Home Brew Forum

After a short break from brewing i'll have the boiler on again on Wednesday

Opportunity to brew is going to be limited for a while so i'm doing a recipie that I know works well for me but I have made a slight adjustment in that I've added Carapils on top of my usual Grain bill to make up 5% of the total. Hoping to get better head quality & retention.

I plan to brew the following:

Grumpy Bum (25L)
Target OG 1043 (based on 75% Brewhouse Efficiency)
EBU - 45
90 Minute 68c Mash
90 Minute Boil

4130gm Pale Malt (MO) 86.40%
410gm Crystal Malt 8.58%
240gm Cara-Pils 5.02%
85gm Oregon Fuggles [4.70 %] (90 min) Hops 40.3 IBU
35.00 gm Styrian Goldings [3.30 %] (15 min) Hops 5.4 IBU
1.00 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 10.0 min) Misc

I've never used Carapils and wonder wether I should have added it on top of the usual grain bill or reduced the crystal to accomodate it what do you guys think?

Also, has anyone ever tried using 2x Whirlfloc Tablets in a brew, i'm just wondering if i'd get more break material if I did

Wez

Ah OK then!

I spotted the impressive break matter in subsub's recent post, I never get it to coagulate that much and wondered if this could be the root cause of the haze issue, am I right in saying that as long as I have a vigorous boil and then cool as quickly as possible down to 20 degrees I should be getting those sort of results?

Maybe I should stick the 2nd element back on for the last 10mins when the w'floc goes in?

Welcome back to the darkside Wez and just when i was catching up with ya 1/2 a whirfloc? i always use a full one

Looking Good Wez, glad to see you're using your paternity leave responsibly I like your style!

Just out of interest is Carapils what gives beer that pronounced toffee flavour you get with some pints?

glad to see you're using your paternity leave responsibly I like your style!

Yeah Ssssshhhh!

I've heard that carapils doesn't add much of a flavour but then again I've also heard that it is noticeable, would be keen to see what people say also.

Cheers DaaB - can't wait to get the boiler on, feels like it's been months!

DaaB wrote:carapils contributes nothing except mouthfeel and body.

Cheers Daab, I may have to give that a whirl. Just out of interest do you know what makes certain pints taste of toffee? I just know what grains I need to avoid

I haven't noted any flavors added by carapils. I don't know that I have noticed any increased head retention properties over an equal amount of crystal either.

The largest impact I have experienced on head retention is a nice handwashed glass.

Toffee could be from crystal. http://www.brew-monkey.com/brewschool/maltguide.php

Nice to see you back Wez

Cheers SS, definately back in business now, boiler went on at 08:30

Best of British Wez. Which kit did you go for in the end?

I went for Brupaks Almondbury Old, which i'll be knocking together in a minute (pre-sparge) also doing 2 wine kits today - California Connoisseur - Liebfraumilch & Cabernet/Merlot - so should be a fruitful day, 1 5 gallon AG brew, 1 5 gallon kit brew and 2 gallons of wine

Is there some sort of competition going on to see how many different brews people can make in 1 day ??
If so I'm a bit surprised you haven't mentioned any tea or coffee !!

Enjoy Wez

I think everyones stocking up for a x-mas lay off AB