Lowside Pale Ale

[stevezx7r]

Hi guys (and gals), just wondering what your thoughts are on this recipe. I'm looking to make a slightly dark pale ale (see use of roasted barley), fairly hoppy, erring on the IPA style but without the high alcohol levels.

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU

4000.00 gm Marris Otter Grain (5.0 EBC) Grain 88.50 %
250.00 gm Aromatic Malt (55.0 EBC) Grain 5.53 %
250.00 gm Wheat, Torrified (3.3 EBC) Grain 5.53 %
20.00 gm Roasted Barley (1160.0 EBC) Grain 0.44 %
60.00 gm Amarillo Gold [8.00 %] (60 min) Hops 53.2 IBU
30.00 gm Cascade [7.10 %] (30 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops -
0.50 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs SafAle English Ale (DCL Yeast #S-04) Yeast-Ale

I have a feeling it will be a good beer with a decent level of malt flavour from the aromatic malt, a slight nutty flavour from the roasted barley (and additional colouring), decent head retention via the TW and good hop flavours from the Amarillo for bittering and cascade for aroma (the Amarillo is from the same family as cascade so they should compliment each other). I was thinking of using us05 yeast but I quite like the fruityness the s04 gives, that and the fact that us05 tends to ferment forever which would result in higher alcohol. This one should be around the 4% abv depending on how well the day goes.

The only problem I can see is possible haze issues due to the TW and RB.

Anyway, any comments?

[Matt]

That looks spot on to me Steve - you've left the hop flavour additions out to make room for the malt flavours but are keeping the hop interest up with a winner on the aroma addition front. Very tasty

[stevezx7r]

Cheers Matt, thats exactly what I was aiming for - a more ballanced beer than my usual full on hop attacks.

Think I'll get to cleaning my gear today for an early start tomorrow

[steve_flack]

You shouldn't have haze problems with that amount of TW.

I'm not sure that roasted barley is the best choice and wonder if chocolate malt wouldn't be better. I've brewed bitters with very small amounts of roasted barley for colour and the flavour was very obvious.

[stevezx7r]

I had thought of that, unfortunately I don't have chocolate malt. That was the reason for using only 20g. I do like the flavour and do realise it's easy to overdo it but it's a litle pale if I don't use something to darken the beer. I suppose I could roast some normal MO in the oven.....

[Matt]

Steve,

Whatever you do, promise to post up how it goes? I'm keen on brewing this one

[stevezx7r]

Will do Matt, I'll charge my phone so I can take piccies too

This will go ahead tomorrow, just putting the nippers to bed then gotta sort out a pc so after that I can clean my gear in prep for tomorrow am.