Re: Amber ale recipe

On 3 Dec 2003 00:25:29 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Joe) wrote:

>I'm trying to work up an amber ale recipe.  I want it to be balanced,
>but a bit on the malty side.  This is supposed to be an approachable
>beer for the beginner or megaswill drinker.
>
>This is what I have for a five gallon recipe so far:
>
>6 lbs. light DME.
>8 oz. English crystal malt 50-60 L (steep in two quarts of 165 F water
>for 15 minutes.  Add this to three gallons of boiling water, top up to
>five gallons in fermenter.)
>
>2 oz. Cascade pellet hops (boiling) 
>1 oz. Cascade pellet hops (finishing)
>
>
>Yeast: Wyeast 1056, 1332, or 1968.
>

A slightly over-hopped amber is my regular brew, I'm using 

8 lbs. extra light LME, 
1 lb. Crystal 10L
1/2 lb. Carafoam

for hops:

1/2 oz. Yakima Magnum (60)
1/2 oz.  Willamette (45)
1 oz.  Cascade (15)
1 oz.  Willamette (15)
1/2 oz. Northern Brewer (7)
1/2 oz. Cascade (in secondary for 5-7 days)

The Carafoam really does something nice to the body and head on the
beer (I bottle).  Thanks to Dan Listermann for the recommendation on
that.  I have made this with 1 lb of Crystal 60L also and would call
it a Brown Ale instead of an amber.

I do a similar steep on the grains (bagged) but  for 55-60 minutes at
155, I really like what the mini mashes did for the flavor and body on
my beer.  You might want to try a longer steep.

As it happens, I start the steep, go set up the boil pot and light it
off,  and the steep ends just about the time the boil pot gets to 180F
so I just dunk the grain bag in the boil pot to get the good stuff
out. 

I like Nottingham yeast, it is so simple to use and store and works so
good.  I'm not sure that I'll ever try another smack pack, if I do it
will be with a starter because they simply don't work as advertised
for a 5 gallon batch.  

>I've just pulled these out of my backside with the aid of a brewing
>calculator.  Any suggestions/criticisms are welcome, but please don't
>flame me too badly for the Cascade hops.  :)  I was also thinking
>Hallertauer, Centennial, or Willamette.

I'm still learning hops, my one experience with Hallertauer was that
they were a light "lightweight" for my taste.  I like hops, Cascade is
a staple!

Also, what Bill said about ProMash.  Really makes it easy to play
around with the ingredients and what you happen to have on hand. 



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