Low abv brew with Imperial malt

[TheMumbler]

I've been thinking along the lines of a low abv brew that isn't too flavourless. There have been a number of threads on the topic of lower abv brews e.g. one, two, three. I was thinking of using Imperial malt to add some flavour but have never used it. So...

Any comments on the recipe below? Another hop possibility is Bramling Cross around the same amount and slightly lower alpha so probably a touch less bitter.

Also if anybody has anything to report back from earlier experiments I'd be really interested to hear. Cheers

Maris Otter 2750g (82.1%)
Imperial Malt 500g (14.9%)
Wheat Malt 100g (3%)

Hops
First Gold (7.2 %) 90 mins 20g
First Gold (7.2 %) 15 mins 15g
First Gold (7.2 %) 0 mins 15g

Final Volume: 23 Litres
Original Gravity: 1.033
Final Gravity: 1.008
Alcohol Content: 3.2% ABV
Total Liquor: 31.7 Litres
Mash Liquor: 8.4 Litres
Mash Efficiency: 75 %
Bitterness: 24 EBU
Colour: 13 EBC

[oblivious]

I think imperial mat just has higher distatic power to handle lager amount of adjacent

A nice liquid yeast like fullers or London ale 111 will add tons of flavour to low gravity beer, or a dry version like Windsor will help too

[WishboneBrewery]

My Next might have some Mild Ale malt in to keep more body, my 2.8% brew isn't bad and I'll drink it, it is at least a starting point.

My next Low ABV might look like this:

Code: Select all

Centennial 2.8

Fermentable	Colour	lb: oz	Grams	Ratio
Maris Otter	4.25 EBC	2 lbs. 11.4 oz	1230 grams	40%
Mild Ale Malt	7 EBC	1 lbs. 3.5 oz	550 grams	18%
Torrefied Wheat	4 EBC	0 lbs. 12.9 oz	365 grams	12%
Munich Malt	20 EBC	0 lbs. 9.7 oz	275 grams	9%
Aromatic Malt	55 EBC	0 lbs. 8.6 oz	245 grams	8%
Crystal Rye Malt	150 EBC	0 lbs. 6.5 oz	185 grams	6%
Oat Malt	3.5 EBC	0 lbs. 5.4 oz	150 grams	5%
Wheat Malt	3.5 EBC	0 lbs. 2.2 oz	62 grams	2%

Hop Variety	Type	Alpha	Time	lb: oz	grams	Ratio
Centennial	Whole	10.5 %	60 mins	0 lbs. 0.6 oz	16 grams	21.1%
Centennial	Whole	10.5 %	15 mins	0 lbs. 0.7 oz	20 grams	26.3%
Centennial	Whole	10.5 %	0 mins	0 lbs. 1.4 oz	40 grams	52.6%
 
Final Volume:	23	Litres
Original Gravity:	1.029	
Final Gravity:	1.007	
Alcohol Content:	2.8%	ABV
Total Liquor:	31.4	Litres
Mash Liquor:	7.7	Litres
Mash Efficiency:	75	%
Bitterness:	33	EBU
Colour:	19	EBC

[TheMumbler]

Thanks for the replies. Yeast, yes of course I should be thinking about that. I'm not too keen on windsor as the only time I've used it my stout stuck firmly at 1022

pdtnc glad to hear your 2.8 is drinkable at least Guess I'll just have to hit and hope