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Test Ale?

Post #1 made 14 years ago
by pr8headed
Hey all,

I plan to try my first BIAB this week. I worked up a simple 2 gallon recipe to test several things. I plan to do 2 batches to taste the difference in the grains. I've not brewed any all grain brews so I figured if I kill it 2 gals is better than 5. I threw the special roast in just because I have it and don't want it to get stale. I want simple for my first batch. I plan to use S-04 because I have a pack. This will be a lot of firsts for me but I'm really looking forward to it. I'm more pumped about this batch than any I've brew and it's the most generic brew but it's the first one I designed :champ:

How does this recipe sound?

Test Ale 1
4lbs 2-Row
1/2lb Caramel 60
1/2lb Special Roast
1/3oz Brewers Gold 60min
1/3oz Brewers Gold 15min

Test Ale 2
4lbs Maris Otter
Rest same as 1

Thanks!
PHins UP!!! ~~^~~
Tim

Post #2 made 14 years ago
by thughes
Looks great, the crystal will give it a bit of body. I've done many SMaSH (single malt and single hop) recipes and while it's a good way to learn your grain and hop flavors, they can be a bit thin and lacking in body unless you mash towards the high end of the range (155-158 F). With the crystal added you'll get the body but can mash a bit lower (148-152 F) and enjoy the benefits of a bit higher fermentibility. Next time around you might try and move the 15 minute hops out to about 5 minutes and compare the difference.

Let us know how they turn out!

---Todd
WWBBD?
    • SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America

Post #3 made 14 years ago
by pr8headed
Todd,

I'm really liking the idea of all grain for the control of the flavor. I was scared to try it as I haven't been brewing long and all the equipment you need to do it. But once I heard of BIAB I thought why not try it out. I've got BeerSmith which is really fun to play with but it doesn't really tell you how it will taste. Maybe they will include print a taste test it later versions :thumbs: I wish I knew some people local that brewed and had a club to share ideas. This forum is awesome but not the same as sitting around and talking beer. I've found that when you tell most people you brew your own beer their like wow that's neat :sleep: Thanks for the info!
PHins UP!!! ~~^~~
Tim

Post #4 made 14 years ago
by thughes
pr8headed wrote:Todd,

......This forum is awesome but not the same as sitting around and talking beer.
Well there's your problem! You should be brewing, not sitting around talking about it. :idiot:

Seriously, the more you brew the more you'll learn. Make sure you take good notes! Even the experiments that turn out "not so good" still result in beer. If you make something you don't end up caring for the taste of, give it to your friends (or your little brother...that's what I do).

---Todd
Last edited by thughes on 15 Feb 2012, 20:58, edited 3 times in total.
WWBBD?
    • SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America

Post #5 made 14 years ago
by pr8headed
Todd,

First all grain under my belt. :thumbs: Thanks for your advice! This was one of the best brew days I've had, everything seemed to just fall into place. As Chief Gonzales on the Nimitz used to say "Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance". It took the same amount of time as a partial mash brew day so not to bad. I love brewing beer! The more I brew the more I love to brew and maybe one day I'll actually know what I'm doing lol.
PHins UP!!! ~~^~~
Tim

Post #6 made 14 years ago
by pr8headed
I just tasted it and it's yummy! It's an awesome reddish amber color and clear as a bell. Now to try the same recipe with Maris Otter and see if it's MO better.
PHins UP!!! ~~^~~
Tim

Post #7 made 14 years ago
by BobBrews
Oh boy! You are hooked now! Your addicted to brewing! Yhoo Whoo, another convert!
tap 1 Raspberry wine
tap 2 Bourbon Barrel Porter
tap 3 Czech Pilsner
tap 4 Triple IPA 11% ABV
Pipeline: Mulled Cider 10% ABV

http://cheesestradamus.com/ Brewers challenge!
    • SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America

Post #9 made 14 years ago
by pr8headed
Yes I'm addicted I LOVE BIAB!!! I've brewed a few kits but I really like biab better. The Test Ale is really tasty but has no head or lacing. It's only 3 1/2 weeks old but I couldn't wait anymore I HAD to taste it. I think it's the best beer I've made yet but I may be bias. I ordered some Carapils to add to Test Ale 2 to hopefully add some head. How much carapils should I add? Is there a magic base to specialty grain ratio?
PHins UP!!! ~~^~~
Tim

Post #10 made 14 years ago
by joshua
Good Day Pr8headed, You should add Carapils to the brew.
I would cut the Special Roast to 4oz and add 6-8 oz of Carapils to the recipe.
Honest Officer, I swear to Drunk, I am Not God.
    • SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America

Post #11 made 14 years ago
by pr8headed
joshua,

Sounds like a plan I'll try it. I know the head doesn't affect the flavor but it does the appearance and the eye feeds first. I have a few Test Ales I wanna make with different base grains so I want a good base recipe to make them all equal. I just threw the special roast in so it wouldn't go stale.

For now the base recipe is
4lb ?????
8oz Caramel 60
6oz Carapils
1/3oz Magic Hop Dust 60 min
1/3oz Magic Hop Dust 15 - 5 min
Cooper's Ale yeast
PHins UP!!! ~~^~~
Tim
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