Creating Your Own Recipes

1. American Amber - Recipe Opinion

   6 Replies 9235 Views

   First post by windrider, 11 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   Tinkering with a recipe for my next brew day and fancy trying my hand at an American Amber Ale. My understanding is you want a good malt profile that’ll balance out well with the hops.
   
   It’s my first time using some of these ingredients so wanted a simple recipe which I’m hoping will provide a good session beer.
   
   Any opinions / experience with this style? I’m hoping the Carared will provide a nice deep red paired with the roasted barley? :shock:
   
   BIABacus Pre-Release 1.3T RECIPE REPORT
   BIAB...

   Last post

   ---

   

   Can't really say on the cleaner bitter, like I said......I'm a wee bit rusty on the recipe thing. When I was creating, I had made a bulk purchase of Magnum hops and always used those for bittering because they were high AA/low cost. A 60 minute bittering addition really doesn't add anything as far as a flavor profile so use whatever is at hand. (FWH is a different matter though!)
   
   ---Todd
   
   Thanks thughes appreciate it :thumbs: Going to brew it in a couple of weeks, will let you know how I get...
   6 Replies
   9235 Views
   Last post by windrider
   11 years ago
2. Brown Ale

   3 Replies 6246 Views

   First post by leighaus, 11 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   Hi guys...
   
   Tried making up my own brown/porter recipe...
   I think i've snagged myself on BIABacus potentially, as i partially use DME in my grain bill (wanted to use it up).
   
   As a result, my gravity into boil was meant to be 1.030 and ended up 1.052 .
   This is likely as DME is 100% efficient compared to grain?
   The DME was Added post mashout / pre boil.
   
   Here's my recipe, the colour/smells seem awesome, but its going to be a bit stronger than planned..
   Please note, im still brewing as we speak,...

   Last post

   ---

   

   Yep, did that cheers!
   3 Replies
   6246 Views
   Last post by leighaus
   11 years ago
3. Bank's Bitter Clone Attempt - Trouble with BIABacus

   1 Replies 4290 Views

   First post by injac, 11 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   Hi All
   
   I'm using the Graham Wheeler recipe for a clone of Bank's Bitter. For some reason I'm getting an abv of 4.2% rather than 3.8%. Normally I'd let this slide but even if I change the amount of grain I still get 4.2%. Anyone spot where I'm going wrong?
   
   Thanks,

   Last post

   ---

   

   The biabacus default for yeast attenuation is 75%. You can override it in section H. 69% will change it to 3.8%, but it's really up to the yeast in the end/ No software can predict an organic process with any degree of accuracy. This is where experience comes in.
   
   Knowing notty at that mash temp, it's likely going to attenuate 75-80%.
   1 Replies
   4290 Views
   Last post by Rick
   11 years ago
4. First BIAB plan advice requested

   20 Replies 18863 Views

   First post by Primavera, 11 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   Throwing caution to the wind I'm planning a brew that merges my two favorite styles; Belgian ale and IPA
   
   Also my first attempt at BIABacus
   
   Main concern is the amount of strike water required. I was originally planning a 60 minute boil and have already measured my boil off at 1.2 gal / hr.
   
   BIABacus Pre-Release 1.3T RECIPE REPORT
   BIAB Recipe Designer, Calculator and Scaler.
   (Please visit onclick= window.open(this.href);return false; for the latest version.)
   Belgian IPA - Batch A0...

   Last post

   ---

   

   I have an all-Amarillo IPA in the primary, if the perceived bitterness is below what was intended, I'll try one or both techniques.
   
   This one however, is a keeper as-is. If my results are repeatable, I'll post the final recipe.
   
   Chris
   20 Replies
   18863 Views
   Last post by Primavera
   11 years ago
5. Double Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

   15 Replies 17599 Views

   First post by gmhowell, 12 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   I took inspiration from a brew discussed on HBT for my first BIAB. Did it two weeks ago, and the process was distressingly easy :thumbs:
   
   Except for a few things. :scratch:
   
   Recipe report is below. It's what I used to generate my shopping list. The actual grains used were off slightly. No more than 1/4 lb. (115g) difference. Used a different yeast, etc.
   
   I got a bit lazy towards the end (or trusted apprentice brewer too much) and don't have good numbers for GAW or VAP. This is also because......

   Last post

   ---

   

   how did this beer turn out mate?
   15 Replies
   17599 Views
   Last post by leighaus
   11 years ago
6. Ipa recipie help needed

   7 Replies 12326 Views

   First post by fluidjuice, 11 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   Hi i have been brewing single malt and mainly single hop beers and would really like to try my hand at some late addition and dry hopping to make a nice maybe dank IPA,
   This may be to much to ask but was wondering if anyone could help me knock up a recipe and hopping schedule for the ingredients i have bought, the choice is based on an american style ipa with piney, resinous, grapefruit and citrus in the finish, I'm a bit of a hop monster so more flavour and aromas the better.
   The problems i am...

   Last post

   ---

   

   This is a link to one of Rick's competition recipe beers;
   
   He's got several methods going on here. It might answer or raise more questions. :)
   
   Post up your BIABacus here and we'll take a look at it.
   
   MS
   7 Replies
   12326 Views
   Last post by Mad_Scientist
   11 years ago
7. Trouble Scaling Greg Hughes "Home Brew Beer" Recipe

   13 Replies 18054 Views

   First post by edzki, 11 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   I've got about a dozen all grain biab brews under my belt and have made some tasty beers along the way.
   
   Although I'm not too fussed about precise measurements I have found the biabacus to be a great tool to help understand the process as well as keep a brewday on the straight and narrow. Thanks to everyone involved in producing such an amazing brewing tool. :thumbs:
   
   I received the Greg Hughes book recently and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the recipe part. Its here that the problems...

   Last post

   ---

   

   Okay, I dug my old Apple iBook G4 out with BeerAlchemy and it still had a lot of old faithful recipes like NRB's All Amarillo APA in it. I played around, for quite some time, as it has been a few years since I looked at that program and determined that....
   
   1. Beer Alchemy (incorrectly) bases its Tinseth formula on the average gravity of the boil.
   
   This alone creates a lot of problems but some advanced features of the BIABacus make investigating the aberrations of other programs which were...
   13 Replies
   18054 Views
   Last post by PistolPatch
   11 years ago
8. My first recipe (and brew)

   14 Replies 14040 Views

   First post by Sillybuns, 11 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   I apologize in advance for the utter display of ignorance that I will show off in this thread, but please keep in mind that I've never brewed a beer before, or formulated a recipe before. I barely understand the basic science behind it all yet, but I'm trying.
   
   Anyway, let's get on with the show. I would like to make my own beer based on these loose guidelines, because I have been told that it would produce a beer similar to something I already know that I like:
   
   Dobbelt-Øl: While the...

   Last post

   ---

   

   SillyBuns, Check how long, a X amount of water take to boil on your Stove.
   
   At some point, the Kettle will not get to boil due to Heat lost from the Larger Surface area.
   
   JMHO BTDT.
   14 Replies
   14040 Views
   Last post by joshua
   11 years ago
9. First recipe creation. Mosaic Hell IIPA

   7 Replies 9809 Views

   First post by Lumpy5oh, 12 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   I typically like to create recipes with the Brewr app on my phone and translate them into the Biabacus. This time around the numbers were so far off(probably because of the gravities?);I decided to scrap the app and only use the Biabacus.
   I hope to brew this over the holidays :pray:
   I am feeling pretty adventurous with this beer and want to hold back 1L of wort to prime with in the keg. I am also considering a partigyle brew with galaxy hops and maybe a couple of pounds of 2 row added back to...

   Last post

   ---

   

   Unfortunately I never got around to brewing this. A number of things came up and got in the way. I haven't even brewed in 6 months. I am moving May 1st and hope to get something fermenting shortly after.
   7 Replies
   9809 Views
   Last post by Lumpy5oh
   11 years ago
10. Grist Bill Upsizing/Efficiency

    7 Replies 9016 Views

    First post by BeerPal1, 11 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    I have created a Firestone Walker Pale 31 clone recipe in BeerSmith and this will be the first BIAB batch I make. Regarding decreased efficiency when doing BIAB, is it standard procedure to simply ingrease the base malt by a pound or two over what is called for in the all-grain recipe as I have heard some BIAB brewers say? This seems a bit haphazard to me. Thoughts?

    Last post

    ---

    

    Yep, you are good to go :peace:. Before your second brew we can tighten things up a little but there really is nothing to worry about on this one. Brew on Pal :P.
    
    :luck:
    7 Replies
    9016 Views
    Last post by PistolPatch
    11 years ago
11. BIAB #2 - ESB

    3 Replies 7440 Views

    First post by the-erl, 13 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Well, going to get my 2nd BIAB on this weekend. I've not picked up any of the ingredients yet so thought I'd post the recipe and see if anyone had any comments or pointers for me? I've based it on an extract brew I did quite a while ago which turned out rather nice.
    
    BIABacus Pre-Release 1.3 RECIPE REPORT
    BIAB Recipe Designer, Calculator and Scaler.
    (Please visit onclick= window.open(this.href);return false; for the latest version.)
    Morgies ESB - Batch 1
    
    Recipe Overview
    
    Brewer: The...

    Last post

    ---

    

    Hey guys, thanks for the feedback.
    
    I brewed this nearly a year and a half back and from what I remember and some bad notes (my notes have since dramatically improved) that I've found, it turned out rather nice, not really as dark as I would have wanted, but that is just inexperience, and a little under carbonated! :drink:
    
    Onkeltuka, I used wyeast 1968 - the Fullers yeast - didn't make a starter just pitched the smack pack straight into the aerated wort. I definitely agree, should have upped...
    3 Replies
    7440 Views
    Last post by the-erl
    11 years ago
12. Recipes from Terry Foster's "Brewing Porters and Stouts"

    7 Replies 12571 Views

    First post by onkeltuka, 11 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    So I got this book a while ago,and would live to try out some of the recipes,but I'm not at all sure how to convert them to BIABicus. He gives this info on the recipes:
    -they are for a finished volume of 5 gal
    - grain yields are based on 65% efficiency
    - mash times 90 min.
    - boil volume 5.5 - 6 gal
    
    Hmmm. So is there anything here to work with?

    Last post

    ---

    

    I'm short on time atm onke, so can you possibly type everything you know or posted above into a BIABacus file and post it here? Anything you don't know, please blank out*.
    
    *I'm assuming you probably already have a lot of the above in a file ;).
    7 Replies
    12571 Views
    Last post by PistolPatch
    11 years ago
13. First recipe creation (started as Hop Theif 6 clone)

    33 Replies 32144 Views

    • 1
    • 2

    First post by nosco, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    My last brew was on the 21st of July :blush: (yes it really was) so Im am keen to get brewing again. For the first time in 8 years I have boxing day off which this year means a 4 day weekend :party: . The plan is to do 3 brews in a week or so. One of which will be my own recipe (kinda) a James Squire Hop Theif 6 inspired Pale Ale. I borrowed the idea from this link on AHB. Im not really trying to do a clone but I figure using the same hops, Simcoe and Columbus, it will get me in the ball park....

    Last post

    ---

    

    So I went with a hop tea for the hell of it. I already had a french ? coffee press that I hav'nt used in years and borrowed another. I had a bit of all the hops from the amber brew, Horizon for bittering and Cascade and Centenial which I have heard is like a super Cascade? I did'nt want to dilute the beer so I boiled up 1.lt of the beer and poured that into a coffee press with 45g of Cascade and Centenial. Then I boiled 1.lt of beer for 30min with 35g of Horizon, roughly the same amount that I...
    33 Replies
    32144 Views
    Last post by nosco
    11 years ago
14. Converting a receipe from Beersmith to Biabacus

    6 Replies 8818 Views

    First post by sladeywadey, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Hi - I am trying to convert my recipe from beersmith to Biabacus.
    
    This is a recipe I have brewed myself a number of times which works fine in terms of OG and FG etc.
    
    However, when I add the same grain and hops to Biabacus, the gravity and ebu is always different in Biabacus.
    
    Am I missing something obvious?

    Last post

    ---

    

    Great. Yep, definitely take the time to digest it. The design of so much brewing software really is confusing and not great when it comes to actually understanding what is really going on.
    
    As for your 13L VIF, we can talk on that later once you get the above digested somewhat. Post your .bsm file, preferably with actuals (especially how much kettle trub you had and your actual original gravity) )so as it will some things easy to explain.
    
    As for the error in the BeerSmith2 IBU formula, there...
    6 Replies
    8818 Views
    Last post by PistolPatch
    12 years ago
15. How to add sugars to BIABicus?

    26 Replies 27294 Views

    • 1
    • 2

    First post by onkeltuka, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    I have a recipe that has sugar as 10% of the fermentables. How do I add that to the BIABicus? The spreadsheet tells me to go to section Y, but what to do there?

    Last post

    ---

    

    I had a couple of sips,but with all the yeast mixed up and all it wasn't too great.
    26 Replies
    27294 Views
    Last post by onkeltuka
    12 years ago
16. First no-chill - hop scaling questions

    4 Replies 7195 Views

    First post by DaveGillespie, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    I've just acquired the necessary equipment to go No-Chill and will be attempting my first brew in the next week or so - a very simple hoppy pale ale that I have brewed on my previous setup 4 or 5 times. Was previously 100% Maris Otter, will now be UK Lager Malt + Crystal but I'm looking to keep the hop schedule similar. Previously this has been a very simple 60 minute, 5 minute and 80C hop steep. I generally chill my stock pot in a bath of water to 80C, add my hop steep for an hour then return...

    Last post

    ---

    

    I should add, it's not pointless if you're actually using said cube as your primary fermenter! :headhit:
    4 Replies
    7195 Views
    Last post by Rick
    12 years ago
17. BIAB noob requesting some help!

    7 Replies 10521 Views

    First post by c_squared, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Hi everyone,
    
    Firstly, apologies if I have posted this in the wrong forum. I'm new to BIAB, homebrew and also this forum and I'm slowly getting used to how things are done around here.
    
    After being given some condensed instructions / recipe from a friend I have actually had a go at BIAB as I write this. Its still in the fermenter so I have no idea how it has actually turned out! After this I started doing some more research and found this forum. It didn't take me long to work out that I have a...

    Last post

    ---

    

    I agree with nosco.
    Once you are comfortable with your beer making process; smash beers are a great way to test how different malts and hops alter a beer.
    The Amarillo APA has been tested and tested; so you will be able to get a lot of help if something goes wrong.
    7 Replies
    10521 Views
    Last post by Lumpy5oh
    12 years ago
18. Where do I add Pumpkin in Biabacus ?

    13 Replies 13975 Views

    First post by dom, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    I've got a Pumpkin recipe attached which calls for 700g pumpkin. I've added it in miscellaneous but I think it might need to go into Section Y. This is because I want Biabacus to try and figure out my correct Mash volume as I imagine it will be affected by the pumpkin going into the mash.
    Whats the best approach for this ? I am unsure of the figures to put in section Y as I think not much sugar will be extracted - but as I say I expect my water volumes to be affected by it.
    
    Cheers

    Last post

    ---

    

    Oh nice one Mally I missed that when I searched. Ok I think I will steep whilst heating to strike temp, remove pumpkin and top up water if needed to get the correct TWN.
    
    Cheers
    13 Replies
    13975 Views
    Last post by dom
    12 years ago
19. Making an APA from scratch

    28 Replies 27622 Views

    • 1
    • 2

    First post by onkeltuka, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Me and my brewing pals were thinking that it would be nice to try a very basic recipe from scratch . I tried to calculate a malt bill based on the DGB. I calculated everything based on a 30 liter volume, but that said, I'm not sure if that's to fermentor or volume of ambient wort ? Anyways, 30 liters is what I would like to get to fermentor. Could I enter it like this to BIABicus and let it scale it for me?
    
    I aim for an OG of 1.060. Grains based on my calculations supposing (an imaginary)...

    Last post

    ---

    

    Thanks PP. I didn't see this before we brewed today, though, so I went on with just the FWH- addition and the next ones were at 5 mins left and then a flame-out hop stand.
    
    EDIT: A very good article. I notice that I may have my beer styles mixed-up; I've always thought of an APA as that beefed up English IPA, but seems that I was wrong? What I'm meaning with an APA is an American IPA, I guess.
    28 Replies
    27622 Views
    Last post by onkeltuka
    12 years ago
20. Reducing strength of NRB Amarillo

    3 Replies 6144 Views

    First post by tim_n, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    I'm consistently getting a strength of about 6.5% to 7% on the BIAB recipe.
    
    It's a complete knock out, a couple of pints floor people. I find myself sipping a pint slowly over an hour - not really a session beer.
    
    How's best to bring down the strength whilst maintaining flavour?

    Last post

    ---

    

    Are you happy with the carbonation level Tim?
    
    Reason I ask is that I brewed a 20% corn adjunct lager a while back, and even after a long time conditioning it was still strong, slightly harsh,and alcoholic tasting.
    I added some water to my glass before pouring and it turned into a great beer.
    
    Could you get away with diluting it during the pour? Just a thought :think:
    3 Replies
    6144 Views
    Last post by mally
    12 years ago
21. Help to convert Coopers Sparkling Ale clone to BIAB recipe

    28 Replies 28460 Views

    • 1
    • 2

    First post by blu_afro, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Hi Folks,
    
    A kind soul kindly allowed me to copy the following Coopers Sparkling Ale clone recipe from one of her books. When I see her again I will list title and author, the pages I took pics of don't have those details.
    
    The main recipe is for a partial brew method, but it also details adaptions for a mini mash method and all grain method. I have a 50L (40cm x 40cm pot) BIAB setup with gas burner and have previously given the all grain method listed below a go and fluked a drinkable result....

    Last post

    ---

    

    Bottled yesterday! Looks, smells OK. Thanks everyone for help.
    28 Replies
    28460 Views
    Last post by blu_afro
    12 years ago
22. Conversion help+ stupid questions

    2 Replies 4718 Views

    First post by onkeltuka, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    I've been trying to gather how to use BIABicus for coverting a recipe, but I'm still baffled? What is the calculator meant for, and is there a way to import the files here in a cleaner format, like many have done, as a simple list or so? Also, if I start just writing up the particulars froma recipe I want to use, will the BIABicus work just like that ?
    
    I would like to try as my second brew the Old Nut CAse Brown ALe from the book Radical Brewing . I would just like to scale it up so that I...

    Last post

    ---

    

    Oh, my dog's nuts were removed years ago, so he won't do any good in this recipe. ;)
    2 Replies
    4718 Views
    Last post by onkeltuka
    12 years ago
23. Black Citra IPA problems with OG

    1 Replies 4283 Views

    First post by reece1804, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    I have entered recipe loosely based on Northern Brewers Black IPA into The Calculator and am having problems. I hope someone on here can help...
    
    The recipe has an OG of 1.075 (including 450 grams of dextrose late in the boil) which according to The Calculator requires me to have 8.1kg of grain for my 20ltr batch with an efficiency of 70%. This will make 1.069 before adding the dextrose and 1.075 after.
    
    My grain supplier thought the grain bill seemed too large for a 20ltr batch so he put the...

    Last post

    ---

    

    Welcome reece,
    
    The Calculator has been superseded for a long time by the BIABacus. Use pre-release version, 1.3T. You can find a copy in this post . In the BIABacus, everything is automated for you, including efficiency.
    
    The BIABacus also uses Clear Brewing Terminology . The reason for the difference you have with The Calculator and ProMash is that the two 'programs' terms can mean entirely different things. For example, 'efficiency' can mean either kettle or fermentor efficiency. 'Batch...
    1 Replies
    4283 Views
    Last post by Hints
    12 years ago
24. Recipe advice - American Pale Ale - Batch#4

    4 Replies 7361 Views

    First post by williamsoovik, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Hi!
    Next week I'm brewing my fourth batch of a simple American Pale Ale.
    The ones I've brewed before has turned out very nice in flavour but my OG has been to high every time.
    This time I'm cutting down the grain bill and will try a 60 min mash with a 10 min mashout instead of a 90 min mash.
    I will also try to follow the recipe exactly the way it´s calculated in biabacus and cut back on the improvising. :P
    I'm want to reach consistency with simple recipes in my brewing before I start to...

    Last post

    ---

    

    And to answer Mad_Scientists question this is more or less the first time I'm using BIABacus to brew. I've messed around in it a little bit before but never really followed a recipe that I've done in it.
    I will try to adjust my efficiency settings to be a little higher.
    I have also been using very finely ground grains. Can that have anything to do with my OG being to high?
    Thank's for your answers guys!
    4 Replies
    7361 Views
    Last post by williamsoovik
    12 years ago
25. Hop Back Mild (Graham Wheeler clone) - BIABacus hopping

    7 Replies 9558 Views

    First post by colinb4987, 12 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Hi all,
    
    I'm in the process of lining up recipes to try (brew kit finally arriving this week), and as such familiarising myself both with GW's book, and with BIABacus. It all makes perfect sense to me, with one exception. When I convert a recipe from GW to BIABacus, the scaling of hop quantities makes no sense at all! As I understand it, GW's 25l recipe is actually 24.04l VAW (entered into recipe in cell BG86 in BIABacus). If I have Desired Volume into Fermenter set to 23l, my grain bill must...

    Last post

    ---

    

    When I order ingredients I look on my LHBS web site for the AA's of the hops and then enter them into the biabicus so i know how much to get. I got caught out on my first 2 brews with not enough hops to match the IBU's. It took me that long to realise they showed the AA's on the website :lol:
    7 Replies
    9558 Views
    Last post by nosco
    12 years ago