Want input modifying a California Common recipe.

[Nkliph]

Want to make a California Common by modifying an Anchor Steam clone. I'd like to add a bit of caramel complexity and citrus hop complexity to it, but keep the same light body.

Was thinking about some car a malt and special b, plus a bit of citra hops in bittering and finishing.

But I'm new to making my own recipes...any suggestions?

 

[jdauria]

My suggestion...KIS! Keep it simple! A basic Cal Common recipe is something like:

9 lbs Pils
1 lb Crystal 40
0.5 lbs Special Roast
Then several Northern Brewer hop additions.

So CaraMalt is really the same thing as Crystal...so sure you can add that. But Special B? That's around 120-140L so will really darken the beer if you use too much. If you use the 1/2 lb of it in lieu of the Special Roast, it will still in the range for style though. Would not use more than that. Also the San Francisco Lager yeast used for Anchor Steam clones imparts a slight fruitiness to a Common, so the raisin, burnt sugar notes from Special B, might hide the yeast notes.

As for hops, as long as you are not planning on entering this in a competition, sure you can add any hops you want. But in a competition, judges would be looking for the Northern Brewer hop aromas and flavors if entered as Common.

 

[m00ps]

California Commons are not really hop forward beers so you'd really be changing it more to a Pale Ale, but I say go for it. Having like 10% crystal is a bit much for something where you are going for hop character though. I'd use 1/2 lb crystal and 1/2 lb special B at most. But I agree that Special B will not really add anything good to the beer. Maybe a bit of vienna or munich if you want to get creative