Following a disastrous start to the year, finally AG#6 is underway. Grains weighed, mash water heated, just pre-heating the tun now and then we'll be off.
All very exciting, as it is not only my first attempt at a porter but it is also my first recipe not to be based on someone else's (with some very last-minute changes due to a miscalculation on the inventory!). Plus it will address a rather depressing current shortage of homebrew.
I'm even remembering to take a few piccies, so if I can find the cable for the camera I might just get some added on here later!
First brewday of 2011!!!
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Shippo
Re: First brewday of 2011!!!
I've gone for what I think will be quite a complex malty mix:
72% Maris Otter
8% Amber
6% Crystal
4% Chocolate
2% Black
The remainder made up of an equal mix of Torrefied Wheat and Oats - hopefully there'll be a good mouthfeel from that.
Target OG is 1050, giving an ABV of 4.6 - 4.8. I'm aiming to balance that with about 60 IBUs from Northdown and Challenger for 60 mins, and a modest touch of aroma from Fuggles at flameout.
Grains ready for mashing:
72% Maris Otter
8% Amber
6% Crystal
4% Chocolate
2% Black
The remainder made up of an equal mix of Torrefied Wheat and Oats - hopefully there'll be a good mouthfeel from that.
Target OG is 1050, giving an ABV of 4.6 - 4.8. I'm aiming to balance that with about 60 IBUs from Northdown and Challenger for 60 mins, and a modest touch of aroma from Fuggles at flameout.
Grains ready for mashing:
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Spud395
Re: First brewday of 2011!!!
Looks like a nice Porter.
Made one close to that grainbill only with some Munich instead of crystal, turned out a cracker!
60 IBU's will be quiet bitter for a 4.5% porter though, you prolly know that though
Made one close to that grainbill only with some Munich instead of crystal, turned out a cracker!
60 IBU's will be quiet bitter for a 4.5% porter though, you prolly know that though
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Shippo
Re: First brewday of 2011!!!
I did want to give it a bit of a sharp edge, although on hindsight 60 was perhaps getting a bit carried away! Maybe I can get away with calling it a black IPASpud395 wrote: 60 IBU's will be quiet bitter for a 4.5% porter though, you prolly know that though
With better than expected efficiency plus an anticipated good attenuation based on past results I'm now looking at the abv pushing up towards 5 now so that will probably work out better. Plus a nice long (if I can be patient) maturation to mellow the hops out a bit...All part of the learning curve! Initial taste suggests a nice malty coffee base and a bite of hop - we'll see what it is like once the yeast has done its thing.
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Shippo
Re: First brewday of 2011!!!
Got this into cask yesterday - it was probably ready by Thursday evening, but Saturday was the first chance I got. What didn't fit into the cask (a S/S pin) has gone for a few days in a secondary FV before bottling probably next weekend now. FG was 1015 giving an abv of 4.9 and as hoped the hops have mellowed out nicely. Not quite as much body as I'd expected from the oats so maybe next time i'll up these a little, in place of the wheat. All-round a nicely balanced result, slight bitterness and some coffee undertones. Can't wait to see what a couple of weeks' cask-conditioning does for it!