Wanting to start messing with recipes...

[wolfstar]

So I brewed this recently, it is kegged and being enjoyed...

http://brewersconnection.com/recipes/BlackStrapPorter.htm

From my local LHBS, I followed the instructions as close to the letter as one could while enjoying the previous brew

I want to brew it again, but this time with more hop character and a little more body...

What are good starting points for boosting ingredients? Going up %10, %25?
this would be the second time I have tried to deviate from a (tried and true) recipe. tha last was not that great....drinkable, and drunk, but not entirely enjoyed for want of wasting....

 

[OHIOSTEVE]

I looked at the recipe and am trying to come up with something to make me look smart lol....As for more body I have no idea ( maybe some flaked oats). If I wanted more hop character I woul just up the 60 min addition, but if you want to stick with just the kit, I'd move the 30 min addition to 45 mins.

 

[Th0rT_17]

For body I would add 4 - 6 oz cara-pils (start there) or a bit of malto-dextrin. What do you mean by hop characteristic (bitter, favor, aroma) all depends what you want but porers by style aren't that hoppy (spelling). I would double the 30 min addition it will add to the bitterness as well to the flavor. Best of luck RDWHAHB.

 

[dcp27]

if you want more hop character, up your additions later in the boil. <30mins left will add flavor and the last 10mins or so will add aroma.

the recipe already looks like it should have alot of body, but if you want more, adding some flaked oats or flaked rye, bumping up the flaked barley, or increasing the OG (not with sugar) will all help.

 

[wolfstar]

I picked up the ingredients this morning, but added a couple things.

1 extra pound of flaked barley

.25 extra pound of Chocolate

1 ounce extra each of Tetnang and Cluster.

I was planning on doubling the Cluster additions at the specified time, while adding the Tetnang at the specified time, but adding the extra ounce of Tetnang right when I turn off the heat.

Lets see what happens!

 

[eltorrente]

One thing I would suggest is that in the future you start making adjustments one thing at a time.

Beginners should try to get a handle on what various adjustments really mean, and compare with previous batches. You should critically taste your next beer, and really try and figure out the biggest characteristic that it has that you'd like to change/improve. Focus on that for your next batch.

Alter and substitute certain malts and see what the results were. Did you notice them at all, or was it too much? Now you know what that does with your system, and you'll make a better decision in the future. For instance, what if you changed some random American Amber recipe to replace half of the 2-row with munich malt? What does that do? Maybe next time cut some hops and add some crystal, and you may have just made a nice bock.. This is the fun of learning new techniques.

Just remember - your beer brewed with a given recipe will probably NEVER taste like the original brewer's beer did. Yup, it just might come pretty close... but you don't have the same water. You mashed slightly differently. Your boil was less/more vigorous. Your hops are different age/farm. You cool/pitch at a different speed/rate/temp/amount. You have different airborne natural yeast in your home/area. Different microbes living in the brew area. Fermentation has different temperature/time schedule. Etc, etc, etc and on and on and on...

Not to discourage you, because, of course, recipes are very valuable. If you focus on sanitation and general brew practices, you'll make great beer and those recipes will be very helpful.

I guess the morale of my story is that you have to make adjustments to recipes based on your own equipment and brew practices. Most likely you won't make a recipe and say, "yup. It's perfect. Noone could possibly improve this and I never want to change a thing."

 

[dcp27]

I was planning on doubling the Cluster additions at the specified time.

I'd advise against this unless you thought the brew was too sweet. you'll be doubling your bitterness which will throw off your balance, while adding little to hop character. maybe double the 30min add and then dry hop with the rest