Recipe critque - what do I have here?

[BurlingBrew]

Hey Everyone,

Here is what I came up with using what ingredients I have on hand. Maybe an APA? I only have 4 oz of centennial and was looking for more flavor/aroma (hence the late additions) and was wanting to keep the bitterness to a minimal.

Grains
8 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 3 84.2 %
1 lbs Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 4 10.5 % (have 3bls MO in inventory)
8.0 oz Wheat Malt (Gambrinus) (2.3 SRM) Grain 5 5.3 %

Hops
2.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 9 14.2 IBUs
2.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 0.0 min Hop 10 0.0 IBUs

cali ale yeast.

Est Original Gravity: 1.049 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.009 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.2 %
Bitterness: 14.2 IBUs
Est Color: 3.5 SRM

Brew day tomorrow.

 

[masonsjax]

I'd call that a blonde with the IBUs so low. Give it a try, it will be beer.

 

[BurlingBrew]

I'd call that a blonde with the IBUs so low. Give it a try, it will be beer.

Perhaps your right. My original mindset was for a centennial smash. But then found some left over wheat and MO. Figured I might as well use the small amounts I have. I also have several ounces of cascade and Columbus. Dry hop?

 

[BurlingBrew]

Update: Found a 1/2 of northern brewer and will use as a 60 minute addition. Brings my total IBUs to 23.9



I Feel like this recipe is starting to come together. Anyone see any benefit in increasing my percentage of Marris Otter besides higher OG? Will be mashing at 152F

 

[JKaranka]

With the IBUs around 25 you are now making a textbook British Golden Ale.

 

[BurlingBrew]

With the IBUs around 25 you are now making a textbook British Golden Ale.

Interesting, will have to read up on the style. Thanks

 

[JKaranka]

It's style 12A in the BJCP 2015 guide. The description is very accurate.

 

[BurlingBrew]

Jkaranka - Your absolutely right, recipe fits the style. ABV is on the high side which is fine. BJCP guidelines also says ingredients should include a "somewhat clean-fermenting British Yeast". Will be using Cali Ale. Does that change the style much? Cleaner obviously.

Recipe designing maybe more fun then brewing, needless to say not as much fun as drinking and sharing your creations haha..

 

[JKaranka]

Yeah, it's spot on for Golden Ale. Pale, blends British malt with lighter malt, uses US hops, has neutral yeast character, etc. They evolved from getting very pale beers for lager drinkers but they evolved from there. Nowadays Golden Ales are often there to showcase a single hop. One of my local breweries uses one to showcase Columbus. Another across the border in England is all Simcoe. Citra by Oakham is all Citra, etc. So going all Centennial seems great.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

You have the worst porter ever made, but a pretty good golden ale / American blonde.

 

[JohnSand]

Were you thinking APA? Why not just use more of your hops at 60?

 

[BurlingBrew]

Were you thinking APA? Why not just use more of your hops at 60?

Not necessarily, my intention was always to keep bitterness on the low side. New to recipe designing and The style classifications confuse me at times, which is why I posted the thread. I'm not super active on the forum but read almost daily. Good people here on HBT!

 

[JohnSand]

I understand. I have made beers that didn't fit neatly into categories. Good luck with yours, let us know how it turns out.

 

[SadPanda]

I see this thread got a lot of positive replys and thought I could possibly revive it with another list of random ingredients I have on hand, but have no idea what to brew.

I went into brew shop, with no plan, no recipie in mind, and really just wanted some grain for when id get an opportunity to brew. Here is what I have:

18lbs 2 row
3lbs crystal 60
2lbs crystal 10
4 lbs pale (I don't remember what this is exactly, but the guy who got my grain bill together just wrote pale on the list he gave to me)

I have the following hops on hand:

Warrior
Fuggles
Centennial
Cascade
Summit
And 1 mystery package of probably 6 oz with no label (I got it from a Brewer friend)

Yeast:

2 packets of safale us-05

Any ideas of what I possibly have the makings of? I was thinking imperial IPA?

 

[JohnSand]

Plenty of great IPA recipes around. How much of each hop do you have?

 

[JKaranka]

Barley wine!

 

[BurlingBrew]

I understand. I have made beers that didn't fit neatly into categories. Good luck with yours, let us know how it turns out.

Brew day was smooth, hit all my numbers. Fermentation temps got a little outta hand in the first two days...hit 74f today. Did manage to get t back to 65F. Hoping beer still turns out clean tasting.

 

[JohnSand]

I have used 05 up to 72 for sure, I think you'll be okay.

 

[SadPanda]

I have from half a pound to a pound of each hop that I listed.

 

[SadPanda]

Was talking to a Homebrew friend of mine today and he has convinced me to do a starter. He mentioned that the gallon jugs like Carlo Rossi wine comes in are good for starters, so sangria it is tonight! I'm thinking an IPA would be good for summer but I don't want something I can only drink 2 or 3 of before I'm hammered. Something in the 6%-7% range would be good, I've contemplated removing 5 pounds of the already mixed and milled grain and reducing each on my grain bill calculation by the appropriate percentage.

 

[JohnSand]

Half a pound of each gives you plenty of IPA options. I also like keeping my beers about 6%. What ratio of grain did you use?

 

[SadPanda]

By removing a total of 4 pounds from my mixed and milled 26 lbs, I will have 22 lbs. by that math I will multiple each grain by .155 and end up knowing how much exactly to put into my brew calculator.
15.21 lbs 2 row
2.53 crystal 60
2.53 pale
1.69 crystal 10

This gives me an estimated 5.7%abv with a 1.059 OG and 1.016 FG. It should get closer to 1.010 with safale us-05

 

[JohnSand]

That seems like plenty of crystal. What do you have in mind for IBU? Have you chosen hops? Looks interesting.

 

[SadPanda]

I've decided to go ahead and get the beer smith software and put in what I have to see what kind of styles this grain bill fits. I will update when I decide on a recipe

 

[JohnSand]

Plenty of people love BeerSmith. I haven't tried it, I use Brewer'sFriend.

 

[BurlingBrew]

Been using beersmith and love it. Wish the app came with the cost of the software but still worth the Investment IMO. Have not felt the need Thus far to pay for the app. Great for recipe design, brew day calculations and found it very useful in keeping inventory on my ingredients.

 

[SadPanda]

I have used the lite version of Brewers friend for a while, but it only allows 2 recipes. I'm sure the full app is affordable like beer smith. I ended up making an IPA. Used full grain bill, from original post, 12 gallon mash in keggle, 1 hour. Batch sparge 4 gallons 160 degree f, 70 min boil. 1st addition 4oz warrior 60min, 2nd 2oz centennial and 1oz warrior 30 min, 3rd 1oz fuggles 1oz cascade 15 mins, 4th 1oz cascade 1oz fuggles 5 min. 4 tsp gelatin, 8tsp yeast nutrient, 2 whirlfloc tabs, 3tsp gypsum. Pitched 2 2oz starters, Safale US-05 dry packs, in 4 cups boiled water and 4oz DME, at 70 degrees F. OG 1.068, est FG 1.010, est abv 7.6%. A little higher gravity than I wanted, but it's fine. Initial impression of sample taste is great, full aroma, fruity and citrus middle and nice crisp bitter on the finish. Will leave in primary for 2 weeks, then transfer into secondary and dry hop each 5 gallons with 1oz fuggles. Before dry hop est IBUs is 69.8 at 90% hop efficiency, possibly lower due to hops being kind of old.

 

[JohnSand]

Keep us posted.