, I am probably just too inexperienced to understand what you were trying to tell me.

 

[Safa]

No worries Dogbrew, I know EXACTLY how you feel. I really hope I'm at least a little right and it turns out well!

At the end of the day, it will be beer.

 

[dogbrew]

At the end of the day, it will be beer.

That's what I keep trying to tell myself. I appreciate your help, I feel like I at least have some clear instructions now, and you definitely helped keep me from making at least one mistake already.

 

[Safa]

That's what I keep trying to tell myself. I appreciate your help, I feel like I at least have some clear instructions now, and you definitely helped keep me from making at least one mistake already.

Oh I don't j know, mistakes seem to turn into really great beer quite often on this forum!

 

[unionrdr]

Oh well,I tried...