Too well balanced

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DRAGGER

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Vandenberg AFB, California
Is it possible to balance between malt/hops to have a beer that is too smooth? I made a brew that is shockingly smooth on both accounts. It is a partial mash I hit my 1.052 OG on the nose. It fermented down to 1.008. The recipe is below. Did I do something right or wrong I AM CORNFUSED..... Please post your comments..... And I will enjoy it non the less.....

DRAGGER.....

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
5.00 lb Pale Liquid Extract (8.0 SRM) Extract 59.74 %
0.50 lb Biscuit Malt (23.0 SRM) Grain 5.97 %
0.50 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 5.97 %
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 5.97 %
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 5.97 %
0.50 lb Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 5.97 %
0.50 lb Victory Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 5.97 %
0.25 lb Special B Malt (180.0 SRM) Grain 2.99 %
0.12 lb Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 1.43 %
0.75 oz Williamette [5.50 %] (60 min) Hops 10.7 IBU
0.75 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (20 min) Hops 4.8 IBU
0.33 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (10 min) Hops 1.3 IBU
1.00 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 20.0 min) Misc
5.00 gal Los Angeles, CA (West) Water
1 Pkgs Belgian Abbey II (Wyeast Labs #1762) Yeast-Ale
 
My entire goal with homebrewing is to brew extremely well-balanced beers that I really enjoy drinking...so by my standards and with what you're reporting you did excellent!

Just out of curiosity, what style were you going for (if any)....brown ale?
 
To my knowledge (which isn't much) that grain/hop bill doesn't seem over abundant in any of the ingrediants. Your PM may have made the beer maltier or dryer depending on your mash temp (higher = maltier), but it seems like a dryer beer as it fermented down to 1.008.

I'll second the notion of balanced beer being a good thing. I doubt there's such thing as too smooth. Everyone has their tastes.
 
I was shooting for an American Amber Ale. It was my Fat Tire Clone Attempt......It has a very nice amber color. I have had it kegged and on gas for about 3 weeks. This one turned out not bitter not malty but really neutral.... Thanks for the reply.....

DRAGGER.....
 
DRAGGER said:
I was shooting for an American Amber Ale. It was my Fat Tire Clone Attempt......It has a very nice amber color. I have had it kegged and on gas for about 3 weeks. This one turned out not bitter not malty but really neutral.... Thanks for the reply.....

DRAGGER.....


Ahh....didn't read the proportions well enough. I saw some chocolate malt in there with some English hops and I had brown ale on the brain anyways.
 
Session beers tend to be very well balanced. Since it's kegged, you can always dry hop it a bit down the road.
 
I don't think it's possible to have a beer that's too smooth. It looks like you have a lot of different grains in the same proportion. Personally I like beers where I can taste the specific grains. Maybe what your finding is that there are too many flavors blending together. But if you enjoy It thats all that matters.
 
BREW N QUE said:
I don't think it's possible to have a beer that's too smooth. It looks like you have a lot of different grains in the same proportion. Personally I like beers where I can taste the specific grains. Maybe what your finding is that there are too many flavors blending together. But if you enjoy It thats all that matters.

Your right I may have not used the proper terminology with using too smooth. It is beer it is smooth but there realy isnt anything that stands out..... I think that next time I will drop a few of those grains out. Add more base to keep the gravity around the same.... I am thinking that it may change a little if I leave it in the keg for a while and let it age..... I have kegged my first all grain and will let it rest and age for a while too as I have 4 full kegs now..... Working on brewing an all grain Cream Ale (Something like Little Kings) next week....


DRAGGER.....
 
You've made a Belgian Pale Ale or Abbey Ale, which are both EXTREMELY well balanced (think Chimay) and that yeast strain and the use of Willamette and Fuggles makes a good balance and keeps it in style. There are a few grains you could cut out, like you mentioned and I think you'll have a truly "requested" beer.


I use Willamette in my Abbey Ale and it's VERY balanced, so that no one ingredient stands out over another, which once again is true to that style and desired.


Keep up the good work!

:mug:
 
Well then I need to rename this one as it is no where near a Fat Tire....

Anyone have an idea? the brewery name is High Voltage Brewery
The reasoning behind the brewery name is because I run a 62 man shop working on powerlines while serving in the Air Force...... For the last 19 years 9 month 16 days not that I am counting.....

DRAGGER.....
 
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